The Blitz – Fly Fishing Blogs

Aside from the incredible humanitarian work we have been able to do through the group, a deeper purpose of the Fishin’ Physicians has also been to demonstrate that fly fishing is for everyone. It can be an intimidating and seemingly expensive sport to get into, but we have encouraged women, in particular, to give it a try and continue to make affordable gear recommendations.

Let’s face it- if a big brown or rainbow trout is what you’re after, there are plenty of places in the Northern Hemisphere with fish of comparable size that require way less travel. What makes New Zealand so special is the densities in which these fish occur, the pulse-quickening sight fishing opportunities, and the sheer amount of water in this country where that’s all possible. It’s a chance to put your skills up against huge, smart fish in small streams that run through some of the most beautiful natural settings on our planet, and come back a better angler. 

Cheeky: We're stoked to have you on the Cheeky Ambassador team, so we have to ask - why do you fish Cheeky Reels? 

Eeland: I fish Cheeky reels cause it's what all the cool kids are doing-aren't we all just trying to cling and relive our youth. Plus it's important that they are quality. I like the color combinations and how much I've beat up the reels with 40 pound snook, 10 pound bones and 25 pound carp, and the reels are still rocking. 

It’s been about four months since Cheeky sent me a Sighter 350 to test out. When it arrived, I paired it with my 10’6” three weight and got ready to put it to work in a range of scenarios across my home state of Pennsylvania.... read the full review by two-time world youth medalist and former captain of the U.S. Youth Fly Fishing Team, Mike Komara.

Over the years fly fishing for musky has gained a ton of popularity, as these toothy predators have slowly garnered the imagination and attention of thrill seekers looking to throw giant flies in hopes of hooking the fish of a lifetime. You also don't have to travel half way around the globe to catch one.

If there’s one tip you glean from this article, I hope it’s this: strip-set, and strip-set hard! Lifting your rod, as you would for trout, won’t work here. Instead, grab the line with your stripping hand, and pull it towards, then past, your body in a fast, smooth motion with considerable power. Snakehead have hard, bony mouths, which don’t pair well with half-assed hooksets. If you think the first attempt might not have done the trick, do it again, and again if needed. Hell, I’ll strip-set multiple times on the same fish to ensure I’m in the money. Better safe than sorry.

I’ve gotten to know the folks at Cheeky over the past few years.  In addition to being a member of the Thomas and Thomas Ambassador program, I’m a biologist with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries.   Recently, I was discussing some recent field work with Peter Vandergrift of Cheeky and he asked I share what it is we do on Resource Assessment and why.

So enough of taking that same shot.... Instead I think I’ll try asking one of the greatest fly fishing photographers of all time how he’s able to get fabulous photos like this!  

Team Cheeky Fishes the Great North Woods

 Team Cheeky takes a few days off for a team retreat in the Maine woods and were treated with heavy rains and a shower of fish. As we prepared for our annual team retreat, the only person who really knew what to expect was founder and CEO Ted Upton who has fished the Magalloway River for most of his life. Thank you to Wendy and Mike of Bosebuck camps for being such wonderful hosts.

“How can we catch two dozen species in a weekend?” This message from my teammate, Beck, popped into my inbox a few weeks before we headed to Maine for the Oxbow Brewing All Species Tournament. The Tournament offers prizes, including Cheeky reels to anglers catching the most species and the largest of a few key fish types.

False Albacore, aka Little Tunny, Fat Albert, Tuna Mac or just simply knuckle busters are tons of fun from Florida to Maine. But, currently, they are an unmanaged species giving them little to no protection from over harvesting. Luckily, good management and good science are on the horizon, thanks to the American Saltwater Guides Association (ASGA). Team Cheeky sat down with ASGA VP and Policy Director, Tony Friedrich recently, to talk about their exciting False Albacore tagging project, which Cheeky is sponsoring, and to find out what anglers can do to help.