I’ve guided a lot of folks–including friends and family–on small streams, and many of them have difficulty keeping their line sorted as they move to a different spot. Either they allow their fly to drag and get it stuck on rocks or sticks, or they point their rod tip the sky, causing their line to fall through the guides until the fly is stuck in the tip top.
In this video, Joe Rotter from Red’s Fly Shop demonstrates a simple solution. He always maintains a rod length of fly line beyond the tip top and grabs the leader before moving. It seems too easy, but it can avoid on-the-water frustration that can break your sense of peace and serenity.
