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 Fly fishermen have plenty of larger and more glamorous fish to choose from, but arguably none as eager to take a fly as bream and bass. Indeed, these warmwater species seem tailor-made for the fly rod. But there are times when these normally eager fish can frustrate even the most skilled fly angler. On slow days, consider trying a “popper-dropper” rig. Similar to a “hopper-dropper” rig, a “popper-dropper” rig…

For this wonderful shot, Tim will receive an Orvis Clearwater Fly Rod Outfit. Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there. We hope you’re having a wonderful day, which perhaps includes time on the water. Last month, we invited you to submit photos for our “Fly-Fishing Dads” Photo Contest, and we received some great entries.  Last Monday, we presented you with 10 finalists for the contest’s prizes. The voting…

 A gorgeous new series from Swedish angler and filmmaker Rolf Nylinder explores the meaning of the word “wild” when we’re talking about rivers and landscapes. Very often, what looks like the natural order of things is actually the result of man’s intervention—whether it’s from altering the course of a stream or replacing a diverse forest with monoculture. As Rolf puts it, “This film is not just about fishing, it’s…

A backcountry fly-fishing trip in North Carolina’s Pisgah National Forest turned scary for Zain Shah and Kevin Foley, high-schoolers from Chapel Hill, when Zain was bitten by a rattlesnake along a riverbank. Two miles from their car, they recognized that they were going to need help, and Kevin was able to reach a 911 operator who talked them through temporary treatment and called in a helicopter to airlift Zain to a…

Last night, Senate Republicans on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee released a proposal to sell between 2 million and 3 million acres of public land in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. From the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership: While the House version put forward land sales to approximately 500,000 acres in Utah and Nevada, the Senate proposal would accelerate land disposals across…

By Rick Mikesell Scientific Anglers has introduced the Magnitude Clear Trout series—a purpose-built family of floating fly lines designed for the most technical trout situations. According to SA, this new offering is tailored for stealthy, precise presentations and gives anglers the confidence to use a shorter leader and still deliver the perfect presentation to even the pickiest fish. The series includes two models: the Infinity Clear Float and the Trout…

This week’s Tying Tuesday contains none of the elegant, artistic patterns that are often featured on the covers of fly-tying books. Instead, you’ll learn to tie oddball—perhaps even unattractive—flies that will catch fish. We kick things off with the relatively handsome Renegade, a classic attractor pattern that works almost anywhere trout rise to bugs on the surface. It’s not pretty, but super easy to tie. Enjoy the AI narration, as…

  Many North Americans would love to catch brown trout in their native environment, and most of us think of the UK or France or Slovenia for wild, native brown trout. But, Spain has a long history of fly fishing in the Pyrenees—Hemingway called this region “the closest thing to heaven”—and for the traveler, there are many rivers with public access. Spain has small freestone mountain streams, lakes, and tailwaters…

A fascinating article by Jules Silverman and Brad W. Taylor in Fly Fisherman looks at why and when trout react to certain insects on the water. Two trips to the Missouri River to fish the Trico hatch left Silverman perplexed about why trout would eat the spinners one week and not at another. Rather than just chalking it up as one of the mysteries of the sport, he decided to…

A new bill introduced in the closing hours of Alaska’s legislative session seeks to expand protection for the Bristol Bay region, home to a prolific wild salmon fishery that produces over $2.2 billion in economic output and supports over 15,000 Alaskan jobs. The bill, introduced by Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon (I- Dillingham) and Representative Andy Josephson (D- Anchorage), would ban metallic sulfide mining, also known as hard-rock mining,…

Illustration: María Alconada Brooks/The Washington Post Here’s one from the “Uh-oh, where is this headed?” files. Writing in The Washington Post, Ashley Fetters Maloy details how the fashion industry has recently latched on the fly fishing for inspiration. As Vogue‘s descriptions of “fly-fishing baskets” and “hand-carved[?] bamboo fishing rods” below make clear, these fashionistas aren’t bothering to actually learn anything about the sport they’re ripping off . . . ahem…

This weekend is a great time to explore new rivers and lakes. Photo: Bill Bullock Have you always wanted to try fishing in a nearby state but weren’t sure if it was worth the license fee? Now’s your chance, as more than half of U.S. states will allow anglers to cast a line without a license this weekend. The folks at TakeMeFishing.org have put together a handy list to help…

 Forest Station—a bluegrass band with angling roots in both Bozeman, Montana, and Jericho, Vermont—recently release a new song that any fly fisher can relate to. (Lines such as “I tried new flies a dozen times, and none of them seemed to work” might hit a little too close to home for some of us.) “White Whale” is about what motivates anglers to continue to stoke their obsessive fires.

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This week’s Tying Tuesday features three patterns that aren’t focused on imitation, but offer bright, attractive silhouettes that will make fish take notice. We kick things off with a classic pattern from Barry Ord Clarke, who walks you through the steps for tying Lee Wulff’s legendary White Wulff. It’s easy to tie, easy to see, and floats well even in rough water. Next up is another simple, yet effective pattern:…

Striped-bass fishing is heating up along the East Coast, and the folks from Trident Fly Fishing in Portland, Maine, have shared their Top 10 flies for the new season: “Whether you’re chasing striped bass from the surf, a boat, or in the back bays, these flies have proven to be the most effective patterns for getting hooked up this year. We cover a mix of classics and innovative new designs…

Dave Ross and KOAA’s Dianne Derby. Photo courtesy Dave Ross, via koaa.com Dave Ross of Colorado Springs, Colorado, is a former B-52 pilot who served in Operation Desert Storm, but it’s his work with Project Healing Waters that earned him a Lighthouse Award from his local news station: [His] volunteer work started with cooking for the non-profit’s daylong fishing trips across southern Colorado. He then started to take on the…

The American team bested the hosts, the Czech Republic, to secure their second bronze medal in a row at the World Championship. Photo via Instagram Last week, after five greulling days of competing against the best teams in the world at the 2025 World Fly Fishing Championships in the Czech Republic, the USA Fly Fishing Team finished in third place to win a bronze medal.This is the second year in…

 A cool report from News 5 Cleveland focuses on an Akron woman who’s blazing a new trail in Ohio. Although female-owned guide services aren’t a new concept—Lori-Ann Murphy and Christy Ball launched Reel Women Fly Fishing Adventures in 1992—Christa Clasgens of Silverhen Fly Co. is bringing the same expertise and energy to her local waters: “We’re seeing all sorts of people from all walks of life do fly fishing…

Katherine Ford shows off a fine smallmouth bass, the fish that made her fall in love with fly fishing. Photos courtesy Katherine Ford Wisconsin artist Katherine Ford came to both painting and fly fishing late in life, but she’s certainly made up for lost time. Known for her gorgeous watercolors of flies, she’s also taken to painting different fish species, as well. The results are colorful, impressionistic paintings that really…

Photo: Phil Monahan Father’s Day is fast approaching (June 15, if you haven’t been paying attention), and getting Dad out on the water is a great way to celebrate. Writing in Forbes, my friend Monte Burke has some excellent advice for how to get the most out of your special day fishing with Pops: The reason to fish the water on the public lands now? Dads, by nature, like to…