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Hank Patterson’s Schwag-a-thon giveaway today
The first-ever Hank Patterson's Schwag-a-thon giveaway to support independent fly shops and guides around the country during the coronavirus pandemic is today at 6:30 p.m. MT. Over the last several months, anglers who spent at least $100 at a local, independent fly shop, or who booked guide trips through those shops, have been sending receipts…
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The Chubby Chernobyl
There are some flies that, upon first blush, make you wonder aloud as you pick through the offerings at the fly shop, "What was the guy who tied this thing smoking?" A couple of decades ago, this was certainly the reaction many traditional fly anglers had when foam became an accepted fly tying material, and…
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The hex hatch
Over the weekend I spent a total of 12 hours fishing. I landed two fish to show for it. It was nonetheless supremely satisfying. And no, I wasn’t fishing for steelhead. About 100 miles north of Lake Tahoe a lovely reservoir lies resplendent, framed by ponderosa pines, Douglas fir and the southern terminus of the…
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Simms Dry Creek Z backpack
As the name implies, the Dry Creek Z isn't just water resistant. It's waterproof. And, the pack itself, before you put anything in it, is virtually weightless. In fact, your first impression when you open the box might just be, "Is this it?"
About 18 months ago, I had three vertebrae fused in my lower back, a significant procedure that was done in hopes of stopping the brutal sciatic pain that would start just above my left hip and eventually stop at the tip of my big toe. Generally speaking, the surgery was a success. I'm still not…
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Finesse dubbing
Using dubbing to craft fly bodies and collars shouldn't be that difficult, regardless of the material you use in the process. But, for those new to the craft, dubbing can often give them fits at the vise. Below, Tim Flagler shows us how to craft the simple dubbing "noodle," or a length of dubbing that…
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Extinction, Idaho?
Our iconic Snake River chinook salmon are down to less than 1 percent of their historic numbers. With a few real exceptions, juvenile smolts in Idaho rear in some of the West’s best habitat, but on their way to the Pacific Ocean they must traverse eight dams, including four on the lower Snake River. How…
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RIO SlickCast fly line
The new RIO SlickCast fly line is billed as the slickest line ever crafted
Billed as the slickest fly line ever crafted — and not slick as in "cool," slick as in ... well, slick — RIO's new SlickCast fly lines are designed to provide the least amount of resistance as the line shoots through the guides of a fly rod. According to the company's testing, the new SlickCast…
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