Articles

Review: Snowbee XS-Plus Thistledown² fly line

Can one line perform well on multiple weight rods?

by Johnny Carrol Sain - Saturday, Oct 16th, 2021

Photo: Johnny Carrol Sain

The first stretch of Appalachian trout water I laid eyes upon, boulder-strewn and narrow with isolated pockets, was just what I’d imagined it would be. I approached each run camouflaged by the vast green of the forest and, thanks to the diminutive 7-foot 3 weight rod I’d strung up before hiking into the creek, was able to unfurl precise casts despite the ever-present, overhanging limbs. Just around the bend, however, the creek and the forest opened wide. Long runs trailed from the prime pockets, and if I wanted to reach the best water, I’d need a bit more range on my casts.

5 reasons to love fall fly fishing

Autumn comes but once a year. Get out there.

by Ben Kryzinski - Tuesday, Oct 12th, 2021

Photo: Chad Shmukler

It’s full-on fall across most of America, and that means it’s the best time of year to be out on the water if you’re a trout angler. Yes, you might have to wear an extra layer, or, if you’re like me, you’ll have to drag your waders out of storage because you’ve been wet-wading all summer, but these are mere annoyances. This is arguably the best time of year to chase trout, cooler temperatures and all.

And here’s why.

How to build a better Euro-nymphing leader and detect more strikes

Forget tapers, go thin for the win

by George Daniel - Monday, Oct 11th, 2021

Photo: George Daniel

When I was learning nymphing in the 1990s, it was commonly said that 50 percent of all strikes went undetected by the angler. In other words, half the time a trout ate your fly, you didn’t know it. Given the tools and approaches most often employed back then, I’d wager that estimate probably held water.

Don't ignore the triggerfish

Expand your flats horizons with a new species

by Chris Hunt - Friday, Oct 8th, 2021

A Christmas Island triggerfish (photo: Earl Harper).

It was hot the last day on the flats. Muggy. Still. Severe clear. We were miserable as we slowly steeped in our own sweat, covered up in light, quick-dry fabric to protect ourselves from the worst of the sunshine.

And the fish seemed to feel the same way. The plentiful bones of the prior day had seemingly failed to crest the lips of the flats this day, choosing instead to stay in deeper, cooler water. As we motored around, prowling for bones and maybe, if we were lucky, a permit, we came to realize that this just wasn’t the day to be out there.

Chile to fully reopen borders on November 1

Both Chile and Argentina will once again welcome international anglers in a few short weeks

by Chad Shmukler - Thursday, Oct 7th, 2021

Trout-filled Elizade Lake in the Aysen region of Chilean Patagonia (photo: Chad Shmukler).

During a press conference yesterday, Chile’s Undersecretary of Public Health, Paul Daza, told reporters that Chile will fully reopen its borders to international travelers beginning November 1, 2021. The announcement brings Chile’s reopening in line with neighboring Argentina, which formally announced last week that it would also be reopening its borders to international travelers effective the first day of November.