Articles

A Bounty of Fly Fishing's Rich History, Viewable Online

by Ben Kryzinski - Monday, May 19th, 2014

The American Fly Fisher is a long-standing publication produced by the American Museum of Fly Fishing. In print since 1974, issues of the American Fly Fisher span 40 volumes, all of which are now available for free viewing and downloading online via the museum's web site.

Each issue of he award-winning journal mixes features on contemporary topics, writing by fly fishing historians and scholars and reprints of fly fishing writings from across the centuries. The result is a captivating look at not only how much of our sport has changed as the years have gone by, but how much has stayed the same.

Let the Stream Do the Talking

by Mike Sepelak - Friday, May 16th, 2014

There was one older man, an excellent fisher and skilled in all kinds of woodcraft, who was pleased to look upon my house as a building erected for the convenience of fishermen; and I was equally pleased when he sat in my doorway to arrange his lines. Once in a while we sat together on the pond, he at one end of the boat, and I at the other; but not many words passed between us, for he had grown deaf in his later years, but he occasionally hummed a psalm, which harmonized well enough with my philosophy. Our intercourse was thus altogether one of unbroken harmony, far more pleasing to remember than if it had been carried on by speech.

-- Henry David Thoreau – Walden, Or Life in the Woods

Writers and fisherman venture out to the stream, not to listen to one another talk, but to hear nature speak. There's too much yammering going on in the world these days and it would be a great shame to let our all-too-few quiet outdoor moments fall prey to the din. We go out there for the serenity. At least I do.

But I have to acknowledge that we humans are social creatures and conversation inevitably creeps into the picture - particularly on the road or trail to the stream. Talk happens, so, in the event that you and I should share a waterway (and I genuinely hope that some day we do), here are some suggested conversation guidelines:

Little Mountain, Big Threats

by Chad Shmukler - Thursday, May 15th, 2014

When one thinks about Wyoming fishing, it likely isn't Little Mountain that comes to mind. With famous fishing destinations like the Miracle Mile of the North Platte, the Snake River sitting in the shadow of the Tetons or the storied waters of Yellowstone, it is easy to understand why. The region's tiny creeks, most of which you can literally step across, aren't drawing anglers from across the globe.

But Little Mountain, which sits inconspicuously in southwest Wyoming near the borders it shares with Utah and Colorado, is home to some of the state's best, most intact habitat for wild fish. It is also one of the last shelters for the gravely threatened Colorado River cutthroat trout. The region's pristine habitat isn't only a bastion of wild, native fish, it is also offers up some of the most prized hunting grounds in the state. The Greater Little Mountain Coalition calls drawing a deer or elk tag in the region a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hunt some of the best populations of trophy big game in Wyoming."

And it's in trouble.

Farm Pond Reconsidered

by Steve Zakur - Wednesday, May 14th, 2014

I now have a chauffeur. It's an extravagant expense but I'm worth it. My eldest son got his driver's license last summer and now drives whenever we share the car. It's a nice break after more than a decade of being his chauffeur and it gives him time behind the wheel to hone his craft. Before long Sam will be taking his turn at the wheel and I'll be doing even more gazing at the countryside as it slides by.

Coming home from church last Sunday, I told Chris to stray from the usual route. Sam knew where we were going and before long Chris, a reluctant angler, let out a groan. He pulled the car over as instructed when we got to the pond.

Most of the farms in town long ago yielded to development but dotted across the landscape are the little ponds that once served them. These former sources of irrigation now serve little purpose beyond being the home to resident geese. And a medley of swimming creatures.

Those Spots in Front of Rocks

Fishing the hydraulic cushion

by Chad Shmukler - Tuesday, May 13th, 2014

The spots in front of rocks, like this one on the Yellowstone River, are some of the most productive spots on almost any river. This angler passed up a prime lie for an inferior one (photo: Chad Shmukler)

Rocks and boulders are a friend to even the most novice of anglers. Why? Because rocks make it easy to read the water, a task that can be particularly challenging for beginners but also one that remains complex for even the most seasoned of fly fishers.