I’m always amazed by the places that trout live. With conservation being part and parcel with fly fishing for the past few generations, there is almost a subconscious assumption that salmonids are fragile. This isn’t to downplay the reality of the situation. Deforestation, pollution, and overfishing have ravaged rivers and lakes to the point that …
Mention Southcentral Pennsylvania to a fly fisher, and chances are they will understand exactly where you’re talking about. In the angling world, it isn’t just the middle third of the commonwealth’s bottom half. Within this portion there is a valley that is bordered by the ridges of North and South Mountains, and in it lie …
Are you planning on going somewhere this weekend? Somerset, perhaps? There is absolutely no reason why you can’t be entertained while cruising down the freeway or even sitting in traffic. Three months back, I listed my top five fly fishing podcasts. I wanted to add some new episodes to the podcasts that I’ve previously suggested, …
Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention. For so many anglers getting into fly fishing, a lot of invention goes into assembling everything that is needed in a somewhat expensive sport. Risen Fly, a company that has been selling rods, reels, and a number of other accessories since 2013, was birthed out of that …
A perennial fixture of the fly fishing scene, the winter shows featuring vendors, tyers, and outfitters are highlights for anglers enduring the winter doldrums. With the premier expo holding events at seven locations across the country, and numerous other shows put on by sportsman’s groups and Trout Unlimited chapters, anglers from virtually anywhere can spend …
Today I’ll be attending the Fly Fishing Show in Marlborough, Massachusetts. I’ve come prepared with a camera, a notebook, comfortable shoes, and enough money to get into only a little bit of trouble. I’m planning on spending the day seeing familiar faces, meeting new folks, and, well, buying stuff. Next week I plan on …
We’ve all been there before. Standing in front of the rod rack at our local fly shop, trying to justify another 5-weight, and you hear the voice. “Kids these days! With their sling packs and their Twitters… no wonder I can’t catch any fish!” The shop employee is nodding along, but at a rhythm that …
If your first taste of meat was a filet of Kobe beef at a high end Japanese steakhouse, there is a good chance that it might impact your opinion of every backyard sirloin for the foreseeable future. The first time I ever saw a trout river, the sheer number and size of the fish was …
I’m not afraid of snakes. What I’m not a fan of is their snaky-ness. Herpetologically speaking, this is the trait that snakes possess that allows them to surprise you. Rarely does one see a snake coming from a long distance off, as you would with a bison or a truck full of rural folk. The …
This winter, anglers across the country are buying tickets and filling venues to attend the International Fly Fishing Film Festival. Short films about arctic char, the Montauk coast, and how the internet is impacting fishing will be viewed by thousands at theaters, fly shops, and the Fly Fishing Show. A case could be made for …
