Articles

Lake trout: An underappreciated target for fly anglers

Fly anglers should take another look at the oft-maligned lake trout

by Chris Hunt - Wednesday, Jul 26th, 2023

Photo: Chris Hunt

It was just one of those “fishy” places, where two stunning backcountry Alaskan rivers come together and form a river with a much more famous reputation. The two smaller rivers, each running out of fairly substantial lakes higher in the drainage, are largely unknown (at least by their names on the map). Where their currents collide and the “big” river starts is this mishmash of foam and detritus and erratic whirlpools.

Little pink clousers for you and me

Saltwater adventure off the North Carolina coast

by Shane Townsend - Tuesday, Jul 25th, 2023

Photo: Trevor Lawson.

Saltwater fishing is adventure. Why? Because there’s always a chance—just a chance—that you’ll tie into a sea monster. And with a fly rod in hand, any chance is just too much to pass. Today we’re steaming out of Wrightsville Beach with Captain Guion Lee, III (aka Captain G) and a three-man crew: Jon Newar of Captain Experiences, Trevor Lawson, and me.

Heromaker — Part III

Part 3 of a 3-part story

by Jon Tobey - Saturday, Jul 22nd, 2023

Photo: Tom Hart / cc2.0 modified.

Monday, he went in early and reviewed all of his accounts. Everything was in order, but he wanted to be clear when he talked to Mr. Purdy. He knew Mr. Purdy held him to a higher standard, that it would take more for him to advance, but he felt he had met that. If he hadn’t, perhaps Mr. Purdy could explain what more he needed to do.

He decided to give Mr. Purdy a half an hour to get his coffee and check his mail before he spoke to him, so he watched the painful minutes drag by. Just as he was about to get up and walk to Mr. Purdy’s office at the other end of the building, the devil himself knocked at the door.

“George, got a minute?” Mr. Purdy already had his sleeves rolled up, a steaming mug of coffee in his hand.

“Sure, Mr. Purdy. I was just coming to see you.”

Target big changes when chasing predatory fish

Masters of their environment, opportunistic predators only feed when the moment's right

by Matthew Reilly - Thursday, Jul 20th, 2023

Photo: Matt Reilly

Several hours into day two of our musky hunt, a satirical air still hung about the boat. My friend and fellow musky nut, Rob Rogers of Deep South Outfitters, summarized it perfectly as we shoved off into a steady downpour and biting wind under a leaden sky–conditions we’d both been hoping for.

“Why the hell do people want to do this?”

It’s a valid question.

Marginal water for trout

Find oxygen and you'll find more and bigger trout—most of the time

by Tim Schulz - Wednesday, Jul 19th, 2023

Photo: Tim Schulz.

“Where can I catch a big trout?”

I sometimes field this query from fishing friends who seemingly mistake me for someone smart enough to know and dumb enough to tell. Our subsequent dialogue generally transpires like a scene from All the President's Men:

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