BIG BUG SETUP
More often than not, fly fishing is a matter of sight and feel. You see the fish rise, or you feel the take. When you’re fishing big bugs, you get to hear it too. The thwack of the fly on the water; the spaloosh of a big fish taking it. Sight, feel, sound—big bugs are a fly fishing feast for the senses. And let’s be honest: when a big ’bow takes one six inches from a grassy bank as if it’s the last meal it may ever eat, it’s hard not to wonder if they actually taste that good too. For those that wait all year for the opportunity to throw big foam, having the right tool in your hands to deliver it time after time is a major key to success. Explore our setups dialed to the big bug game.
IGNITER
When the wind kicks up and bushy dry flies are the winning ticket - especially when firing cast after cast into the bank - having a rod capable of turning them over consistently is paramount. Often times the big-bug game is a game of inches and that fly needs to land right up against the grass. Enter the IGNITER. Built with maximum power throughout the blank, this stick provides anglers with ultra high line speeds to ensure bushy dry flies hit their mark with consistency.
Suited to anglers with an aggressive and wider casting stroke that often fish in high-wind areas or with large wind-resistant flies out of a boat.
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Ultra-fast line speeds drive tight loops to cut through stiff winds and deliver wind-resistant dries with accuracy.
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Pitching large stoneflies and terrestrials into the bank while drifting, fishing wind-blown hoppers on small creeks.
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R8 CORE
Increased sensitivity down low in the blank gives the R8 CORE a slightly relaxed pace and greater forgiveness when throwing larger and bushier dry flies, while still maintaining high line speeds - allowing anglers a tighter, more compact, and easy-going casting stroke without sacrificing accuracy and efficiency.
Best suited to the angler looking for maximum forgiveness with larger dries, and preferring a more compact casting stroke.
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High line speeds and tight-loops offer supreme accuracy, while a deeper load provides increased sensitivity and forgiveness in-hand
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Wade fishing with big bugs, Deschutes Salmonfly hatch, blind casting chubbies while wading.
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BIG BUG SETUP HIGHLIGHTS
STONEFLY
Whether fishing Salmonflies, Golden Stones, or even Mutant Stones at dawn, a rod setup that can effectively turn over these bushy dry flies on a consistent basis is imperative to success. A nine foot rod allows a greater lever for turning these types of flies over, and we often prefer a more forgiving rod to keep presentations consistent time after time.
Rod: R8 CORE 590-4
Reel: ARBOR XL 4/5/6
Lines: RIO Elite Grand WF5F
Flies: Salmonflies, Large Chubbies
Fisheries: Deschutes River, Henry's Fork, Yakima River
HOPPERS
Hopper season is much sought after by trout anglers everywhere – the holy grail of terrestrials if you will. These leaping critters only end up in the water by accident - and gusts of wind are usually the culprit. More times than not, windy conditions mean better hopper fishing. For these reasons an ultra-fast and powerful rod setup is our go-to.
Rod: IGNITER 590-4
Reel: ARBOR XL 4/5/6
Lines: RIO Elite Grand WF5F
Flies: Foam and deer hair hoppers, RIO's Blade Runner, Dave's Hopper, Club Sandwich
Fisheries: Spring Creeks, North Platte, South Fork Snake
ANT & BEETLE
Fishing beetles and ants can be a delicate game – you may find a rising trout feeding consistently, but you just can’t figure out exactly what – more often than not a small beetle or ant may just do the trick. Since these opportunities also often coincide with many of our favorite hatches on small creeks and springs, we prefer a lighter rod to give us the delicacy needed for these skittish targets.
Rod: R8 CORE 490-4
Reel: SPECTRUM LT 4/5
Lines: RIO Elite Gold WF4F
Flies: RIO's Ground Beetle, para-ant, chernobyl ant
Fisheries: Missouri River, Delaware River, Henry's Fork
