Articles

5 dry flies for catching backcountry trout

These patterns will help lure voracious, high-country trout to the top
Releasing a feisty rainbow trout (photo: Chad Shmukler).

I’m not much of a list guy. I’ve just never been one to jot things down. The average trip to the grocery store is generally an adventure in random wandering that depends on me encountering visual clues to what’s needed to fill empty shelves at home.

But when it comes to fly fishing high-elevation trout water, I do, indeed, have my lists. They aren’t written down, per se. They live in the fishy part of my brain, where their compilations now consist largely of instinct rather than recall or reference.

Sage outs new SONIC fly rod and Euro-nymphing specific ESN reel

Two new trout-focused offerings from the renowned Bainbridge Island rod and reel maker
The new Sage SONIC (photo: Far Bank Enterprises).

Last week, with trout season kicking into high gear, Sage introduced two new products aimed squarely at those anglers. The Bainbridge Island, Washington company's latest rod offering, the Sage SONIC, is a multi-application rod that slots into its lineup just below its acclaimed, flagship X rod. Sage also debuted its new ESN reel, which is the first reel of its kind dedicated specifically to Euro and other tight-line nymphing styles.

5 flies that catch trout across the Rockies—and beyond

Avoid choice paralysis by focusing on these 5 proven patterns
Photo: Earl Harper

“What did it eat?” I hollered.

Across the lake, my fishing buddy Pat yelled back, “Red chironomid. Again.”

I set my rod across my lap and unzipped a pouch on my float tube. It was a brilliant spring day, warmer than it had any right to be, and Pat and I were on my favorite high country lake a full month earlier than I’ve ever been before. Usually snow blocks the road until the first week of June. We were floating it before Mother’s Day.

Redington intros TRACE and STRIKE fly rods + 2 new reels

As the season kicks off, so do four new trout-friendly offerings from Redington
The new Redington TRACE (photo: Redington).

For obvious reasons, there hasn't been much news or buzz around new gear these days. But, recently, Redington took the wraps off its first new gear offerings of 2020, introducing two new fly rods and reels.

No worse place for a mine

North America’s biggest wilderness and best inland fishery is endangered by the continent’s most toxic industry
Photo: Toshi Higashi

Sulfide-ore mining for copper, nickel and other metals in the United States has a flawless environmental record—meaning that a perfect 14-of-14 operating mines (representing 89 percent of U.S. copper production) were found to have released toxic contaminants via accidental releases such as pipeline failures, tailings dam spills, water treatment failures and seepage into groundwater supply.

Pages