C&F Universal System Review: The Lanyard and Chest Box I Carry on Small Water
C&F Design's Universal System, reviewed for real: the lanyard with magnetic fly patch plus the 9.6-oz CFA-830 chest box — the carry I fish on small water.
The journal · Page 7 of 12
Blog.
River guides, fly selection, and field notes from the South Platte. Written from the water, not a desk.
Page 7
142 posts · page 7 / 12
The Euro Nymph Box: What Actually Earns a Slot on the South Platte
The handful of euro nymphs that earn a slot in my South Platte box — Blowtorch, Perdigon, Frenchie and the rest — plus how I size them and fish them deep.
The Truck Kit — What Lives in My Rig Year-Round
The pack is what you walk to the river with. The truck kit is what lets you leave at 4 AM without thinking — the knives, the jacket, the leaders, the cigar.
The Father's Day Gift Guide for the Fly Fisher in Your Life
What to actually buy the fly fisher in your life — a Father's Day gift guide by budget. Real gear I fish on the South Platte, real prices, two reader discounts.
Building a Euro Nymphing Rig from Scratch
Step-by-step build of the euro nymphing rig I actually fish: Diamondback 10'7" 3wt, 30 feet of level 3X mono, sighter, tippet ring, and the two flies that work.
South Platte in June: Fishing the Tailwater as Runoff Drops
How to fish the South Platte tailwater in June as runoff peaks and drops — flows, PMD and caddis timing, fly selection, and where to be on Deckers and Cheesman.
Fishing Pressured Tailwaters — What Actually Works on Deckers
Deckers is the most-fished tailwater on the South Platte. Here's what actually catches fish — small flies, light tippet, clean drifts, and overlooked seams.
Wet Wading: Why I Leave the Waders at Home
Wet wading on the South Platte isn't for everyone. But once you understand when and how to do it right, you might ditch the waders more than you'd expect.
I Run a Riversmith — and I'm Eyeing a Switch to Trxstle's CRC Euro
I've carried my rods on a Riversmith River Quiver for a while now. Lately I'm highly considering switching to Trxstle's CRC Euro. Here's the honest why.
The Zebra Midge Torch — My South Platte Midge
The standard Zebra Midge catches fish. My version — black tungsten bead, orange tag, tied on a Fulling Mill jig hook — catches more. Here's the Torch.
Fly Fishing Essentials for Beginners: The Honest Minimum
Most beginner gear lists are upsell guides. Here's the real minimum a new fly fisher actually needs — and what to skip until you've fished a few seasons.
What I Bring to the River: The Day Pack That Survived the Edits
Gear that has survived seasons on Colorado tailwaters. The pack, the rod, the fly boxes, the tools, the layers, and the small stuff that makes the day work.