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Tension is the key to every cast
Fly casting is an art grounded in physics. Line tension is, indeed, the key to every successful cast
As a longtime fly angler, the basics of casting are now almost completely intuitive. But I remember those early days of fly casting, and can recall how fraught with worry I was when I started fishing with anglers who possessed more experience. Back then, I was less concerned with the opportunity to learn from better…
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Bone-cold fishing in the face of winter
Cold fingers sting back to life, pressed firmly against the vent as warm air, fresh from the engine block, puffs on pink digits. The heat reawakens icy toes, and what was numb is now just painful. I gobble a sandwich. Cameron is lost in his phone. We don't speak. Not because there’s nothing to say.…
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Lesson from the guide: cover the water
I’m a “freelance” fly fisher by trade. Even on new water, I tend to look for what appears to be familiar. Long, deep runs. Structure. Riffles. Tailouts. Rising fish. And when I see the latter, I become somewhat laser-focused. Rising fish are feeding fish, and feeding fish are eminently catchable. In the absence of rising…
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How to stay safe while fishing in the winter
This time of the year is a great time to be out chasing trout. Winter doesn’t have to get in the way of that
A year ago or so, here in eastern Idaho and on the rivers of Yellowstone Country, it was brutally cold. I remember one night, I huddled next to the fire inside while, outside, the mercury bottomed out at minus-22 degrees. It was a bit early to be seeing such cold weather, but if you’re going…
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Introducing ‘Tying One On,’ with TU’s own Nick Halle
Like a lot of us, his passion is fly fishing, and, like a lot of us, he ties his own flies
At TU, many of us live to fish. For many of us here at the organization, the art of angling is what drew us to the need to protect the trout and salmon that we spend much of our lives chasing. Nick Halle is no different. As a volunteer operations coordinator, Nick is well-known among…
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How to practice a straight cast
One of the biggest challenges for new anglers is casting accuracy. With all the perceived nuances to casting among new fly fishers, it can sometimes seem daunting to place a fly generally where they want it. Truth be told — and those who have fly fished for a time can attest — those nuances aren't…
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Tying the Douglas Salmon Camp Swinger
Articulated streamers are quickly becoming some of my favorite patterns to tie at the vise. They are deadly for big trout, bass, pike and even salmon and steelhead, and, contrary to my original impression, they're actually pretty easy to craft. Below, Tim Flagler ties an articulated streamer designed for the lake-run salmon, steelhead and brown…
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