We’ve arrived at the final Friday Five of 2017 – hard to believe! Enjoy this week’s edition as you go into the final holiday weekend of the year, and get ready to ring in 2018.

Tips for Nymphing with Tiny Flies (Troutbitten)

Tiny nymphs are important in the diet of a trout. Domenick Swentosky gives some helpful tips on flies, tippet, and rigs to use when fishing flies sizes 18-22. Definitely worth the read, and these are tips that are helpful for the Central PA area especially.

Stop, Don’t Do It (Hatch Magazine)

Todd Tanner writes about some things for all who fly fish to keep in mind going into 2018, ranging from growing in the awareness of your outdoors surroundings, to different ways of practicing casting, to many things in between.

Timeless Tips: Making the Most of the Off-Season (Deneki Outdoors)

Even though you can fish around Central PA year-round, it’s a bit harder to get motivated when it’s 15 degrees outside. These are some good tips for things you can do over the winter months to best prepare for the spring when temperatures warm a bit higher. (Though there are some really good windows of opportunity for fishing in the winter here – so don’t become a complete couch potato!)

Fly Shop Strong: Montana (Rajeff Sports, Echo Fly Fishing)

We posted this on our Facebook page over the weekend, but it’s good enough to share again. This features a number of shops that we like to make sure to visit whenever we’re out in the Big Sky Country (Big Sky Anglers, Blue Ribbon Flies, Galloup’s Slide Inn, to name a few).

Smallmouth Bass Predator X Fly Tying Tutorial (The Fly Fiend)

This one looks good, and would probably work on any predatory fish (not just smallmouth). Adjust the hook and it would be a great saltwater fly pattern too.