The fish from limestone spring creeks are pretty. But where they live gives them a run for their money.
Category: General
Skating Dry Flies & Accidental Excellence
Excellence by accident. Whether the fly fisher knows or acknowledges it or not, this little quip may very well characterize some of the best experiences we have in angling. A perfect example is one of the very first memorable trout I caught on a fly rod. Learning to fly fish, it was drilled into me …
Secret Spots for Fly Fishing (Books)
Sorry for spot burning, folks. I know it is the biggest angling crime of the internet age. It is painful to divulge this secret because it means more crowds and more competition. All of that has a cost associated with it. But this is about the greater good. And that greater good is literacy. Fly …
Photo Contest: #myvedavoo
Hey… that’s my stuff! And why is a handful of my fly fishing gear laid out in a photogenic and organized manner? Vedavoo’s #myvedavoo photo contest, of course. The whole point of the contest is to show how different people use their gear. If you’re anything like me, you are into the stuff of fly …
Dear Fly Fishers: Be Nice to Buddy the Elf
The last thing any fly fisher wants to think about in the early spring is Christmas and the weather that generally accompanies it. But really, is there any time where Will Ferrell, dressed up like an elf, isn’t funny? I’d say “no.” More than his trademark humor, I think there is something that the fly …
Of Banjos & Buggers
I have some valuable fly fishing writing to share with you. But first, let me begin by blowing your mind: THERE IS NO ENTRY FOR THE BANJO MINNOW ON WIKIPEDIA!!! Shock, I know. Anyway, growing up I was a fan of the Banjo Minnow. Not only did I use them (and with great success, I …
Shame & My Favorite Fly Fishing Photo
This is one of my favorite trout pictures. I caught this brown trout in the highest reaches of a Pennsylvania limestone stream. This fish was remarkable for its color. This fish was exciting due to its relatively large size. But this fish was most special because it was caught in a place where most trout …
Fish? Food.
Last night I had fish for dinner. It was cod; broiled with salt, pepper, olive oil, and lemon. It was wild and caught from a sustainable fishery. Most importantly, it was delicious. Eating fish isn’t a typical topic in fly fishing media. Given, I didn’t get anywhere near my cod while it was still alive. …
The Perfect Small Stream Fly Rod?
There is no perfect small stream fly rod. Various rod manufacturers and publications have declared they have the rod for fly fishing on high mountain streams or small meadow creeks. Such superlatives draw in attention (and customers). As is the case with medium-sized or large rivers, there is no perfect small stream fly rod. It is …
Restoration, Not Escape
Being outdoors is often referred to as an escape. An escape from the hustle and bustle; an escape from the rat race; an escape from normal life. Whether it be fly fishing, hiking, or simply standing in a wild place, these pursuits give a diverse group of people the feeling of liberation. It is …