Walking the exhibition hall at The Fly Fishing Show is a great example of the diversity of interests within fly fishing. Saltwater and freshwater, tied flies and materials for tying, established companies and small businesses are all represented. There are also nonprofits, antique dealers, booksellers, and artists. Fly fishing is certainly about catching fish utilizing …
By all means, buy that third (or 13th) fly rod at the next outdoor show you attend. Pick up a basket full of flies, the perfect shade of rooster hackle, or your next perfect lucky fishing hat. If you have the resources, the requirement, and the opportunity: go for it. But if you have some …
Wildlife art is something most anglers and hunters appreciate. While the Venn diagram plotting the wader or camo crowd with the art gallery types might only share a slight sliver, there is still a sliver. And although Bass Pro bucks or Guy Harvey sailfish might not be critically acclaimed, they are perfectly at home in …
What you see is an authentic photo of the bulk of my fly fishing gear. There was no planning, no staging, and no product placement. The Doritos in the foreground, left by some children, prove the first two of those points. (I can’t say I’m opposed to being on Doritos’ pro staff.) I don’t have …
Taking pictures of fish is totally fine. But there are a lot of ways that you can mess it up. While I’m not a professional photographer by any means, I have figured out a few important things when it comes to taking pictures of fish that I’ve caught. The top priorities are: Don’t take a …
There are many talented fly fishing artists out there. I am always impressed at the diversity represented in the depictions of something as simple as a brook trout flank. Light spots on a dark background. Orange bellies and white tipped fins. Vermiculated backs leading to square tails. But they are presented using different media, different …
My first key chain came from Cabela’s. It was a Royal Wulff dry fly encased in an oval of resin. It accompanied the two or three keys I needed at the end of high school and beginning of college. It met its untimely demise when I threw my keys out of frustration after blowing out …
“Montana iconic.” This is how Allyson Earnest, co-owner of Whiskey Leatherworks, describes their Cutthroat Belt. “It features the intricate pattern of the fish, but also the precision that goes into the way we work the leather. It is the perfect kind of thing to wear in Missoula… or anywhere else!” The pattern is eye-catching. Underneath …
Minor league baseball is all about fun. Sure, the players are doing everything they can to succeed at the lower levels of professional baseball with the hopes of getting to the majors. But while they’re giving it their all on the field, there is a whole lot more going on around them. T-shirt cannons, “bring …
I’ve been using the Pirate’s Fly Patch for over two years, and it has become an indispensable part of my fly fishing. It stays clipped to a panel in the back of my car, giving all my flies have a place to live. Whether it be drying out wet patterns or simply serving as a …
