We had a great winter here in Idaho. Lots of high snow. And then spring arrived with buckets of rain in the valleys and more snow up high. We’re closing in on the first day of summer, and our backcountry trout streams are still surging with runoff. High water is a blessing and a curse…
I’m in Little Rock, Ark., this week for the Outdoor Writers Association of America conference. Our hotel is situated right on the banks of what looks to be an angry Arkansas River. Years ago, I worked as an editor and reporter for a couple of small newspapers about 1,000 miles away, near the headwaters of…
Calling all campfire pyros: It’s almost Memorial Day! It’s not that there’s any bad time or way to break out the grill, but if you’re one of the lucky millions out around the campfire this weekend, might we suggest this as the perfect time to upgrade to your steak and veggies? And as far as upgrades go, there’s not much easier than adding a classic sauce — made in advance —…
An angler casts to trout on the Targhee National Forest in Idaho. Chris Hunt photo. Agency says pandemic spurred more people to explore the outdoors By Andrew Avitt Over the last year, people across the U.S. chose the great outdoors to reduce stress and find a physically distanced alternative for having a little fun. National forests and…
Contacts:Laura Rose Day, Executive Director (207) 232-5976George Lewis, PPL Corporation (610) 774-5997 Landmark Purchase of Dams Opens New Chapter for Penobscot River Fisheries Penobscot River Restoration Trust purchases three dams from PPL Corp. Old Town, ME: Old Town, ME: A new chapter begins for Maine’s Penobscot River with the Penobscot River Restoration Trust taking ownership…
By Garrett Hanks Wolf Creek pass in the San Juan mountains of Colorado serves as the tipping point between the westward San Juan basin, home to the recently rediscovered San Juan cutthroat trout, and the Rio Grande cutthroat’s namesake river to the east. Unlike trout, bear, mule deer and other wildlife are unhindered by the ridgeline; their tracks freely cross the divide. Look north and you’ll notice the burn scar from the West Fork fire of 2013. Setting off south along the Continental Divide Trail, you quickly…
On a map, it doesn’t look all that far. A quick jaunt up the freeway. A race across a sea of potato fields and a good section of the Idaho National Laboratory, where plans are in place to build a dozen modular nuclear reactors to help power some 36 western communities starting in less than a decade. Finally, there’s the run up the river valley to where the desert meets the Lemhi Range
Two years ago, I took possession of a weathered 15-year- old wooden fishing dory from my friend Andy Toohey. “Took possession,” because I didn’t buy it, and he didn’t want it. He let me have that boat, but only after I had promised that I would fully restore it, and I wouldn’t bring it back, whether I lived up to promise number one or not.
It’s the best time of year for dry-fly fishers. It’s “terrestrial season.” Hoppers, beetles and ants are the flavor of the day, and high-floating foam imitations are among the best flies out there to chase top-water trout that are looking for big meals during this rare time of plenty. Video of Chernobyl Ant Here, Tim…
We’ve all dreamed of being the first angler to set foot in some remote paradise. The first to cast to catch fish that have never seen a fly. That fantasy is buried in the depths of all our souls, and, sadly, for most of us, it won’t become a reality. But we can live vicariously…
So, here’s the deal. If you don’t want to do this, your fly fishing soul is dead. Granted, simple finances and the challenges that come with travel to remote places where golden dorado congregate in cold, clear rainforest waters might make this a dream adventure that never comes true. But if a part of you…
Damn it’s cold outside, right? When these deep freeze “bomb cyclones” dip into the normally temperate climes of the American South and leave us all chilled to the bone, I tend to start surfing the travel sites for great deals to points south. Way south. Tropical south. And that, of course, makes me think of…
Thank you to Donegal PA TU Veterans Service Partnership and to Bill Nolan for your efforts to tie some flies for the national TU Veterans Service Parternship program. We are very grateful for your generous gift. Please be assured that we’ll put them to good use for our veteran couples trip to Slough Creek and…
I have worn Carhartt work jackets since I was in college. They are tough, durable, and unlike the rest of us, they look better as they age. The Carhartt Rain Defender was my first foray into the company’s rain gear, and I was pleased. I took it carp fishing one cloudy day, and appreciated the…
This showed up in my feed this week, and I just had to share it. It’s a couple of years old, but I’m of the mind that Hank Patterson is actually pretty ageless. And kudos to Orvis for bringing Hank on board to promote some new fly fishing techniques. I mean, where else would hear…
Here’s a pretty common challenge: you’re on a great stretch of trout water at last light, and fish are rising to small mayflies or tiny micro-caddis flies. You have the right fly, but in the low light, there’s virtually no chance you’re going to be able to see it. How many times have you been…
About us Founded in 1985, we are the largest exclusively fly fishing retailer in the Southeast. Our 4000 square foot store in Asheville NC offers the best selection of premium fly fishing equipment and customer service. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff are ready to help anglers of all levels on their next fly fishing adventure.…
With as much as a good pair of Gore-tex waders costs these days, it pays to do your best to take care of them. But even in the best conditions, waders will eventually fail—water is pretty determined to find its way into even the smallest of holes. Above, Cameron McDonald from Simms walks you through…
The guys at Trouts Fly Shop in Denver hit the Colorado River recently, and they did some serious damage to the river’s lively browns and rainbows using baetis imitations. Baetis, often imitated in the dun form by the venerable Blue-winged Olive, are great springtime flies, and among the first mayflies to emerge and hatch when…
I love to swing soft-hackle flies. It’s one of the best fishing methods I know for trout in steadily moving water with a generally constant depth. Below, RIO Products Brand Manager Simon Gawesworth shows you what kind of water you’ll be looking for when you’re out to swing soft-hackles, and he’ll give you some gear…
