Articles

That's trout water, son

Snow, it's what trout crave

by Chris Hunt - Thursday, Dec 16th, 2021

Photo: NPS / cc2.0.

Some 40 years ago, I remember bemoaning the late-season snow that killed the first fishing trip of the year into the Colorado high country for me and my grandfather. It shouldn’t have come as a surprise–it was Memorial Day weekend, and, generally speaking, Memorial Day weekend was always pretty sketchy.

But for an 11-year-old tired of dunking dough balls in the local drainage pond for carp while winter retreated from the mountains, the chance to actually throw nightcrawlers at real trout in real trout streams was something I looked forward to for weeks. Maybe months.

Streamer tip: Speed kills in clear water

How changing the speed of your retrieve can yield to streamer fishing results, even in the least conducive conditions

by Matthew Reilly - Wednesday, Dec 15th, 2021

Photo: Matt Reilly

Listen to those who are in-the-know on the many tailwaters across the country that produce regular high water flows, and they’ll likely tell you that you can’t catch fish on streamers in low, clear water. They’re dead wrong. But, to their credit, they’re kind of right.

A future with little to no snow? What that means for the West and its rivers

A new study hopes to inspire water managers — and the rest of us — to begin planning for how climate change will dramatically reduce snowpack

by Tara Lohan - Monday, Dec 13th, 2021

The April 1, 2021 snow survey at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada Mountains (photo: Florence Low / California Department of Water Resources).

It’s that time of year in the West. Winter enthusiasts have started waxing their skis and crossing their fingers for a plentiful snowpack — something that’s been in short supply of late. Of course, it’s not just recreation at stake, as a sweeping drought still has a hold over a region that needs a lot more water to replenish depleted reservoirs and ecosystems.

While tourists watch the weekend weather reports, scientists also have their eye on winter conditions further ahead.

Quick and easy gifts for the fly fisher in your life

A non-angler's guide to inexpensive but essential gift items

by Chris Hunt - Thursday, Dec 9th, 2021

Photo: Chad Shmukler

So you’re the non-angler who’s desperately trying to find the right gift for the avid fly fisher in your life … and you’re struggling with a bit of sticker shock? There’s a voice in your head that constantly whispers, “Who in their right mind pays $900 for a fishing pole?”

Little black shit

Sometimes it's better to simply have faith

by David N. McIlvaney - Tuesday, Dec 7th, 2021

Photo: Chad Shmukler

I own about 450 flies spread out over a dozen boxes or so. Dries, nymphs, streamers; crazy stuff I bought internationally—probably not going to use that 4” dragonfly from Argentina on a Catskills’ creek—but all have a reason and purpose.

Here’s the thing about my flies … I didn’t tie a single one.