Dear Troutbum: My 54 year old husband will be retiring next month and I want to buy him a new fly fishing pole. What do you recommend? He is five foot seven and looks like a bear. Fishing Spouse

Dear Fishing Spouse: Buy him a new Loomis GL3, 9ft. 4wt., shave his back and let him run free. Troutbum

This is one fine all-purpose fishing instrument, trust me.

Dear Troutbum: I'm having difficulty deciding between a $400 trout reel and $800 titanium impregnated full disk large arbor trout reel machined to tolerances of a nuclear trigger. Puzzled in Yakima

Dear Puzzled: Wow, this is a tough one. It's good you're seeking professional help. Have you looked at the Ross Gunnison reel? It has an excellent drag system, its light and rugged. Unfortunately it is reasonably priced, but you could always buy more than one. Troutbum

Dear Troutbum : My floating line is sinking more than it's floating, I have to dress it all the time, and time is money. It drives me out of my mind. Henny

Dear Henny: What is up with that? Buy a new RIO fly line, it fishes great; but the truth is, fly line is disposable it just gets tired from use. Don't fool with it, buy a new line once in a while, after all your not married to it. . Troutbum

Its fun to get new gear. There is a lot more to say about waders, boots, vests, etc perhaps another time. The fly-fishing year is going by way to fast, it's almost April so before you spend all that money, promise yourself time on the river too use it. Troutbums can always get more gear; it's the time we can't afford to waste.

Spring fly-fishing on the Yakima River can be a lot of things, what it won't be is predictable. So be prepared for an hour hatch of bluewing's, or an afternoon of Skwala stoneflies in the sun. The water temp is rising nicely, fish some stonefly or March Brown nymphs. Pay attention to the changing weather and bug conditions.