Articles

10 Important Lessons Learned About Fisheries Management

by Colin K. Breck - Thursday, May 30th, 2013

Earlier this month, over 600 people that know a bit about the world of fishing and fisheries management gathered in Washington, DC at the Managing Our Nation's Fisheries conference to address the current state and future of the United State's domestic fisheries.

The third installment of the Managing Our Nation's Fisheries conference stated a goal of "focus[ing] on how concepts, policies, and practice of fishery sustainability can be advanced to a higher level." According to organizers, the conference planned to address topics of interest to "members of the public, fishery participants, environmental advocates, fishery scientists and managers, policymakers, legislators, and journalists."

Nymphing: Get More Hookups

by Chad Shmukler - Wednesday, May 29th, 2013

Any time that little orange ball (or whatever you're using) moves, set the hook (photo: Chad Shmukler).

It is commonly said that every twentieth rock in a given stream has an adipose fin. The point here is, of course, that every twentieth time you think you've snagged or hit a rock -- you've actually encountered a fish. While it's doubtful there's anything but anecdotal evidence backing the statistical content of this saying, the point it attempts to make remains solid: if you think you're not getting enough hookups when nymphing, one of the most likely reasons is that you're not setting the hook often enough.

Most fisherman that are highly successful at nymphing share a common behavior: they're setting the hook constantly. And this is what you're supposed to be doing, isn't it? Most of us are taught, or teach, indicator nymphing the same way: watch the indicator drift, if it does anything other than float along the surface minding its own business, set the hook.

Forget Me Knot: Living and Fly Fishing in Bristol Bay

by Chad Shmukler - Tuesday, May 28th, 2013

If every river on earth made rainbows like this, the world would be a better place.

For many of us, the idea of growing up on an Alaska river is the stuff dreams are made of. In Camille Egdorf's case, it is the stuff she is made of. Camille grew up splitting time between Montana and Alaska, spending summers on the shores of the Nushagak River, some 180 miles north of where the Nushagak dumps into Bristol Bay. As one would expect, Camille has grown up to be an accomplished angler, is a well respected name in the industry and pro staff for Allen Fly Fishing.

In 2012, Camille spent over 100 hours documenting camp life at her parents' -- Dave and Kim Egdorf -- camp on the Nushagak River. The result is a relatively brief but intimate, entertaining and incredibly well crafted look at a season-in-the-life of the Egdorfs and their guests.

G. Loomis Wins 2013 5-Weight Fly Rod Shootout

by Ben Kryzinski - Saturday, May 25th, 2013

The G. Loomis NRX Light Presentation fly rod.

Earlier this month, George Anderson's Yellowstone Angler released the results of its "5 weight shootout", during which a long list of fly rod offerings from several different manufacturers are tested. The series has become popular with anglers, due to the extensive detail and analysis that goes into the shootout. Many anglers have also come to view it as an excellent resource for an objective view on what rods perform the best, a method of -- as Anderson puts it -- "cutting through the [marketing] hype" of rod manufacturers.

Rods from varying price points are tested and judged based on a series of objective and subjective categories. This year, top honors went to the G. Loomis NRX Light Presentation. Commenting on the rod and its designer, Steve Rajeff, Anderson said, "Steve is a master at building rods with nice progressively soft tips and this is one reason that G. Loomis has made some of our favorite rods over the years. Good strong butt and mid section power, but softer tips that allow for better feel, superb accuracy and delicate presentations."

Supply Trouble for Idylwilde Flies

by Colin K. Breck - Saturday, May 25th, 2013

Idylwilde Flies Logo

According to information released by Idylwilde owner and founder, Zach Mertens, a disagreement between Idylwilde's Philippines production facility and Mertens is causing delays and possible cancellations of 2013 fly orders.

In a post by Mertens on the Idylwilde blog, he stated "our manufacturer notified us last week that it is refusing to ship us any further product at this time. The Company is holding our April fly order, which includes the bulk of our pre-season product for 2013. We believe Idylwilde has met every obligation under our agreement, and the sudden and unilateral actions by the manufacturer are improper and a breach of our agreement. For the first time in our 15 years of business, Idylwilde is being forced to ship out pre-season orders with embarrassing fill rates." Mertens added that Idylwilde was "doing everything [its] power to get ... fly orders released."