Articles

Making the most of Spring high water

Tips for fly fishing success during early spring conditions

by Matthew Reilly - Monday, Mar 21st, 2016

Photo: Matt Reilly

Experienced trout fishermen who have learned to succeed in the gamut of weather and water conditions presented throughout the year relish high water for its habit of rearranging fish into predictable, concentrating holding locations and bringing the river’s biggest, most aggressive citizens out to play. Likewise, the spring high water period on secondary rivers and streams represents a fantastic window of opportunity for small stream fishermen to catch their biggest fish of the year.

Consider these points to change your game in high water and make the most of this window.

Fly fishing prairie potholes

They may not look like much, but give those spits of water a try

by Christine Peterson - Thursday, Mar 17th, 2016

Photo: Christine Peterson

I grew up half an hour from a blue-ribbon tailwater trout fishery. The Gray Reef section of the North Platte River in central Wyoming, where hundreds of anglers flock each week to wade and float, was just a short drive out of town.

I could work a full day and still reel in half a dozen feisty rainbows before dark. But then we moved.

We love our new home in the prairie, don’t get me wrong. But half an hour from a tail water it is not. Driving hours each weekend to our favorite spots works fine -- our after-work fishing options, however, require a little creativity.

Failing florida’s fisheries and fishing industries

How the fishing capital of the world became a pollution capital

by Captain Mike Connor - Wednesday, Mar 16th, 2016

An Everglades baby tarpon (photo: Dan Decibel).

In much of Florida Bay, Biscayne Bay National Park, the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) and Pine Island Sound, there's far less need to tie weedguards on your flies these days. Because of South Florida’s antiquated water management system, which is mostly designed to provide irrigation and flood control at the expense of Everglades ecosystems, the seagrass meadows in these iconic flats-fishing destinations are fast disappearing.

The dirty dozen

12 proven nymphs to catch trout anywhere

by George Daniel - Tuesday, Mar 15th, 2016

Photo: Chad Shmukler

"Keep it simple” is a mantra often recited by many a fly fisher but rarely actually practiced. Let's face it, most anglers love collecting stuff and lots of it. In particular, fly patterns have long been a desired object to tie and or/collect. As I continue to travel more and meet new fly fishers- fly patterns are often the focus point of our discussions.

You can never have enough flies is what many say, but is there such a thing as too many flies? As a recovering fly hoarder, I can say without certainty that yes, you can have too many flies.

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