Still waters can provide opportunities to catch some of the largest trout in the world.

One of the challenges many anglers face is how intimidating such a large body of water can be. What I’ve learned over the years is that a majority of large trout find a bulk of their diet near drop lines, vegetation, or rocky shorelines. This is why my Flycraft has become a very important tool in day to day trips giving me the ability to creep in without being detected in shallow zones.

The following tips have been very useful angling from my Flycraft or the areas I can now access by foot due to its versatility:

Intercepting the banks like a pool player visualizing the Q ball shot, intercepting cruising fish is a must learn skill all anglers should experience.

Having the right "angles" is the best way to intercept the target. I first learned this technique in 2003 on a 7 day trip tarpon fishing in Homasassa and Boca Grande, Florida. Watching large migratory tarpon cruise on turtle grass flats, beaches, and harbors you had seconds to line up the shot, load with one or a few false casts, and pull the trigger.

Delivering the fly far ahead of silver kings in order line up the fishes feeding line. While it was frustrating at the beginning, by the end of the week I was hooked. Not to mention the mind racing ideas on the flight back on how I could apply these techniques back home for quality trout. This same intercepting set up from my Flycraft now brings the exciting sight fishing game from my days in the salt to my still waters back home.

First you need to see the path of the trout, what direction it is moving, and if there is a pattern to how it feeds. It is common for these fish to stick to the same routine swimming the same route over and over.

Then determine if the fish is looking for food on the surface, below, or both. If it is only on the surface then it is simple, if the fish is a subsurface feeder then you want to visualize the depth you think the trout is feeding at. It does not have to be spot on at first, you are better off thinking short as the natural movement for a trout to feed is to lift.

Once you have located the highway and speed of the fish it is time to visualize your plan by making an imaginary dotted line in front of the trout to a spot where you think the fish will eventually be. I prefer 10 feet or so. This will give you time to manage line with just a dry, and allowing sinking time for a dropper. It is difficult to land the fly directly in front of the cruising target, especially at longer casting ranges.

To ensure the imitation will be seen I prefer to overshoot. This will give me breathing room to move the fly into position to intercept the trout and its viewing lane. In some situations the extra distance will not make a difference with fish heavy on the feed.

After you land the fly the next decision is how to move the bug into position. There are so many ways this could be done from skating, twitching, or popping. I for one am a fan of skating the dry to mimic the moments of a natural caddis as it is less startling. This technique can be accomplished very easily by simply applying a large mend to the fly line. Matched with a size #14-16 Fat Albert, you are know ready for action. 

Lastly, the most important part about moving a fly is not always the act; it is the pause in between. This lets the trout know the food source is not going to escape or that it is injured.


Color for Depth

Drop-offs or shelves are some of the best locations on still waters to find fish. These color changes indicate crucial depths that trout tend to prowl in the spring, summer, and fall. If possible try to find a high ground viewing area to scout the shoreline before you launch your Fly Craft or travel by foot, as it can be harder to see the exact drop when you are standing on the edge or in the water. In the early season when the ice just starts to thaw, or heat up on the edges you may see three color changes going toward shore: white ice, green or blue deep water, then shoreline colors that are typically brown, tan, or red.

All these transitions are logical ambush points for predators like trout because they provide safety and a steady food supply. In the spring as the shallow edge water warms up, the first birth of midges are prolific a few feet from shore. Always look before you wade, especially during the first two weeks after ice out, as trout hug the bank to take advantage of the warm water and food. This is when you will have to remind yourself that this is fresh water sight fishing not the salt.

Once you locate these drop-offs that follow the lake contours, try to find a structural points that intersect these travel lanes. The tip of a point of land, or the mouth of a bay puts you closer to the trout as it forces them to funnel around you. In rocky terrain, these points can sometimes save the day during heavy wind. Use them to find shelter from the wind for easier casting and better sight fishing.

When fish are more exposed in shallow water, any extra cover they can find is attractive. My favorite spots along a known shorelines are usually isolated large rocks, or rocky points. Trout cruise below, around, and through the rocks using shade, the structure itself, and extra surface disturbance to remain undetected. This is where I locate some of the largest trout of my year.

The Window

Movement is the first thing you will see from a trout in still water because unlike rivers these trout are in constant motion when they feed. Shadows, silhouettes, and color are the best give away that a trout is on the hunt. Be sure to look closely at structure points and the light side of a color change, or drop lines. The often dark, or light colored shape of a trout will contrast against the color of the structure and shallow bank bottom.

Another effective strategy is to view these windows from a high perch or vantage point. Even if you are fishing by yourself it will let you know how close to the edge the fish is cruising, how deep the target is, and what direction it is swimming. Then you will know if your rig is in the path of the trout when it swims by to prevent missing chances for the fish to see your flies. 


Written by Fly Fishing Pro Landon Mayer

ABOUT LANDON MAYER

Landon Mayer, a fly-fishing instructor, long-time guide in the Florissant, CO area, and author, has made his mark in the fly fishing world with his obsession and expertise pursuing large trout with small flies and lightweight fly-fishing gear.

Mayer’s passionate about sharing his techniques and tricks of the sport with other fly fishing enthusiasts via guiding, teaching classes, writing for Fly Fisherman and High Country Angler magazines, and through his books 101 Trout Tips: A Guide’s Secrets, Tactics and Techniques (new for 2015), Colorado’s Best Fly Fishing, Sight Fishing for Trout, and How to Catch the Biggest Trout of Your Life, in addition to two DVDs:  Landing the Trout of Your Life and Weapons of Bass Production.

Mayer also raves about the ease of throwing the Stealth into the back of his truck, and heading out to fish, no problem. A trailer is not needed with the Flycraft Stealth small fishing boat, which is a plus for fishing pros and all fishermen alike.

“It’s also a huge advantage to be able to stay low and stealthy to sneak up on rising fish, but then be able to stand up once in position to fight that fish for make that longer cast to a fish further away,” says Mayer.

Here's a video from our Flycraft team trips last summer, floating western rivers. There's tons of fish, rad footage, and the best times were had!

Check it out...

Brandon's Top 3 Tips For Fishing Western Rivers From A Flycraft:

To learn more about the Flycraft Stealth Inflatable Drift Boat, CLICK HERE >>

If you've ever wondered how being able to launch your boat from anywhere gives you a major fishing advantage, watch the video below. You'll see what kind of fish you can land in spots no one can get to (unless you have a Flycraft).

You get serious fishing advantages with the Flycraft 2-man and 3-man boat given its unique size, durability and versatility.

When you add in the ability to launch just about anywhere, you gain access to literally thousands of new, small or large streams, rivers, and lakes.

With its extremely durable 1 millimeter thick interwoven nylon PVC and extra armor in strategic areas, the Flycraft Stealth 2-man and 3-man can easily be carried to new launch sites, over obstacles or difficult portages.

These crafts eliminate the hassles of boat ramps, towing a trailer, and still gives you all the comfort and stability of a drift boat.

And their shallow draft of 3 inches can get you into some incredibly skinny water, giving you access to unlimited pristine fishing spots.

To learn more about the Flycraft 3-Man Inflatable Drift Boat, CLICK HERE >>

You may know Curtis and Cheech from Fly Fish Food for their fly tying skills or their online shop but these guys can fish.

Here's a video of them floating one of our local Utah rivers. Many people think for good dry fly fishing you have to catch your timing right with a hatch, but if you cover water in a boat you will always find fish looking up!

Check out their YouTube channel for more videos of them floating in their Flycraft! www.flyfishfood.com

To learn more about the Flycraft Stealth Inflatable Drift Boat, CLICK HERE >>

Adding a motor to your Flycraft inflatable drift boat completely transforms it into a still water machine, adventure craft. You radically expand your fishing game with a motor by opening up new waters like ponds, lakes, and oceans.

It also gives you the advantages of a motor boat without the price tag attached to a traditional motor boat and trailer. And because your Flycraft is inflatable and super lightweight there is no need to deal with a trailer. Just transport it on a truck, trailer, roof of a car, or even in a trunk.

Check out the video below to see what adding a motor to your Flycraft inflatable drift boat can do to your fishing game:

To learn more about the Flycraft Stealth Inflatable Drift Boat, CLICK HERE >>

Paper Bag Fisherman caught our attention with his HUGE bull trout, unique style of photos ... and well, his quirky headwear choices.

We had a chance to go up and fish with him in Canada and he's one cool guy. We had tons of fun!

He's an artist, and maybe sometime we'll tell you about his paper bag story. But this guy is super fishy. And he's now one of our good friends.

Check out his art and watch his new video above. You can follow him on Instagram here:

IG: @paperbagfisherman

To learn more about the Flycraft Stealth Inflatable Drift Boat, CLICK HERE >>

Watch the video below for easy tips for fishing from a Flycraft Stealth inflatable fishing boat...

Tips For Fishing In a Flycraft Stealth Inflatable Drift Boat:

1) Be in good communication with your oarsman. You don't want them floating over the runs you want to fish. And sometimes you'll want them to slow you up so you can fish that spot better.

2) When you're in narrow waters, it's not about fishing long drifts, it's about fishing little targets. It's about hitting that spot behind that log, and then the next one. Watch the video above to see how Brandon does this.

3) A lot of times, especially in smaller rivers, you don't have room to back cast. You'll want to utilize tension casts or a roll cast, so you're not getting stuck in branches. 

To learn more about the Flycraft Stealth Inflatable Drift Boat, CLICK HERE >>

Watch the video below for 3 easy tips for rowing a Flycraft Stealth inflatable drift boat...

3 Tips For Rowing a Flycraft Stealth Inflatable Drift Boat (with or without someone fishing from it):

1) You’ll always want to have the bow of the boat pointed slightly downstream. In the event that you quickly come up on a rock or obstruction, you’ll be positioned to back row around it, slow yourself down, or go over it bow first (versus hitting something side first, which can tip the boat).

Basically, you’ll often want to be back rowing away from things.

If you see obstacles ahead, you’ll want to point at it and back row away from it.

2) You normally want to keep the boat around a 45 degree angle. It’ll help with controlling the boat and if you have someone fishing from the boat, keeping it at a 45 degree angle will help them have more control casting.

3) Be comfortable with keeping your oars in the water. Feather them around. And you’ll want to be back rowing often, especially if you have someone fishing from the boat. You’ll help slow the boat down so the person fishing will have more casting opportunities and longer float times for their line.

To learn more about the Flycraft Stealth Inflatable Drift Boat, CLICK HERE >>

The Full Tour of The Flycraft Stealth

 Video Transcript:

The Flycraft Stealth, known as the most versatile boat in the world, gives you multiple boats in one. 

It’s a perfect 2 man boat with room for a kid or dog.

And also serves as an amazing single man craft.

It replaces a drift boat, canoe, kayak, pontoon, and many smaller power boats...

 ...Giving you incredible versatility for creating your most memorable adventures.

The Flycraft Stealth is incredibly packable. It’ll fit in the trunk of a car, bed of a truck, on a trailer, in an rv compartment, on a plane, top of a car, and you can break it down and pack it into remote areas.  

You can even store it in your closet.

And can be assembled it in as little as 10 minutes.

The Stealth is an unique size that give you multiple advantages.

It’s shallow draft of 2-3 inches can get you into some incredibly skinny water, giving you access to unlimited pristine fishing spots.

Add in the ability to launch just about anywhere, given it’s only 98 pounds, and you now have access to literally thousands of new, small or large streams, rivers, and lakes.

It can easily be carried to new launch sites, over obstacles or difficult portatages.

The Stealth eliminates the hassles of boat ramps, towing a trailer, and still gives you all the comfort and stability of a drift boat.

You can stand up and fish in your Stealth, like in a drift boat.

With its rock-hard bottom, that’s made of a high pressure pvc, you’ll be amazed at the stability of the floor while standing and casting.

Our reverse lean bar technology also gives you solid stability and many different advantages over a traditional front lean bar.

Instead of leaning forward you lean backwards. You also put your feet on the inside of the tubes locking yourself into position. This frees up a ton of space, increasing your rod’s range, which means you land more fish.

You also have nothing blocking your casting range while seated, giving you more advanced casting & hook setting possibilities.

Flycraft founder, Ben Scribner, has this to say...

“An incredible amount of research and testing went it designing the Stealth.  It has continued to amaze me with the performance, ruggedness, and incredible versatility.  This boat has opened up so much new water to me, I feel like it’s turned me into a fishing billionaire. I have so many secret floats. I almost never see anyone anymore when I fish....and to me that’s a beautiful thing.”

Flycraft calls it the Stealth for a reason. You can now quietly sneak up on fish... undetected...utilizing the shallow water draft and low profile tubes.

It also turns on a dime. The maneuverability and tracking of this boat can turn you into a fishing ninja, giving you the opportunity to explore new waters. At 98 pounds and 12.5 feet long, 46” wide, it’s been called the sports car of fishing boats. It’s perfect for seasoned or new rowers. 

Another feature anglers love is the 360 Degree Swivels Seats. This makes getting in and out of the boat super easy. You can also swivel on either side of the boat when you have a fish on the line, making it far easier to land big fish. And the padded seats provide maximum comfort for long days on the river.

 This boat was built to last .. The extremely durable 1 millimeter thick interwoven nylon PVC and ton of extra armor in strategic areas, gives the Flycraft Stealth superior durability. So go ahead and bring your dog. 

The Stealth’s revolutionary anchor system makes a 20 lb anchor feel like 10. And it centers you perfectly downstream, so you quietly post up on all those productive runs.

Our rod holder works wonders at decluttering the boat. Both people can easily access and change out rods while providing peace of mind knowing your rods are secure.

Adding a motor completely transforms this boat, and opens up new fishing possibilities and greatly increases your range.  Now you can target your favorite species for a fraction of the cost of other power boats while not having to deal with towing a trailer.

The versatility of this boat is truly amazing. It can function as just about any type of boat, to match whatever waters are coming your way.  There’s multiple ways you can break down the Stealth, giving you many super convenient transporting and storage options. 

Flycraft is backed by some of the top pros in the industry, including George Daniel, Lance Egan, Doug McNight, Rich Strolis, Alex Lafkes and Landon Mayer.  Here’s some quotes from our pros:

“The Flycraft Stealth has changed the way I fish Colorado lakes.“

"It has become my single favorite piece of gear, hands down.”

“I am excited about all the fishing options it opened up that I couldn't do with a drift boat or raft."

“The maneuverability and size of the Flycraft not only allows you to float the small streams but fish them effectively.”

“It’s opened up opportunities to guide that never existed prior.”

If the Stealth is the boat of your dreams ... you’ll want to buy yours now. Due to its popularity, it’s sold out multiple times.

Just select your package now ...

Watch the video below to see what the Flycraft Stealth can do...

The Flycraft Stealth is the ultimate tool to get you on all the traditional water ways. 

It'll also open up countless new fishing opportunities for you, with its superior design and exceptional durability.

The Stealth gives you the confidence you need to explore new waters!

LEARN MORE HERE >>

Check out the video below for Flycraft Stealth reviews from fly fishing pros George Daniel (an Orvis ambassador) and Landon Mayer, as well as avid fishermen. 

You can read more reviews of the Flycraft Stealth HERE.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE STEALTH INFLATABLE FISHING BOAT HERE >>

Landon Mayer endorses the Stealth inflatable fishing boat calling it, “A traveling anglers ultimate tool!”

Flycraft, known as the world’s most versatile inflatable fishing boat, proudly announces Landon Mayer, legendary fly fishing author and pro, as their newest brand ambassador.

“The Flycraft Stealth has changed the way I fish Colorado lakes.“ 21-year fly fishing veteran, Mayer, said of the inflatable fishing boat. “This boat is extremely portable with an inflated weight of 98 lbs with the frame. Within minutes, I can unload it from the bed of my truck ready and inflated, roll it to the water, and launch from any location. I am now able to add an additional layer of flexibility to my adventures by expanding my trout hunt to locations that are suitable for any particular day, regardless of wind conditions.”

“It is truly a traveling anglers ultimate tool!" says Landon Mayer.

About Landon Mayer

Landon Mayer, a fly-fishing instructor, long-time guide in the Florissant, CO area, and author, has made his mark in the fly fishing world with his obsession and expertise pursuing large trout with small flies and lightweight fly-fishing gear.

Mayer’s passionate about sharing his techniques and tricks of the sport with other fly fishing enthusiasts via guiding, teaching classes, writing for Fly Fisherman and High Country Angler magazines, and through his books 101 Trout Tips: A Guide’s Secrets, Tactics and Techniques (new for 2015), Colorado’s Best Fly Fishing, Sight Fishing for Trout, and How to Catch the Biggest Trout of Your Life, in addition to two DVDs:  Landing the Trout of Your Life and Weapons of Bass Production.

Mayer also raves about the ease of throwing the Stealth into the back of his truck, and heading out to fish, no problem. A trailer is not needed with the Flycraft Stealth small fishing boat, which is a plus for fishing pros and all fishermen alike.

“It’s also a huge advantage to be able to stay low and stealthy to sneak up on rising fish, but then be able to stand up once in position to fight that fish for make that longer cast to a fish further away,” says Mayer.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE STEALTH INFLATABLE FISHING BOAT HERE >>