The fly fishing trip. It is the thing of budgets, daydreams, and wonderfully exhausting weekends. But before you get online and compare lodges and guides, mark of time on your calendar, or buy an entire new load of gear, there are some calculations that you go through. Or, at least, you should go through. If …
I am a few nights away from wrapping up the *checks notes* longest vacation I’ve taken since 2009. It came at a great time. Life is in a good, but busy, season. I didn’t feel like I was dragging myself to the day of departure. Even as I was loading the car I was reminding …
Destination angling is the thing that dreams are made of. Like Clark Griswold, fly fishers sit in their cubicles and fantasize about premier trout rivers or bonefish flats. These legendary locales are built up such that the fish, the lodges, and the guides are placed in an entirely different piscatorial plane. Often, it is true. …
You’ve got a work trip or family vacation coming up. You think that either: a) There’s no way you can bring all you need for any legitimate fishing. Or, b) There’s no way you can fit anything in your luggage/minivan. I’m here to alleviate all of your worries. Taking a moment from doing the very …
When I attended college in South Carolina, I was perplexed that locals broke out their winter coats when the weather hit the mid-60’s. Growing up in the Midwest, the only change that the mid-60’s brought about was the addition of long sleeves. Clothing, comfort, and climate in general are all relative. You only have to …
In fly fishing, and in our culture in general, tipping is expected for many direct services. On top of payment, gratuity is part of the transaction. It is a way to thank the professional. It is a way to compliment quality service. And it is a way to round out that person’s compensation. However, a …
Tailwaters are a big part of fly fishing. So big, in fact, that this episode organically became a two-parter. Today I talk about what a tailwater is, where you can find them, and why they are so important for fly fishers. More appropriately: why they are so important for trout. Of course, there is another …
The calendar says that winter doesn’t arrive until late December. The frost on my windshield and the ice on the edges of the streambank say otherwise. Cold weather means flies can be tied and deer can be hunted. But it also means that there are aspects to fly fishing that open up to us. Taking …
Even though the footprint of the Great Lakes’ tributary system is relatively small, its’ opportunities are significant and easily accessible by most people in the US. Whether you’re chasing steelhead in Pennsylvania, lake run browns in New York, or salmon in Michigan, you have the opportunity to tangle with huge fish in smaller rivers. Some …
We’ve all seen that guy: he’s got the entire Orvis catalog hanging from his vest. …okay, I’ve been that guy. Maybe you have too. In a lot of ways, fly fishing and other outdoor pursuits have shifted away from carrying more to taking a minimalist approach. It is a great thing. You can move lighter …
