Articles

An ode to the Texas creek freak and native spotted bass

Hidden in plain sight in East Texas is a blossoming creek fishing scene

by Chris Hunt - Tuesday, Nov 1st, 2022

Casting for spotted bass on "The Sam" (photo: Chris Hunt).

As a kid growing up in East Texas, I can count on one hand the times I actively fished the plentiful little creeks and seeps that flowed into the big and muddy Sabine River near my home. There were lots of reasons for this, not the least of which was that most of these little runs were secreted away on private lands, where property owners were quick to post them against trespassers or, just as often, to dam them up to create watering holes for Brahma or Angus cattle or private farm ponds stocked with bass and panfish.

We need to talk about The Little Black Book of Fly Fishing

Over a decade later, the iconic Little Red Book of Fly Fishing has a sequel

by Chad Shmukler - Friday, Oct 28th, 2022

The Little Black Book of Fly Fishing (photo: Chris Hunt).

It was the summer of 2006, and a battle was brewing in the mountains of western Wyoming. But it wasn’t your traditional battle, it was the beginning of a new brand of conservation, and two longtime journalists — strangers to one another — found themselves on the front lines.

If you're going to kill fish, do it fast

Stringers, live wells, and other methods of keeping fish alive aren't just inhumane, they make fish taste worse

by Ted Williams - Wednesday, Oct 26th, 2022

Wildlife professor Dr. Brian Hiller and his son Dash in the days before his epiphany about metal stringers (photo: Lainie Hiller).

“If you’re gonna kill fish, kill them fast. That’s the humane way. It’s a philosophical, common-sense approach, not based on any scientific assessment of pain.” — fisheries biologist Steve Gephard

At least twice a month I serve my family yellow-perch filets, first dredged in flour, then dipped in beaten eggs and rolled in equal portions of Italian bread crumbs and panko that’s sparsely mixed with grated parmesan cheese. I fry the filets in canola oil, squeeze on lemon juice, and add salt and pepper.

Henry's Lake and its not-so-secret problem

Warming temperatures and low water levels have again led to toxic conditions on one of Idaho's premier recreational water bodies

by Chris Hunt - Tuesday, Oct 25th, 2022

Photo: Chris Hunt.

News of the big catch spread like wildfire across the West. Henry’s Lake, a shallow impoundment in eastern Idaho, nestled up against the Montana border, gave up another legit trophy – a 36-inch rainbow-cutthroat trout hybrid.

5 favorite Euro nymphs for late fall and winter

Simple, effective patterns that will thin out your fly box and catch fish

by George Daniel - Thursday, Oct 20th, 2022

Photo: George Daniel.

As fall foliage begins to peak here in central PA, I find this time of year has the opposite effect on insect life on many of my favorite trout streams. Peak insect hatches are all but over except a constant supply of midge activity, which can keep the hardcore winter angler busy throughout the colder months. Although I do miss the vast amounts of insects to imitate while nymphing, I do enjoy the minimalistic transformation my fly box takes as fall turns into winter. This is when I carry only one nymph box and even that box may only have several dozen patterns in total.