Among many fly fishers, there is a positive – albeit somewhat nebulous – perspective on Trout Unlimited. They know that the conservation work and the cold water resource advocacy happens, but that might be the extent of it unless there has been a personal connection or proactive involvement in a local chapter. John Ross’ Rivers …
It would be easy to say that I regret not reading Christopher Camuto’s A Fly Fisherman’s Blue Ridge years ago. Not only is it well written, but the author’s experiences overlap with my own in a remarkable way. It is good enough that I can simply embrace that it was providentially saved for me today. …
Most of my fly fishing books are purchased because of their historical reputation or from the hype surrounding their release. Every once in a while, a book falls into my hands with no fanfare whatsoever. In the case of John Inglis Hall’s Fishing a Highland Stream, the lack of fanfare at its acquisition has been …
Magazines have been an important part of fly fishing for a long time. And although their luster has faded significantly since the dawn of the internet, regular angling periodicals are a great source of information, entertainment, and expression. Trout is the quarterly publication of Trout Unlimited. For nearly 25 years, the late Dr. Robert Behnke …
There is a head-spinning number of people in the southern part of Pennsylvania, the central part of Maryland, and the northern part of Virginia. A good portion of them are anglers, too. However, all three states are absolutely overflowing with waters teeming with fish. Even in some of the most urbanized areas you can find …
David Coggins does something really impressive with The Believer. He makes a globe-hopping, non-stop year of fly fishing come across as relatable. Whether your travel schedule is thick or thin, this 2024 title is sure to capture your interest. Coggins is a wordsmith, and his writing is just as compelling as the angling adventures he …
Coffee table books have a reputation; so too do books that are ubiquitous. How could something so popular and so prevalent be that good? Well, the late Chris Santella did some great work in his 50 Places to Fly Fish Before You Die series. The two books, which respectively came out in 2004 and 2011, …
Trout are essentially simple creatures. They look for food, they look for security, and (once a year) they look for love. That said, there is some nuance in how and why they do what they do. Even something as seemingly straightforward as a rise tells the angler a lot more than “the fish is feeding …
Every once in a while, something touching this little niche world of fly fishing breaks out into the larger cultural consciousness. Kirk Wallace Johnson’s The Feather Thief was a book that found acclaim among people who have never sat behind a tying vise, let alone cast a fly rod. Part of the reason why the …
The notion of smallmouth bass fishing doesn’t come across as romantic as the picturesque dry fly, trout angling aesthetic. The warmer water and the casual wet-wading vibe probably contributes to this. But just as often as fast and loud presentations catch bass, the ticket for a productive day is a finesse approach. In Fly Fishing …
