Articles

Moths for monster smallmouth

When spongy moth emergences are at their peak, topwater action can be absolutely electric

by George Daniel - Tuesday, Aug 22nd, 2023

Photo: George Daniel.

Sometimes, what one perceives as undesirable or troublesome becomes sought after by others. One man’s trash, they say, is another’s treasure. This summer, spongy moths (Lymantria dispar dispar), formerly known as “gypsy” moths, fully matured, taking flight and wreaking havoc on our local hardwood stands. Though they wrought destruction on our local forests, these fuzzy invaders became a favorite food source for smallmouth bass on local rivers.

Review: Sage SALT R8 fly rod

Sage's R8 Technology makes its way into the rodmaker's flagship saltwater rod series

by Chris Hunt - Saturday, Aug 19th, 2023

The Sage SALT R8 on tarpon duty (photo: Dylan Schmitz).

Remember when you were on top of the world after you snuck a kiss on that first high-school movie date only to get the “it’s not you, it’s me” note in your locker the next morning? It was like that — one of those moments when sheer and utter happiness turned into gut-wrenching agony.

Patagonia introduces new, ultralight Forra wading boots

Built in the epicenter of technical footwear manufacturing, Patagonia's new wading boots aim to be agile, lightweight, dependable performers for years to come

by Hatch Magazine - Thursday, Aug 17th, 2023

Photo: Bryan Gregson.

For the last decade or so, Patagonia has been on an ongoing mission to build the perfect wading boot. Or, perhaps better put, the perfect wading boots. This calling has led to a number of Patagonia partnerships with venerated bootmakers with long running pedigrees, such as Wolverine and Danner. Those efforts have brought us notable innovations, such as use of now-ubiquitous aluminum bars for wading traction, which it’s fair to say Patagonia was the first to push in a serious way with its Foot Tractor line of boots.

The Tarpon King

Belizean Guide John Moore has helped anglers land thousands of tarpon

by Chris Hunt - Sunday, Aug 13th, 2023

Photo: Camden Spear.

Maybe it’s my own creeping seniority or the aching knees, chronic back pain and the general disdain for that morning “warm-up” period — you know, that time it takes to find a limp-free gait from the bed to the bathroom — but I’m starting to appreciate older things these days.

First, older things are still around because they’re worth having around, right? They’re of value. They function. They serve a purpose. They work.

Pages