In modern fly fishing, the idea of an opening day of trout season doesn’t hold the same kind of mystique that it did in past generations. With many catch and release waters being open year-round, the calendar doesn’t dictate if one can fish. The conclusion to fish or not depends more on personal choice. Weather, …
“It looks like a movie set,” Jeff said. “It looks like the soviets just pulled out,” I added. It was only a halfway attempt at humor. A few months earlier, I travelled to a former soviet state. I spent time in some places that had obviously felt the weight of a very, very difficult period …
On March 14th, 2018, Bernard “Lefty” Kreh passed away. He was 93. And in his 90’s, he was still a fly fisherman, an author, and an ambassador for the sport. His contributions to the development of tackle, the library of angling, and the community of fly fishers was inimitable. This was not a secret to …
I’ve known fish, personally. Now, before you call the nice people with the straitjackets and happy pills, let me explain. Over the years, I’ve fished in certain places with such regularity that particular fish are identifiable. Sometimes it is by where they are stationed, other times it is by their feeding activity. There have even …
In terms of a first cause, anglers are drawn to water because of the fish. The lure of hooking and landing trout or bass reels people into the outside. Once there, the enchantment of nature works its way quickly through the sporting pursuit and deep into the psyche. The result is an affinity for the …
Certain times of the year, everyone wants to go fishing. The beginning of the season, nice weather, and hatches get people of all angling stripes into their waders. Although there is a lot of fishable water out there, the most popular spots fill up quickly during these times. Then, you find yourself “competing” while fly …
For most anglers, fly fishing means being alone together. If that sounds more than a little confusing, it is because it is an oxymoron when written or said… but it is certainly something that anyone who fishes understands. Fly fishing is all about solitude, but we love to share that experience with others. Recently, I’ve …
There is a very distinct sound that accompanies the rise of a big trout. Most seasoned fly fishers know that big fish don’t splash a lot when feeding. One might think that big fish make big noises, but that isn’t always the case. The movement that produces surface splashing requires energy. Furthermore, it requires an …
Authors note: I am well aware that flies are not lures. But Paul Simon, for all his contributions to our American music heritage, didn’t write a popular song that allowed for such wordplay. As a young angler, everything had a dollar sign attached to it. Each foot of tippet. Every strike indicator or reusable split …
Riffle, run, pool. Although that is an accurate overview of holding water for trout, it is very general. That basic illustration is akin to saying that America is a beach, then some mountains, plains, little mountains, and then another beach. It is true, but there is much more nuance involved. This matters because holding water …
