It was a surprise encounter. Each of us traveled roughly 350 miles, meeting on an inconspicuous gravel bank outside an unincorporated rural town. I was looking for trout. It was looking for love. The last thing I expected to catch on a size 16 crippled sulphur emerger on the East Branch of the Delaware River …
Allow me to modify a common saying among preachers. Every angler has three fishing trips: the one he plans, the one he goes on, and the one he wished he would have had. Not super smooth, but you get the gist. On a recent four day fishing trip, I thought about the preparations and plans …
Three stories are woven together in Cast, Catch, Release. Marina Gibson ties her personal life, her professional ambition, and the lifetime of the salmon into an approachable and enjoyable read. Fly fishers and non-anglers alike will be able to pick up and go through Cast, Catch, Release. Along with the biographical nature of the book, …
Today, I’m not here. Well, I’m somewhere… just not in front of the computer. I’m waist deep in one of the historic rivers of New York’s Catskills. I’ve met up with a friend to chase big trout on spectacular water for a handful of days. And even if you’re not on the water with me, …
10 episodes away from 300, and I couldn’t have done it without you. And when it comes to these regular “Accusations” podcasts, I literally couldn’t do it without you. Because every 10 episodes, I interact with questions and comments from listeners and readers. Emails have been coming in fast lately. It was hard to pick …
Recently I’ve been thinking through backup and/or redundant fly fishing gear. What should I own? What should I bring with me? What should be on my person when I’m on the water? Ultimately, these are not the most important questions. I get that. Casting skill, the ability to read water, and presentation trump gadgets and …
Memorial Day represents something real, somber, and important. Consequently, it is much more than an unofficial start of summer. At the same time, there is something to be said for the fact that summers as we know them are intrinsically linked to the freedoms we enjoy. Public lands, economic enterprise, and even the flexibility of …
All you need to fish is one rod, one reel, one line, and one fly… but it is better to have a few dozen… boxes of them. That said, it isn’t the worst thing in the world to have some other gear that can serve a similar purpose. Along with performing in a slightly different …
Rod. Reel. Line. Flies. Net. And… thermometer? Even though they are ubiquitous in fly fishing catalogs and on gadget racks in fly shops, it is a good assumption that not everyone knows what they’re for. That said, so much has been made of the conscientious step of being mindful of water temps in the summer …
Fly rods garner a lot of attention because of their function and price. Fly selection is the focal point of so much stream-side attention. But without good line and the right leader, nothing is going to catch any fish. Your cast and your presentation depends on fly line, leader, and tippet as much as rod …
