The spring weather here at Mystic HQ in Denver has been fickle - typical Colorado spring weather. These intermittent snowy or cold days can be a great time to prep fly fishing gear.

Blue Winged olives will be hatching through the spring months. Ice will be coming off our favorite lakes and reservoirs. It's time to get ready for those spring and early summer fishing opportunities!

As you prep fly fishing gear for spring, here are three things you might want to consider:

1. Check Your Fly Rods

Take a close look at your fly rods and clean off any dust, debris or buildup. Pay close attention to your fly rod’s ferrules, guides and reel seat. After a year’s worth of use, it helps to give these a good cleaning.

2. Check Your Fly Lines

Fly lines get dirty and poor performance from a fly line makes a big difference when you’re fishing. Clean your fly lines with an appropriate cloth and fly line dressing. If you see visible cracks in the line, it’s time to replace it. Check with your local fly shop to find the right line for your fly rod. They can also help you with line cleaning agents.

3. Do a Fishing Tackle Inventory

Take stock of your leaders, strike indicators, weights, and other fly fishing tackle. Make a list of what you have and what holes you need to fill. This is a great time to make a list of those needed items, rather than the day before you want to go fishing. Give yourself plenty of time to stock up and place an order with your local fly shop if needed.

A Word on Rod Availability & Free Shipping

We are currently offering free shipping on all orders with no minimum from MysticOutdoors.com.

Our rod building team here in the U.S. is still working hard to catch up from the slowdown in production due to COVID. However, we're making progress and we have a solid inventory of fly rods available in the most popular sizes and line weights. Many of our retailers also have inventory available, so be sure and ask at your local fly shop. Thanks for supporting your local fly shops and small businesses like Mystic Outdoors over the past year!

A Word on Fly Rod Warranties

Please note that warranty repairs may experience a slightly longer delay as we get into the busy summer season. We will work our hardest to keep up and return rods in a timely manner. However, if you have a rod that needs repaired, we’d suggest sending it in as soon as possible. Like so many small businesses, we’re doing our best to balance the safety of our staff while still being able to keep up the pace!

Our Favorite Rods for Spring and Summer Fishing

Looking for a great fly rod for your spring and summer fly fishing adventures? Here are a few of our recommendations:

Ice Off on Mountain Lakes and Reservoirs:

Many of us are looking forward to ice-off fishing on our favorite lakes and reservoirs. Our most popular rod for this type of fishing is the M-Series. We love these rods in many other situations too. But for stillwater fishing, the 10’ 3” length and the power in this rod is simply awesome. Learn more about our M-Series fly rods here.

Dry Fly Fishing:

For many anglers, the arrival of warm weather means one thing: dry fly fishing. If delicate presentations and smashing surface eats fill your daydreams, then take a look at our Au Sauble series of fly rods. At 8’ 3” the length of these rods are perfect for laying down dry flies in brush-choked streams. Learn more about the Au Sable fly rods here.

All-Around Fly Rods:

If you’re looking for one fly rod that’s a do-it-all workhorse with an incredibly competitive price tag, have a look at our best selling Reaper X. You can’t go wrong with a 9’ 5-weigtht or 6-weight. It can take you from nymphing, to streamers, to dry flies and everything in between. Outside of these standards, the Reaper X is available from 7’ 3-weight all the way up to a 10’ 8-weight. No matter where you find yourself fishing on a regular basis, there’s a Reaper X that can handle it. Learn more about the Reaper X fly rods here.