3 must-know hacks for fly fishing in the weeds

The Loop Guard

The most common style of weed guard is a piece of heavy monofilament or light wire tied to the hook bend, extending from below the hook point up to the eye of the hook (above). The loop should be stiff enough to support the fly’s weight and deflect the fly off obstacles as it’s retrieved, but light enough to collapse and expose the hook when a fish bites. Loop guards work well with both surface flies and streamers, and they’re a good choice in heavy weeds and around wood.