Olympus Stylus Tough 6000 - my new digital camera to take fishing.  I have been on the market for a while looking for an underwater camera, not the type you can take diving, just something that would allow me to shoot fish I catch without landing them.  Also, it's a great benefit to know that if I fall in the water my camera will be fine.  My iPhone will be toast, but the camera will be no worse for the wear.

Scientific Anglers Sharkskin Fly Line Review - I had heard good things about this line from other anglers, but it took me over a year to finally decide to part with $100 for fly line.  The line I purchased was the 3 wt. with a double taper, so that's what this article will discuss.  Other weights and tapers will have different properties that I will not try to guess at.

If you like to hike back to fishing holes that are off the beaten path - like me - then a hand-held GPS is a must have tool to keep in your vest.  I just upgraded my old (produced in 1999) standard, base model eTrex with the eTrex Venture HC (pictured below).  The new device set me back around $170, but has tons more features than the old one.

If you are like me, and started fly-fishing after many years of conventional fishing, you might be wondering how to interpret the "X" system.  Read on for a fairly complete table.

There's a lot made about whether or not smell is important to a fish, and among those who believe it is, exactly how important.  It was suggested to me at a Bishop fly shop that I try this stuff, so I bought a jar and went about the business of getting it on the fly, and not so much my fingers.

In this article I am going to try to take the guess work out of choosing the type of tippet or leader material used when fly-fishing.  It was a big mystery to me which type of tippet to grab, but after doing some research, I feel that I can confidently select the appropriate material for the conditions.

These are some of the best newbie how-to books and video (DVD) on fly-fishing.  I'll tell you - quite frankly - I was skeptical of learning how to fly cast from a woman (no matter her credentials or last name).  It seemed a reasonable judgement since I hadn't seen a woman fishing more than on a handful of occasions, and never fly-fishing.  Joan Wulff's video on DVD was a purchase I made only after several experienced fly fisherman (including a professional guide) recommended it.  Even still, it struck me that buying an instructional video about fly casting created by a woman was akin to  woman buying a book on the child-birthing experience written by a man.

OK, so now I've told on myself and have been honest (almost to a fault) about my reluctance.  So please know that when I say Joan Wulff's video on fly casting is a must have for any newbie fly-fisher, it's the truth.  If you don't own her DVD, go now, purchase, and pay close attention to one of the finest fly casters in the world - regardless of gender.

I have been wearing these felt bottomed wading sandles since I got them as a Christmas present last year.  So, what you will read here is only after many, many hours of fishing in them.