Articles

Tyrant of the lakes

A one-of-a-kind catch in a one-of-a-kind place

by Chris Hunt - Tuesday, Nov 10th, 2020

Photo: Chris Hunt

Salvelinus namaycush. Tyrant of the lakes.

At the time, it was my nemesis. My fly fishing Ark of the Covenant. My angling El Dorado. As I stood on the banks of the Otherside River lining up the photo of the big fish, I felt a noticeable weight lift off my shoulders. The rain, for just a few minutes, stopped. A beam of sunshine poked through the low ceiling of clouds and I felt as though I'd just accomplished something nobody else on earth had ever done.

Truth be told, I probably did. But that's for later in this tale.

2021 Fly Fishing Show dates cancelled or postponed due to coronavirus

Skyrocketing COVID-19 case counts have forced unwelcome changes in the show's annual schedule

by Hatch Magazine - Monday, Nov 9th, 2020

Checking out new gear at The Fly Fishing Show in Edison, New Jersey (photo: Chad Shmukler).

After several summer months of steady improvement in impacts resulting from the coronavirus across the United States, the last two months have seen COVID-19 case counts skyrocket throughout the nation. This second wave of virus cases has created a great deal of uncertainty regarding the safety and practicality of holding large, indoor events like The Fly Fishing Show, which is an annual winter pilgrimage for thousands of anglers. As a result of this developing situation, The Fly Fishing show has decided to postpone or cancel 2021 dates for several of its most popular destinations.

How to start a one-match fire

Crucial fire-starting skills that can pay dividends everywhere from the backyard to icy winter woods

by Johnny Carrol Sain - Sunday, Nov 8th, 2020

Photo: Pasi Mämmelä / cc2.0

The cold front had passed, leaving rain-soaked wood and dropping temperatures in its wake. And I was concerned. Could I start a fire and warm my chilled backside and a chilled wife with the single match held between my forefinger and thumb? I thought back to the classic Jack London story “To Build a Fire” and wondered if I had what it took to survive the damp coolness of an Arkansas winter with minimal equipment and my wits, let alone the negative 75-degree frozen hell of the Far North where (spoiler alert) London’s character met his icy demise.

The dark side of social media influencers

How Instagram personalities, unscrupulous brand ambassadors and more take a toll on public lands

by Chris Hunt - Wednesday, Nov 4th, 2020

Photo: John Fowler / cc2.0

Earlier this fall, influencer, brand ambassador and professional skier David Lesh took the trail to Colorado’s iconic Maroon Bells, stepped into the lake at the base of the stunning mountains that have graced magazine covers, inspired plein air art and uplifted visitors to the West for generations, and dropped a deuce.

Review: Thomas & Thomas Contact II fly rod

The second incarnation of T&T's Euro-nymphing specialist is like no other rod on the market

by George C Costa - Monday, Nov 2nd, 2020

Photo: George Costa

Thomas & Thomas introduced the Contact series of Euro-nymphing rods a handful of years ago and they almost immediately garnered a cult-like following, with many an experienced nymph angler raving about their performance and build quality. Those ravings were well warranted, given that the original Contact was a superb example of what a thoughtfully designed Euro rod could be. So when T&T announced the Contact II, it inevitably begged the question: could the second incarnation of the Contact series provide a marked upgrade from its well-loved predecessor?

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