Articles

Biden's first year on public lands and the environment a 'mixed bag, at best'

'In the fight to protect our public lands ... the administration is losing'

by Jonathan Thompson - Saturday, Jan 22nd, 2022

Oil drilling on BLM-managed public lands (photo: John Ciccarelli, BLM / cc2.0).

When President Joe Biden first sat down in the Oval Office a year ago, the nation’s environmental regulatory framework was in shambles. His predecessor, Donald Trump, had put tremendous energy into shrinking national monuments, eviscerating environmental protections and removing so-called “regulatory burdens” from the back of extractive industries.

Winter is a great time for tenkara

Savvy anglers dust off their tenkara rods when the mercury drops

by Chris Hunt - Thursday, Jan 20th, 2022

Photo: Earl Harper

I know a few really dedicated tenkara anglers — some of these folks won’t touch a traditional fly rod, no matter what and no matter when. They are complete converts, and that’s totally fine.

While I enjoy tenkara angling, particularly on small water, I tend to stick with traditional fly gear most of the time — I like the casting aspect of fly fishing too much to devote more than just a day or two here and there to the crafty art of tenkara.

That is, until winter.

Is this the next great permit destination?

A little-known chain of islands might finally put the Bahamas on the permit-fishing map

by Chris Hunt - Tuesday, Jan 18th, 2022

Photo: Earl Harper

The wind, a solid, in-your-face, 20-knot cast-crippler with gusts strong enough to take even the best-secured ball cap and send it flying into the clear Caribbean, forced me to turn my “good ear” toward seasoned Bahamian guide Travis Sands, just to hear his instructions.

He was frustrated. I was frustrated.

“I said, ‘Don’t strip!’” he hollered from the polling platform.

Review: Hardy Ultradisc Cassette fly reel

A versatile performer from one of fly fishing's most tenured manufacturers

by Spencer Durrant - Sunday, Jan 16th, 2022

Photo: Spencer Durrant

Hardy ended 2021 with a slew of new products. From a line of exceptional fly rods (which I’ll review in an upcoming piece, so stay tuned!) to a handful of new reels, there’s plenty of shiny, fun new toys to play with for Hardy aficionados.

Marlborough Fly Fishing Show postponed until April

Less than two weeks in advance of planned dates, The Fly Fishing Show postpones its first 2022 event

by Hatch Magazine - Wednesday, Jan 12th, 2022

Image credit: Best Western

After a series of announcements, the first of which came in November of 2020, every scheduled stop for the 2021 Fly Fishing Show eventually fell victim to cancellation in one form or another. With the exception of the Denver, Colorado show, which was cancelled due to the last-minute sale and closure of the show's planned venue, all of the 2021 Fly Fishing Show dates were spiked by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. With a full slate of 2022 shows announced in June, anglers and show goers around the country were hopeful this year would mark a return to normal.