I am thankful for fly fishing. I am thankful that it gives me an opportunity to slow down. Even when I’m driving hundreds of miles away and then running deep into the woods, I’m dialing back most of my mental processes. I can think deep thoughts and work through all manner of issues when I’m …
Fly fishers are notoriously difficult to shop for. Picking out a rod is both pricey are personal. Flies are nice, but ones that will be used have the tendency to be quite specific. Floatant and split shot are serviceable stocking stuffers, but hardly under-the-tree fare. So what to do when the holidays come around? Is …
A random errand led to my being face-to-face with a $20 fly rod/reel/line combo. It even came with flies. Around me, people were shopping for car batteries and Barbie dolls. I examined the reel. I assessed the flies. I debated scanning the QR code on the package. It wasn’t for me, but it didn’t look …
They’re your favorite fly fishing socks. They cost upwards of $20 a decade ago, and you’ve been enjoying their soft, warm, wicking, anti-microbial features every time you’ve headed out into the great outdoors. Money well spent. But lately things are rough, chilly, damp, and – if we’re going to be honest – a little stinky. …
Many anglers fish straight through the winter. There are plenty of “off-season” opportunities to chase fish and enjoy the outdoors in the coldest months. But if other hobbies or the comforts of home keep you off the water until springtime, there is no reason to be ashamed. If that is your preference: more power to …
In the complicated system required for fly fishing that is man and equipment, your wrist might be the most fickle. For the same reason it is an incredibly flexible and dexterous joint it can lead your cast very, very astray. While the best way to straighten out your casting woes is to practice, today I …
My four boys love the outdoors. My four boys also love reading. Needless to say, there was a lot of interest when I opened up All Fish Are Awesome earlier this week. Noel Vick’s book follows the simple formula that makes children’s books readable and re-readable (and if your child chooses, the latter can be …
Nearly every fly tyer wants to get better. With focused repetition, patterns become more consistent and come together more quickly. It isn’t in the cards for everyone who sits behind a vise to produce professional-looking bugs. It isn’t necessary, either. Practice makes productive flies that fill boxes and catch fish. Along with guidance, know-how, and …
You can spend a lot of money on a boat for your fly fishing endeavors. There’s the cost of the craft itself, then the trailer, then the accessories, then the truck to pull it more efficiently… While I’ve enjoyed the quality drift boats, skiffs, and bass rigs I’ve fished from over the years, the vast …
If you know me, you know I don’t shy away from things like religion and politics. That would be like a doctor shying away from gaping wounds; a real estate developer shying away from a tract adjacent to a new exit on the interstate; you and me shying away from trout rising to big, splashy …
