Anyone that fly fishes vividly remembers the circumstances surrounding their start in this sport. The first year you committed to fly-fishing stays fresh, while every year after that blends together more and more as time goes on. The primary reason the first season sticks out is because the … Read more about HARD GAMES: RATIONALIZING THE SPEY ROD AND SWINGING FLIES FOR STEELHEAD
What The Deschutes River Taught Us As Anglers: The Difference Between Compromise and Necessary Sacrifice
It is no secret in the angling world that 2021 has marked the worst returns of wild steelhead since records started being kept nearly 100 years ago (1938). I won’t go into the cause or cause(s) as the issue has been beat to death and has led to nothing but more incoherent debate instead of progress. … Read more about What The Deschutes River Taught Us As Anglers: The Difference Between Compromise and Necessary Sacrifice
THE MISSOURI RIVER DRY FLY PLAY BOOK:
Being from the Northeast, I’m a stereotype as one of the many Catskill anglers that heads west every year to the Missouri River to dry fly fish as the river enters its prime season in or around July 4th on a normal year, while the Eastern rivers begin to slow down and hit the summer doldrums. … Read more about THE MISSOURI RIVER DRY FLY PLAY BOOK:
THE DELICATE QUESTION OF WHETHER TO GOVERN BOAT TRAFFIC: THE WEST BRANCH OF THE DELAWARE
Many seeing this headline from the get go, and rightfully so given my sharp tongue, assume this is about to be an all out blog rant filled with hate. Surprise, for once its not. The reality is this year has exposed what we knew was already coming on the West Branch of the Delaware- a capacity issue. … Read more about THE DELICATE QUESTION OF WHETHER TO GOVERN BOAT TRAFFIC: THE WEST BRANCH OF THE DELAWARE
FISH DON’T EAT CADDIS: THE UNDERAPPRECIATED LAFONTAINE CADDIS PUPA
In the context of dry fly fishing, you often hear certain flies or patterns thrown around by guys as their go to’s when nothing is working. Rusty Spinners and Blue Winged Olives being the most common in my experience. And while you hear quite a few flies thrown around as common confidence patterns, … Read more about FISH DON’T EAT CADDIS: THE UNDERAPPRECIATED LAFONTAINE CADDIS PUPA
WHAT A RIVER BECOMES WITHOUT AN ADVOCATE: THE COLLAPSE OF THE SALMON RIVER STEELHEAD FISHERY
I’m one sentence in and I can already feel the tension from bringing up the taboo topic everyone in Pulaski NY knows not to talk about- the collapse of the Salmon River’s steelhead fishery. That’s fine. Its time that a real conversation ensue regarding what has happened to the Salmon River’s … Read more about WHAT A RIVER BECOMES WITHOUT AN ADVOCATE: THE COLLAPSE OF THE SALMON RIVER STEELHEAD FISHERY
THE EASTERN ANGLER’s WEAKNESS: TERRESTRIALS
Everyone remembers the first fish they caught on a dry fly. They remember the pool, surrounding circumstances, and of course the fly. And for me, that fly was a size 16 black ant. For the next few seasons that followed, I turned to the ant more than any angler should. Cold weather Hendrickson hatch … Read more about THE EASTERN ANGLER’s WEAKNESS: TERRESTRIALS
WESTERN TAILWATERS VS. FREESTONES: TWO VERY DIFFERENT BEASTS
As I’ve written about before, when heading west I typically start at base camp on the Missouri River. It’s a great and steady dry fly river, that gives you a nice option to jump right in after getting off a plane and getting into some big fish on dries. And this year you could say real big thanks to … Read more about WESTERN TAILWATERS VS. FREESTONES: TWO VERY DIFFERENT BEASTS