Articles

Book Review: Norman Maclean: A Life of Letters and Rivers

The first biography of one of fly fishing's most celebrated authors

by Spencer Durrant - Thursday, Feb 6th, 2025

Photo: Spencer Durrant.

Norman Maclean wrote A River Runs Through It, the book which inspired the Robert Redford film of the same name. "The movie," as it's known in fly-fishing circles, is responsible for the first big surge in fly fishing’s popularity, and helped bring the sport into the mainstream. A River Runs Through It is one of the best American short stories of the late 20th century, but Norman Maclean remains one of the most unknown authors.

Objective advocacy

Real journalism has an agenda

by Ted Williams - Sunday, Feb 2nd, 2025

Morning reflections on the Gibbon River in Yellowstone National Park (photo: Jacob Frank / NPS).

“But did he have to name names?” one of the many editors who have fired Mike Frome plaintively intoned to investigators from the American Society of Journalists and Authors. Well, yes he did.

“He gives ‘em hell,” bragged one of the many editors who hired Mike Frome. Well, no he didn’t. To borrow the words of Harry Truman, he “just told the truth on ‘em, and they think it’s hell.”

Britain's brown trout could be gone by 2080

A new study offers a dire warning for one of the world's most beloved fish

by Chris Hunt - Saturday, Feb 1st, 2025

Photo: Chad Shmukler.

A new study conducted by the Environment Agency in Great Britain predicts that water temperatures across the British Isles will be too warm in the summer to support native brown trout by 2080, a dire warning for anglers and what’s hailed as the commonwealth’s favorite fish.

Simms debuts its spring 2025 lineup

New waders, boots, packs, and more

by Hatch Magazine - Thursday, Jan 30th, 2025

Photo: Simms Fishing.

Simms just dropped its 2025 spring collection, and it’s a very fly-focused new offering from the venerable, Bozeman-based outerwear brand. The new collection includes a plethora of new gear, but a few items will percolate to the top for most fly anglers. Namely, Simms has updated multiple items in its well-loved G3 line—the G3 Boa boot and an all-new G3 bootfoot guide wader. It is also debuting a brand-new version of its Flyweight wading boot and has unveiled a new saltwater wading boot and a new collection of its Headwaters packs.

Fishing the frigid: Tips for winter fly fishing success

How to adapt your tactics and approach for better winter fishing

by George Daniel - Saturday, Jan 25th, 2025

Photo: George Daniel.

Successfully transitioning into the cold season usually means adapting your fly-fishing approach. This doesn’t require a complete overhaul of your gear and tactics, but every season presents a new set of variables. As the seasons change, trout water can seem like a labyrinth — one that is constantly morphing, often making it feel impossible to navigate. The path that worked yesterday suddenly closes, forcing you to take another route. But one of the things that makes fly fishing so exciting is how the same body of water is always changing.