The Fly Guide | July 2026
The Fly Guide: July 2026
Bluefish: Fast, Aggressive, and Always Looking for Trouble
If you've never caught a bluefish on a fly rod, consider this your sign to change that.
Bluefish aren't known for being selective. They're known for being hungry.
These hard-fighting predators spend much of the summer chasing schools of baitfish along beaches, harbors, estuaries, and nearshore waters. When they're feeding, the action can be downright chaotic—bait spraying from the water, birds diving overhead, and bluefish crashing through the middle of it all.
The good news? You don't need a perfect cast or a flawless presentation to catch them.
Bluefish are visual hunters that key in on movement. Streamer patterns that imitate silversides, peanut bunker, anchovies, and other small baitfish are often all you need. Once your fly hits the water, don't be afraid to fish it aggressively. Fast strips, erratic retrieves, and sudden changes in speed can all trigger a reaction strike.
One of the biggest mistakes anglers make is stopping their retrieve when they see a bluefish following. Keep stripping. Bluefish often attack at the last second and will happily chase a fleeing meal.
Another tip: pay attention to birds. Terns, gulls, and other diving birds are often the first sign that bait—and bluefish—are nearby. If you see nervous water, scattered bait, or birds actively feeding, get a fly in the water quickly.
Before you start casting, make sure you're fishing a short wire bite tippet or leader. Bluefish have razor-sharp teeth capable of cutting through standard monofilament and fluorocarbon with ease. A few inches of wire between your fly and leader can mean the difference between landing fish and donating flies all afternoon.
Most importantly, come prepared. Bluefish have a reputation for hitting hard, fighting harder, and destroying flies in the process. Losing a few patterns is simply part of the experience. Fortunately, it's a small price to pay for some of the most exciting saltwater action available on a fly rod.
When the water starts boiling and baitfish start running for their lives, hold on tight. Chances are a bluefish isn't far behind.
Don't overthink the hopper
Every summer, trout anglers wait for hopper season.
The reason is simple: hopper fishing is fun.
Unlike delicate dry fly presentations that require perfect drifts and tiny tippets, hopper fishing is often a more forgiving game. Grasshoppers aren't graceful insects. They crash into the water, kick, struggle, and create plenty of commotion. Trout know this and are often willing to move a surprising distance for a well-placed hopper.
One of the biggest mistakes anglers make is fishing hoppers too far from the bank. Most grasshoppers enter the water after getting blown from grassy fields, meadows, and streamside vegetation. Focus your casts tight to the bank, under overhanging grass, and alongside cut banks where natural hoppers are most likely to fall in.
Don't be afraid to make a little noise either. A hopper that lands with a noticeable splat often looks more natural than one that touches down softly. In fact, that sudden impact can be exactly what grabs a trout's attention.
Another effective technique is adding a subtle twitch or skate to your fly after it lands. While many anglers focus on achieving a perfect dead drift, real grasshoppers frequently kick and struggle on the surface. A little movement can often trigger a reaction strike from fish that ignored the initial presentation.
If you're not seeing consistent surface eats, consider running a dropper below your hopper. The hopper acts as both an attractor and a strike indicator, allowing you to fish a subsurface pattern while still keeping a large dry fly on top.
Most importantly, stay alert. Hopper eats are rarely subtle. When a trout decides it wants a hopper, the take is often explosive, making it one of the most exciting ways to catch fish all summer long.
So the next time you find yourself standing beside a grassy bank, don't overthink it. Tie on a hopper, cast it close to the edge, and hold on tight.
Why Summer Trout Love Fast Water
As water temperatures rise and fishing pressure increases, many anglers automatically start targeting the deepest, slowest pools they can find.
The problem? So does everyone else.
During the summer months, some of the most productive trout water on the river is often the fast, broken water many anglers walk right past.
Here's why.
Fast water acts like a conveyor belt. It delivers a constant supply of food while providing trout with extra oxygen and cover from predators. The choppy surface also makes fish feel more secure, allowing them to feed aggressively throughout the day.
The key is understanding where trout position themselves within the current.
Instead of holding in the fastest water available, trout often sit just outside the main flow where they can conserve energy while still intercepting food. Look for current seams, pocket water behind rocks, foam lines, and soft edges along riffles.
When fishing these areas, don't be afraid to make multiple short drifts. Trout in fast water typically have less time to inspect your fly and are often forced to make quick decisions. Covering water efficiently is usually more productive than repeatedly fishing the same spot.
This is also one of the best places to fish a dry-dropper rig. A buoyant dry fly helps suspend your nymph while allowing you to cover a variety of depths in a single drift.
The next time summer fishing gets tough, resist the urge to focus only on the deep pools. Some of the river's most active trout may be holding in a foot of fast, oxygen-rich water right at your feet.
When in doubt, fish the riffles.
