“Everyone says it, but it is really true for our veterans: trout don’t live in ugly places.” Joe Cresta didn’t hesitate when asked why fly fishing is such an effective avenue for helping veterans. Cresta is the New England Regional Coordinator and Chair of Project Healing Waters‘ Advisory Council. PHW is a country-wide, fly fishing-focused …
Those who have been to the state of Maine, and probably even most who have not, recognize the rich sporting history of The Pine Tree State. Indigenous peoples and settlers fished, hunted, and trapped the diverse ecological landscape. In the 19th century, those outdoor activities were pursued for pleasure along with sustenance. While railroads brought …
“Last summer I headed out to do something that has been on my bucket list.” Joe Monaghan continued: “I rented a little Sprinter decked out for camping. I was all by myself and I had no agenda whatsoever. I drove east and started fishing; I started fishing all of western Montana. It was great. I …
This past week I had the privilege of being a guest on the Guy Jeans podcast. Guy and I talked about brook trout, smallmouth bass, and fly shops. Guy Jeans owns and guides out of the Kern River Fly Shop in Kernville, California. At about 3,000 miles away, you can’t get too much farther from …
It might have been on my fourth trip to the island duck blind when I said it out loud. “I think we need a bigger boat.” The small kayak worked great earlier in the season. Then, I wasn’t bundled up and I wasn’t carrying as much gear. I was also by myself. In December, ferrying …
“Headwaters.” Dylan Tomine said the name of his book. I asked him why he chose that title. He repeated headwaters out loud not because he was thinking of an answer, but because the title and the word have meaning. “Headwaters to me is all about tracing the beginning of something. The book is not so …
Across the country, there are dozens of programs that cater to exposing kids to the outdoors. All of them want kids to have a good time fishing, paddling, or camping. Those programs that want to add a little bit more desire to pass on an ethos along with an activity. There are a select few …
“I use the reels about every day. If I’m not happy with them? Well, I’m certainly not going to sell them to someone else.” Joseph Banik, the angler/engineer behind Qualifly Reels, cites that level of functionality and accessibility as his highest priority when designing a reel for his 5-year old brand. His fly fishing sensibilities …
“Connection, education, conservation, and exploration.” That is the quick explanation given by Fish For Change’s Operations Director, Heather Harkavy, when asked what the program is all about. But there is a lot more to this fly fishing initiative created for high school and college students. “Basically, we’re all about introducing young anglers to others around …
Outside of a rod, reel, and line, the most important (and expensive) gear for the fly fisher is waders and boots. Along with keeping you dry, waders and boots ensure that you stay comfortable and safe. For those good reasons, these items also end up costing more than everything aside from rods and reels. In …
