“One more cast.” Of all the softly spoken magic spells in fly fishing, this one might be the most frequent incantation. Part desperation, part closure; the idea of a final presentation has a certain hopeful romance to it. The fish can’t tell that you’re about to call it a day. But the thought behind the …
Bass anglers learning how to fish for trout have an uphill climb. There is an entirely new lexicon to master and lots of tiny, particular gear to figure out. However, trout anglers – specifically fly fishers – have a lot to learn when it comes to chasing bass. One hurdle they have to overcome is …
Destination angling is the thing that dreams are made of. Like Clark Griswold, fly fishers sit in their cubicles and fantasize about premier trout rivers or bonefish flats. These legendary locales are built up such that the fish, the lodges, and the guides are placed in an entirely different piscatorial plane. Often, it is true. …
One should carefully approach the trout stream and objectively read the water before tying on a fly, stepping into the current, or making a cast. The alternative is to assume that what has worked for you before will work again this time. The latter is my inevitable default. Particularly when I’m feeling pressured to catch …
You’ve got a work trip or family vacation coming up. You think that either: a) There’s no way you can bring all you need for any legitimate fishing. Or, b) There’s no way you can fit anything in your luggage/minivan. I’m here to alleviate all of your worries. Taking a moment from doing the very …
The stream was crowded. Walking from my car to the water, I had to tell myself that I can’t control the fish and I can’t control the fishermen. I can only control my cast, my fly selection, and my attitude. It didn’t help that I had a pounding headache and an increasingly damp shirt from …
I caught my first trout on a fly rod in south central Pennsylvania. The lush valley with its limestone streams was different enough from suburban Virginia to be aesthetically enchanting to an otherwise distracted teenager. Closer streams with less challenging trout were an option. But I was smitten. Without any ties aside from a few …
The eye does amazing things. With our vision alone, we can discern and identify a dazzling array of variables. You can see intricate vermiculation lines across the back of a brook trout, unique spot patterns on a mountain cutthroat, or a shimmering azure cheek of a wild brown trout. And while that counts for a …
I usually don’t produce a full-sized article around holidays, as I am often busy with various and sundry celebrations. But I do want to put out something. Part of it is maintaining consistency. Part of it is that I am a little nuts about the idea of a schedule. Another website I frequent put up …
Every other fly rod was on the vertical rack. Sage, Orvis, Winston: all the names I knew and aspired to collect. But this rod was hung up horizontally. It was a bright amber with deep red wraps. The most striking aspect of the rod was that it was shorter than all the other fly rods …
