by Joseph Albanese - Monday, Jul 23rd, 2018
“A fly reel’s job is to just hold line.”
You’ve probably heard that a thousand times. In most cases, that’s true. If you fish mountain streams where a nine-inch brookie is a trophy, playing fish from the reel isn’t a common occurrence. And you’ll never see your backing. But if you play in the salt, or anywhere else fish are measured in pounds and not inches, having a capable drag system can mean the difference between landing fish and burnt palms.
by Todd Tanner - Friday, Jul 20th, 2018
One of the perks of being a fly fishing writer is that I occasionally receive books from other folks looking to share their work with me. Sometimes those books are anthologies, or “how-to” efforts, or guide books, while other times they’re filled with essays or personal observations or humor. Regardless, it can be a real treat to see how different people view the world of fly fishing. So here, without further ado, are three worthy titles that have crossed my threshold and caught my attention.
by Kris Millgate - Thursday, Jul 19th, 2018
“I bet that guy is staring at you because you’re pretty,” says my son.
Since I haven’t brushed my hair, I bet that guy isn’t staring because I’m pretty. He’s staring because we’re minorities. Woman with child. No man among us. There’s no way we know what we’re doing.
But we do.
I efficiently back in my truck with the only Idaho license plate on this dirt road. Locals lose the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River to tourists in the summer. I’m parked between Utah and Washington. Texas two rigs over.by Chad Shmukler - Monday, Jul 16th, 2018
This year's IFTD (International Fly Tackle Dealers) show came to a close last Friday in Orlando, Florida. The culmination of the show's exhibits is the the 'Party at the Pond' where the winners for best products in more than 30 different categories are announced, as well as product that stands out above all as the "Best of Show" This year, Patagonia's new wading boots—a collaborative product with iconic boot maker Danner—walked away with the big prize.
by Tom Davis - Monday, Jul 16th, 2018
I came so far for beauty,
I left so much behind.
—Leonard Cohen
I planned to make a night of it, fishing brookies on the sparkling upper river early in the evening then dropping down to a deeper, slower stretch after sunset in the hopes that Mr. Hex might appear—and that Mr. Big might join the party. I knew where the heavy brown lived and if anything could induce him to slide out from beneath his canopy of brush it was a hatch of Hexes, the biggest, juiciest mayflies on the continent.
Have you ever wondered about our future as anglers and hunters, or about the legacy we’ll leave behind for our kids and grandkids? If you care about the great outdoors,...
Patagonia, by all accounts, is preeminent trout country. The southern thirds of both Chile and Argentina boast some of the world’s top trophy trout rivers. From the Malleo...
Righting wrongs is a tough proposition in the world of fisheries conservation. Too often, the challenges outweigh expectations. Just as frequently, reality sets in, and...
Hardy seems to cycle through its product lineup quicker than many other manufacturers. I have a wonderful 9’9” 3-weight Ultralite LL rod that’s no longer produced, and...
Typically, fall is the time to cast sinking fly lines and large streamers for aggressive fish. Some fish are preparing to spawn while others, like musky and bass, are...
Righting wrongs is a tough proposition in the world of fisheries conservation. Too often, the challenges outweigh expectations. Just as frequently, reality sets in, and...
