Fishing

Ian Crabtree is, in many ways, a coldwater version of previous guest Capt. Will Benson. Listen to his astute observations on the culture of guiding in Alaska, what it's like behind the scenes at a remote salmon lodge, and what impact anglers' take has on the fishery. Don't miss this rare opportunity to get inside the head of a top Alaskan fishing guide - you may find yourself behaving differently on your next guided trip as a result.

Tim Rajeff has truly lived a life of flyfishing. From his childhood tagging along to San Francisco's Golden Gate Angling Club with his big brother, world champion Steve Rajeff, to his work distributing Airflo's unique fly lines, to the creation of Rajeff Sports and Echo Fly Rods, Tim Rajeff never seems to slow down. Tune in for a look inside the international competitive casting circuit of the 1980s and for a primer on the complexities of fly line manufacture. Then learn what makes a world champion tick; and how much fun it is to beat him at his own game.

Johnny Le Coq has been a successful businessman (and photographer) all his life. Still, who could expect a small accessories company--you know, the ones which crop up each year like daffodils, only to wither as fast as they came--to not only survive the turmoils of fly fishing's small market, but to become what one rep called "the company I'd give my left [censored] to land?" Listen in as Johnny's design genius peeks through the cracks of his modesty while he unveils one of fly-fishing's hottest brands.

Greg Lilly is the founder and (again) owner of Healing Waters Lodge. He also runs the "Think Like a Guide" series of on-the-water schools out of his location in Twin Bridges, Montana. Come along as Greg discusses guide etiquette, tipping, and how to fish like the guides.

Jim Murphy founded Redington and Albright Tackle, and today is President of Hardy North America. Listen to his insightful and uncommonly candid commentary on foreign manufacture, outsourcing, and fly-fishing product design and distribution. Don't miss the unveiling of a timeless classic coming back to Hardy's lineup for 2009.

Tom Rosenbauer, author of Prospecting for Trout, hosts a three part video series on how to read trout streams. This piece comes from THE NEW FLY FISHER television series. Read more at www.thenewflyfisher.com. To subscribe to The Orvis Fly Fishing Guide Podcast, please visit www.orvis.com/podcast.

In this video, Tom shows off the attributes of the new Battenkill Large Arbor Reel from The Orvis Company. Check out customer reviews of the BLA by visiting  www.orvis.com and searching for "Battenkill Large Arbor Reel" in the search window.

A number of listeners have emailed Tom (at podcast@orvis.com) asking for his advice on choosing a fly rod. It can be an intimidating process, but made easier if you break it out into steps. After listening to this podcast you can get more information on selecting a rod at www.orvis.com/flexindex.  If you have suggestions for the Orvis Fly Fishing Guide Podcast, or to subscribe, visit www.orvis.com/podcast.

This week Tom impresses us with his biggest word, yet: Tricorythodes. By listener request, Tom gives some great tips on fishing the trico hatch. The flies are small, but it is worth the extra effort.You can read more about trico at www.orvis.com/trico. If you have suggestions for the Orvis Fly Fishing Guide Podcast, or to subscribe, visit www.orvis.com/podcast.  

From time to time, we plan to show you all some videos of products we are really excited about. In this video, Tom gives an overview of the Silver Label XT Bootfoot Waders from Orvis. Read more about the Silver Label waders at www.orvis.com. If you have suggestions for the Orvis Fly Fishing Guide Podcast, or to subscribe, visit www.orvis.com/podcast.

Latest reports on yesterday's ballot initiative to enact new protections for salmon rivers show Alaskans voting largely against the new measures.

In an interview with Tom Rosenbauer of Orvis yesterday we learned that the company is actually beginning production of the 11- and 12-weight Helios rods -- one of the highlights of their new 2009 product line -- this week. Why now? Turns out that Orvis just caught up with orders on the rest of the Helios line. The 12-weight Helios weighs 5.25 ounces (the 11 only weighs 4.37 ounces). Compare that to the low end of spectrum for "light" 12-weights at about 6.35 ounces and you've got a rod that is probably going to be a full one ounce lighter than any other 12-weight on the market. The new rods…

Hidden among Jon Stewart's Democratic convention barbs may the best explanation yet for why the Federation of Fly Fishers and other organizations and companies are coming to view Colorado as the epicenter of fly fishing in the U.S. "Stewart warmed the crowd by remarking on how 'suspiciously friendly' the locals are. The Colorado stereotypes continued: 'You're all in very good shape.'" Joanne Ostrow in the Denver Post.

John Berry reports that FFF affiliate Mid-South Fly Fishers in Memphis has just come out with latest edition of their indispensable guide book Home Waters, which covers Arkansas and Tennessee. Besides listing all accesses and directions for how to get there, the book includes details on how to fish each location, written by seasoned guides and veteran anglers. "Another feature that will appeal to the traveling angler is the accommodations matrix. It lists all of the accommodations available near the streams in the guide and provides contact information. It includes a lot of data concerning…

What techniques contribute to better timing and higher line speed? As Joan Wulff shows us this week in "Distance Casting," modifying shoulder and elbow position, shooting line on the backcast, and adding single hauls can easily help further your reach. At the end of the video she also demonstrates a handy trick for creating loops that will not tangle when shooting line while wading. Excerpt: "There are two stances that will solve all of the problems you encounter between distance and accuracy. Accuracy is a little bit like throwing a dart. It doesn't matter how you stand, but your shoulders…

Piece of Outdoor Heavenby Brad Wilson Potter and Clinton Counties History The Kettle Creek watershed drains 246 square miles of Tioga, Potter and Clinton Counties in North Central Pennsylvania. In all, 67.3 miles of class A trout waters exist in the upper Kettle Creek

Introducing The For videos demonstrating the on HatchesTV click here An Innovative and Novel Storage Device for Handling Waste MonofilamentWhat lasts longer, Empires, buildings or monofilament? Monofilament, probably.It lasts up to six hundred years. So what happens when we

by Al Beatty DemonstrationWatch the Demonstration on HatchesTV which showcases over 45 minutes of video showing you the variety of uses this unique bobbin offers! It's not very often I agree to "test drive in print" a new fl

by Will Mullis I was wrong, I admit it. Like most anglers I have attributed the birth of a new generation fly fishing films to the boys from Angling Exploration Group and their Trout Bum Diaries DVD. Until recently I have never heard of the 1974 film "Tarpon," which was shot in Ke

Reviewby Will Mullis Fly fishing is unique. Despite the drastic changes in our culture over the past hundred years fly fisherman to this day remain deeply rooted in tradition with a respect and appreciation for the history of fly fishing. Over the last several years fly f

A call to action from out friend and colleague Ron Hunter at Patagonia. Patagonia is partnering with International Rivers to try to stop the construction of 5 huge hydroelectric dams in Chilean Patagonia. Starting this week, we'll be sending out postcards to our mail order customers. The postcards ask The Home Depot to stop doing business with two large Chilean manufacturers of wood products, both of whom are heavily involved in the dams project. We're asking customers to sign the postcards and drop them in the mail. The cards will go back to International Rivers, who will send them…

Take it from someone who knows the man. When Straq says his Foxtail Crab (claw variation) pattern has been, "very good"... you should pay attention. P.S. It's a stripah pattern Via: Wayupstream  LINK

What would happen if four of Hollywood's premier artisans decided to make a fly tying video?  LINK

I’ve just awakened from the most incredible dream. I dreamt I spent the entire summer floating down beautiful rivers, laughing with friends, staying up late to watch movies with my daughter, eating cheeseburgers and cupcakes every day…and catching lots and lots of fish. No, there’s no need to pinch me. It was too good to be true, I know it had to be a dream. I am finally back in Austin and as I wipe the sleep from my eyes, the sights of my house (and my reality) are slowly coming into focus. Piles of mail and laundry are lined against the wall, jockeying for my attention.

And when I say ‘bank’ I mean inches off the bank. Subtle rises in super skinny glassy water. Dry flies and big skies. Pictures may be worth a thousand words, but this day on the river was absolutely priceless. ShareThis

Summertime has taken me hostage and I will admit that I am showing signs of loyalty to my captor. I am so so so sorry for the continued silence. Mea culpa. But Summertime is keeping me out here in Montana and makes it awfully difficult to find access to the Internet or decent cell service. Not to mention, I’ve been forced to spend unspeakable amounts of time floating down rivers and fishing until dark night after night. Little Chick is back from summer camp so the program will change over the coming weeks. Now I am the camp counselor in Montana — working for the Kidnapper, so to…

I’ll just take the rainbow. ShareThis

Sorry for the radio silence here on FFC. I was home in Austin for one little ole week, and I was in 100% mommy-mode. Little Chick is officialy at sleepaway camp for the first time ever…..ah!! (No tears, no tears.) So now I am back in Montana where the rivers are high and my internet connection is slow. Bear with me while I juggle fishing and hand-cranking this computer to locate the world wide web. I’m headed back to the river with my mother today so I’d better dash away for now and get ready. I will send a more colorful report when I figure out how to load pictures on this…

Latest reports on yesterday's ballot initiative to enact new protections for salmon rivers show Alaskans voting largely against the new measures....

In an interview with Tom Rosenbauer of Orvis yesterday we learned that the company is actually beginning production of the 11- and 12-weight Helios rods -- one of the highlights of their new 2009 product line -- this week. Why...

Hidden among Jon Stewart's Democratic convention barbs may the best explanation yet for why the Federation of Fly Fishers and other organizations and companies are coming to view Colorado as the epicenter of fly fishing in the U.S. "Stewart warmed...

John Berry reports that FFF affiliate Mid-South Fly Fishers in Memphis has just come out with latest edition of their indispensable guide book Home Waters, which covers Arkansas and Tennessee. Besides listing all accesses and directions for how to get...

What techniques contribute to better timing and higher line speed? As Joan Wulff shows us this week in "Distance Casting," modifying shoulder and elbow position, shooting line on the backcast, and adding single hauls can easily help further your reach....

Scientific Anglers has just released a new sharkskin taper and called the fly line the "magnum taper". Ray Schmidt has casted the new fly line and offers this short review.

Most of you probably know that Sage discontinued the SLT. What you may not know is the replacement. It is called the ZXL.

Shark Skin: Scientific Angler's Innovative New Fly Line . Get the scoop on the most radical change to fly line since silk was replaced -

Strong winds continue to keep fishing pressure low around the state. Most anglers have given up their fishing poles for the firearm deer opener November 15.

Fly Fishing For Carp On Lake St Clair By Captain Steve Kunnath Lake St Clair is mostly famous for fly fishing for smallmouth bass, pike, and musky. However, fly fishing for carp on the sand flats is drawing lots of attention as well. Lake St Clair, which is located near Detroit Michigan, between Lake Huron and Lake Erie, is an excellent place to experience this up and coming fishery. In the last few years fly fishing for carp has become the fastest growing craze amongst fly fisherman in America. Many anglers now look at this stereotyped ?garbage? fish in a new, and positive, sporting way. In…

"Come down next Tuesday, that's when George will be in." "Next Tuesday" happened to be the day that "George" would be previewing some of Simms' and Sage's 2009 releases. Ever the gear junkie, I raced down to the shop during my lunch hour to find the back table stacked with all sorts of goodies from fly fishing's favorite "S" companies. Here's a glimpse of things to come: A completely new lineup of Sage reels. These things actually blew me away. I used to think that the old Sage reels were cool, but these guys raise bar even higher. From small game to big and from entry level to high end,…

Where: Cowlitz River When: Saturday Conditions: Sunny, hot Flies used: General Practitioner-style flies Species pursued: Steelhead Song of the day: "The Metal," Tenacious D 5:30AM, Saturday morning. Expected high of the day, 98 degrees. For the moment, things were cool. Steve Buckner, our guide for the day, pointed out our respective runs and described his approach to fishing them. Wisps of vapor rose from the river's surface like curtains pulling back, revealing the slices of fishy water I had daydreamed about for the past week. "Go through this with a fine-toothed comb--there's no need to…

Where: Puget Sound When:Sunday Conditions: Sunny and breezy Flies used: Clouser Species pursued: Coho and searuns Song of the day: "Mad World," Gary Jules Seeing as how a few better than average reports have been coming in from the salt, I thought it might be a good time to check things out. Following my typical summer fishing protocol, we left before daybreak and fished the sunrise at a beach I suspected would hold a few coho and maybe even a searun. What we found was both encouraging and frustrating: consistent boils at different ranges but no takers. Figuring we should find more promising…

Where: Cowlitz River When:Saturday Conditions: Cool, overcast Flies used: Not important. ;) Species pursued: Steelhead Song of the day: "Say It Ain't So," Weezer After feeling pretty wiped out and taking last weekend off, I was ready to hit the water. Rather than beat a seemingly dead horse and, more importantly, avoid the inevitably disastrous Seafair traffic, we pointed the Scion south. When last we were there, the river was much higher, visibly faster and cold. Scratch that last part. The river was still cold. :) "This water's freezing." The thermometer read 50 degrees. Riiight. ;) As…

More thoughts on steelheading. It's something I've been thinking about for a while, but haven't been able to explain properly. Hopefully, you'll understand my gibberish. :) Click here to check it out.

Start: 2008-09-16 19:00 End: 2008-09-16 21:00 September has become the month to promote and highlight “Women in Fly Fishing”. Men appear to outnumber women in the sport of fly fishing, and in the membership numbers for the Alamo Fly Fishers. It has become obvious to the leadership of this club that we need to do more to attract women to fly fishing. As a rule, women learn quicker than men to be better fly casters, and generally are thought to be better at tying flies. Women who try fly fishing seem to develop better mechanics sooner than men, but for whatever reason they don’t sign up…

by Todd Fleming, AFF Outings Director Outings this summer have been non-stop. There’s been a plethora of fishing opportunities all over the state. The weather has been warm, the waters cool, and the fishing has been terrific! I hope you have been able to wet a fly somewhere in the past couple of months. July started off with a long holiday weekend adventure to Padre Island – the longest stretch of natural undeveloped coastline in the continental United States. It is still the “wild frontier” in many respects. When the pavement ends you leave civilization behind, and you become a guest…

August to November is prime time for catching giant White Sturgeon in the Fraser river British Columbia Canada. Our sport fish guide company offers fantastic catch results for these fish that often weigh 200-300 lbs and can reach weights up to 1000 lbs. We've been guiding since 1996 and will give you a trip you'll never forget. Accomodations and multi day trips are available for prime dates right now.

Glenda Powell – Ireland’s World Champion Flycaster (as featured in the Countryside Alliance Ireland Newsletter, December 2007) “I inherited my uncle’s fishing rods when I was nine years old, and went through torture to teach myself how to fish. I don’t want others to have to go through the same bad experience.”

October Special This month we offer 10% discount of all our padded Fishing Rod Bags. Any Size - Any Length - Any Colour - Any Fabric.

October Special This month we offer 10% discount of all our padded Fishing Rod Bags. Any Size - Any Length - Any Colour - Any Fabric.

Send us your Fishing Photos for our Gallery at our Home Page. And be in the draw to win up to $100.00 worth of ProFishional Products.

Again, since it’s in the news these days, imagine seeing this monster while you’re swimming. And it’s possible you might, if you live in the fishgator/alligator gar’s natural range. Video below.

Been noticing a lot of traffic of late looking for “fishgator” in the search engines. In part, it’s due to an alligator gar caught in Tempe, Arizona recently: Alligator Gar Caught in Kiwanis LakeLooking alarmingly like a cross between an alligator and a fish, the aggressive garfish has a long snout and several sharp teeth that are rather visible. It is also not native to Arizona, causing authorities some alarm.View more » So those of you that want to know what one is, here’s the wikipedia information: Alligator gar are found in the southeastern United States: Arizona,…

Looking for a new way to bake fish? What about a healthy way? This is my latest discovery for baking fish. It’s called a Romertopf Clay Fish Baker, and per the Eclectic Grocer, it’s a healthy way to bake fish without adding any additional fatty cooking liquids. Just soak the clay baker for 10 minutes, put in your fish and other ingredients, and bake away. Here’s a couple of recipes. In the meantime, I would suspect bass would be a great species to make this way, with thyme, chives, onions and tomatoes. Guess I better go catch a few to find out.

Kayak Fishing Looking for a little summer reading? How about a book on kayak fishing?

Was fortunate enough to find these tips on smallmouth bass fishing on the fly rod on an Orvis podcast featuring Tom Rosenbauer. Have a listen, as he goes into locations to find smallmouth, as well as some tips for picking them up while fly fishing. It’s certainly one of my favorite hobbies.

“Reginald…They told me you were dead!”  Said the mother of the 1/2 dead redneck metro zombie in the opening line of Jolly Benson’s outrageous new comedy, Toast-o-matic.  The Studios of Key West second annual One Night Stand kicked off last Saturday night with a packed house.  Conceived by local artists, this event is a creative and [...]

On monday Tropical Storm Fay blew into Key West and dumped an impressive 8” of rain flooding my entire property, tackle room, Rathole Studio and screwing Mike Allen out of yet another scheduled fishing day.  And then…it sucker punched Dave up in Naples.  Not that he’d know as he was passed out after a long [...]

Recently our friend Carlos Cortez journeyed from Argentina to Grand Bahama to fish with Bernard Bevans.  I guess he got some good weather and fishing as he went way out of his way to send a report. Thanks Carlos, I look forward to fishing with you soon. Despues de ver y leer mucho tiempo sobre Bonefishing decidí ir a [...]

Will and I have just put the wraps on our latest video creation, “Connected”, for the Drake Magazine Video Awards this September in Denver.  This short video starts by punching you in the face and ends with a kick to the grundle highlighting some of this season’s tarpon fishing followed up by some of the [...]

Wow!  What a humbling experience the Del brown Permit Tournament was this year.  Especially after the last several weeks which were terrific.  I felt really confident about our chances this year.  But, that’s the thing about Permit.  Just when you think you’ve cracked the code and feel comfortable with catching them, they prove why they [...]

I'm in Panama City, FL and they are talking about landfall very close to where Katrina made landfall.  Can't wait to see what the gas prices do? 

This one could be serious for the US Gulf Coast.         

I put the Sage 330 grain line on my 9wt Heliply.  Like you said, you've gotta find that "sweet spot" but it's awesome!  With my Heliply, it's probably about 35 ft or so.

Geoff,Haven't tried the 330 grain line but I have been using the SA Redfish taper on an HP 888/3 and it casts great.  Long casts are not recommended but at the sweet spot, around 30ft., it is perfect.  I think the SA line is like an eight and a half w...

I have been casting the Sage bass rod; one of my anglers from out of town left me one for safe keeping. As Rudy says... Wow! I can't wait to try it in the Everglades. In my opinion the 330 grain line is the key; perfectly matched with the rod. I found ...

In yet another example of the Kind of People Who Probably Should Be Watching American Idol Instead of Visiting a Park, the Underground brings you the Biggest Wildlife-Related Non-Story since Bambi was released on DVD: TOWNSEND (WATE) — A huge snake that was swallowing a fish whole startled swimmers and tubers at the Townsend Wye last weekend. Teresa Wood tells 6 News the snake was laying on the rocks near where her family was swimming in the Little River. Wood says “it’s unbelievable” how big the the snake was and her family won’t be going back. What’s…

Milltown dam breaching leads to more sediment transport than originally predicted: http://tinyurl.com/6cruy2 # Cool and windy on Upper Sac. It’s only August, but it’s the first taste of fall up here. # Just off the phone with the Canon service rep. Despite owning Canon Camera since the late 70s, will I ever buy another? Not bloody likely. # Powered by Twitter Tools.

There are days when you go fishing for fish, and there are days you fish for the fishing, and sometimes you don’t know which you’re seeking until you’re actually on the river. Yesterday evening - in the grip of some irritating work details - I found myself headed for a stretch of water where the rocks were big, the rock-hopping hard, and the trout very small. There I’d meet the absolute minimum of humanity (which was sort of the point). Tiny flows, little trout, zero civilized veneer. The beauty of fly fishing is that life recedes; at some point it becomes just you,…

I’d love to fill this post with a hard-hitting, Hemingway-esque fishing story, but in truth, Sunday’s plans for a Brookie trip fell hard to an intestinal virus whose effect I am not going to describe here. And no, the disease isn’t connected to the slaw dogs consumed Saturday night at the Trout Underground/Man Cave World Headquarters by a handful of locals. They are above suspicion. Sadly, even the innocent suffered the effects of the bug; Wally the Wonderdog was denied a tongue-hanging-out-happy hike to a brookie lake - a highlight in his tortured, lay-around-on-the-porch…

A while ago I ran a “Short Cast” story about New Zealand’s new law banning the use of felt-soled wading boots (a hedge against the spread of invasive species). It turns out the legislation wasn’t signed by New Zealand’s Prime Minister, so felt is still allowed, though showing up in a dirty pair of felt-soled boots might earn you a less-than-welcoming reception from New Zealand’s guides and other fly fishermen. As Bill Klyn of Patagonia points out in this comment to the story (on the Angler’s Passport blog), felt sols are hardly the whole problem,…

I spoke of this before. We grow up knowing that the chances of getting hurt in the woods are small. The chances of getting eaten by a cougar are even smaller. The chances of getting bumped off a rock by a water buffalo, still smaller. The chances of getting hit by a falling satellite, minuscule. (Yet pieces of space debris kill people every year.) More . . .

I wasn't catching fish that day. Neither were they. I suspect, however, that they were more successful as predators that day than I. Paintballers. In my fishing woods, no less. More . . .

Maybe I'm cheap. Or lazy. But because I need only a  few big and long flies for the large stonefly nymphs, smaller sculpins and other fish fry, I just can't justify buying boxes of long hooks in different sizes and shapes. I mean, I can afford it. I have a day job. But it's the principle of the thing. More . . .

It used to be that when I saw a big fish in a small creek that allowed no way to land it or play it, I'd cast anyway. We're talking about a fish over, say, 18 inches. If I hooked-up, naturally the fish would jet downstream and be off in a few moments because the terrain made it impossible to follow more than ten feet. Of course, I'd feel pretty stupid losing a nice fish, a nice fly, a bunch of tippet--to say nothing about my sense of humor. More . . .

Just when you thought reality was safe from fiction, along comes another story of mine. This time, I explore everyone's fear: Things that go bump in the night during a fly fishing campout along a secluded little lake with a fishing buddy and The Others. OK, maybe that's not everyone's fear. And I apologize for the reference to "Lost", the TV show. I just threw that in to improve the Google ratings. I'll never do that again. (Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, how to get rich, how to make money, how to be sexy in a river, how to get rich fly fishing, Brad Pitt, Hanna Montana) Read away

Ian James is offering a reward valued at over $400.00 for the return of a box of flies that was lost on the Credit River, August 24, 2008. The reward includes a full day of guiding with Ian James and a dozen of his Brass Ass nymphs, an Orvis top-seller. One of Ian’s acquaintances was fishing the Credit River and lost the box containing nymphs that took years to acquire.  According to the email I received, “I accessed the river at the Forks of the Credit parking lot just north/east from Cataract road off Hwy 24 to Caledon. I fished downstream so I guess on the East side.  I…

Well, due to a  bunch of personal issues including an unresolved divorce matter from ten years ago (I wonder just how many fly anglers are in that position!), fly fishing opportunities have been few and far between. In all fairness to my ex-wife, the divorce problems are not her fault - rather the lawyer that was acting for her years ago. It seems he forgot to go through with everything and for years, my ex and I thought we were divorced until I pointed out that I had never been served papers, a couple of years ago.  That lead to some inquiries - sure enough - we weren’t divorced!

… I would love to fish with this guy. Due to not being able to drive in 2006, The Urban Fly Fisher started to ride the public transport system with his fly fishing gear and discover portions of the River Kelvin that he could catch brown trout.

I’ve had a couple of lousy fishing outings this past week.  Tonight, I should have known better while last week, we can probably blame it on the weather with a fairly quick low pressure system settling in where I was fishing. This evening, I went over to one of my favorite places and fished the ponds for rainbow trout.  Except for the ravenous mosquitoes which came out later, it was a gorgeous evening. Canada Geese and Herons were flying around, and a few times I noticed a turtle or two poking it’s nose up through the water.   No other humans around - just me, the water, the…

I cooked up the rainbow trout and baked it in tinfoil. Very tasty! I like trying out different ways to prepare food - this I kept fairly simple: 4 medium sized mushrooms, chopped 1 green onion, chopped 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon salt Mixed all the above up together then stuffed the cavity of the trout. Wrapped the trout in tinfoil and baked for 30 minutes in pre-heated oven at 350 degrees. After it was cooked, sprinkled with pepper to taste and enjoyed.

The Ark is looking good even with the rain over the past few days. I guided a half day trip this morning and fish were on Apes with a Red thunder or Red / Silver high voltage PT early in the morning and then Hoppers followed by the same droppers later in the morning. Remember fish are still in tight to the banks. Curtis

After a seemingly endless runoff (sometimes you get what you ask for), the Arkansas is finally dropping and edges are clear. The river is dropping regularly each day and small creeks seem to be back into normal shape or getting there rapidly. With fish stuck on the edges to escape current velocity, fishing is bonehead easy right now. A big PMX trailing a PMD nymph or attractor nymph like a High Voltage Pheasant Tail is a good bet for lots of fish. Wading can still be a bit treacherous, so be careful and don't wade where you can't see your feet. I suspect that the river will now be great until…

With flows in the high 300's the South Platte has been fishing great! The best Flies have been Scuds, Beads, and San Juan Worms trailed by PMD RS2 and Midge Larva. Fish can be taken through out the day with tan caddis if you prefer fishing drys. Then in the afternoon we have been fishing Hopper / Dropper rigs with small Dave's Hoppers or Parachute Hoppers trailing Yellow Thunders or Gold ice. If you like fishing streamers that has also been good on sinking leaders fished tight to the banks. Curtis

After a high water spring and marginal fishing conditions due to releases from Twin Lakes to make room for runoff, the river has finally started to really rise. The largest snowpack in about 25 years is waiting for the rivers to take it away. The end result should be a cleansing flow that will remove a decade of silt and other drought related maladies. Hopefully this will be the year that gravel bars clean up, islands disappear and new islands reappear. We'll see.......

We just completed our 7th annual Spring Fling at the Arkansas River KOA at Cotopaxi. We had great weather and a great time. Thanks to all of you who participated. I hope the BBQ was to your liking. I thought it was one of the better fares of late. BWOs have been hatching away on cloudy days as we prepare for the Caddis Hatch. We have a little more water to contend with this year than we are used to, but that has stabilized water temperatures and should lead to a great hatch. If snowpack stabilizes or some of it evaporates, we are told that BOR may actually cut back on releases in a couple of…

Man uses Barbie fishing rod to make record catch - Yahoo! News Goes to show that size doesn’t matter!  Well, at least for Barbie anyway ;^)

Yes, summer holidays are done.  While I didn’t get in as much fishing as I had hoped, I did manage to spend some time at the vise, and have a few dozen flies to add to the fly boxes.  All I did was tie up 2 or 3 flies every day - either later in the evening, or in the morning. I tied up some of the standard patterns that I tend to go through - T.U.s, Spratleys, and Carey’s - and I also tied up a few wooly buggers, and scuds.  I also made up a couple patterns, experimenting a bit with materials and thread colors. Hopefully some of these will see some water in the next couple of…

Been at the cabin here at Gull Lake for a few days now. Not sure which parts of this lake would be best for fishing - and with the size, I don’t think I’ll be cruising across it in the pontoon boat! Definitely been tempted though - supposed to be pike, walleye, and whitefish here. So I drove the other morning to Ironside Pond. It was nice drive through Rocky Mtn. House down towards Caroline. Upon getting there however, the road was gated closed. I had look at Mithchell Lake, which is directly south of the Ironside Pond turnoff. You drive through a cow pasture, and then down into a…

Looks like a genuine fishing show - but not one that I’ve ever seen before.  Can definitely pick up some pointers on what not to do with, or around, an electric motor, ceiling fans, etc

—- Update: All is good - I downloaded the 2.6 zip file again, deleted wp-admin, wp-includes, and all root files except for the config.  I uploaded those files again from the fresh download, and ALSO, made sure that the FTP client was uploading in ASCII mode.  One of the previous clients I was using defaulted to binary, and I had Filezilla in Auto mode. Anyway, the fresh zip and ASCII mode upload seemed to make all the difference!  Now I can go fishing this weekend! ———– Yes - Wordpress released version 2.6 So, things might look a little awkward for a bit while…

I spent yesterday afternoon running around town doing a bit of shopping to replace some of my older fly fishing equipment. I couldn't believe the amount of fly fishing rods and reels I found already marked down on clearance. I ended up buying two new fly rods, a fly reel and a new pair of wading shoes. I looks like the stores are marking down fly fishing equipment early this year and getting ready for the hunting season. If you are a fly fishing beginner looking for bargins this is a good time of year to snatch up some really cheap fly fishing rods and reels. In my area the bargins were…

I know ive neglected to cover much about fly tying and learning how to tie flies in the developement of this blog. But I do have a full time job and keeping regular posts that have some value to both the fly fishing beginner and fly tier has been difficult. In previous posts I discussed the various tools required for fly tying and a list of basic fly tying materials. Over the last few weeks I've been looking for ways to bring more fly tying for beginner related material into my fly fishing for beginners coverage. I have been fortunate enought to find a whole series of free fly tying video…

Father's Day is another of those wonderful holiday's all beginning fly fisherman should look forward too. Sorry Ladies you had your day already. Now is the time to fill all your fly fishing equipment dreams. Shoot for the moon. Do you want a new top of the line Orvis fly fishing rod and reel? Perhaps your in need of a new pair of lightweight waders for the summer fishing. For me its a time to upgrade my fly tying vice and get a few more fly fishing and tying tools I don't have. Next to Christmas, Father's day is the second best day of the year for Dads. Take advantage of the opportunity to…

Many people visiting this site are looking for tips on the best bait to use to catch a trout. Well many fly-fishing purists wont like this but good old worms and night crawlers have passed the test of time to be the best bait for trout, bass and all sorts of pan fish. Yeah I know we have all spent tons of money on fancy dry and wet flies, and lures of various types but sometimes we would be better of just throwing a worm on a hook. I’ve often seen guys fishing for trout using canned corn and they swear by it. I’m not sure if the corn is an imitation of a natural bait or if trout farms…

Fly Fishing For Beginners has been receiving several questions from fly fishing beginners. Last week I listed some common fly fishing mistakes, today I'll cover a couple of the most common fly fishing questions I've been getting. 1. What is the best fly fishing combo. I've discussed in several of my initial articles that it's not the equipment that makes the fisherman its the technique. If you spend time to learn the basics correctly you will be able to use any fly fishing equipment effectively. Some companies that make decent starter fly rods and reels are Martin, Shakespeare, Crystal Creek.

Saw where DWR has issued 50 or so citations for folks violating regs. I would assume that most of the fish I have seen going into coolers are in the slot.

I would like to know how many of you have an extra reel with separate fishing line (sinking?) that is made specifically for streamers? In other words, if you decide to fish streamers, you throw on the other reel. Any of you do this? I am thinking about getting this setup but I'm not sure if it's cost effective? Thanks.

Here is another quick and easy way to tie a soft hackle. I use this technique when I want a real sparse hackle. This fly rocked up on the SF last week. Thanks for looking. Soft Hackle 2 Hook: Standard wet Body: Dubbed Antron Rib: Fine silver wire Hackle: India hen back

Utah ski resort cleaning up a second mine site http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1...253938,00.html Quote: AMERICAN FORK CANYON (AP) — Snowbird ski resort is teaming up with the conservation group Trout Unlimited to clean up a second historic mine site in American Fork Canyon. Crews are stopping groundwater from leaching through waste piles at the Live Yankee Mine site. The water was picking up heavy metals and killing aquatic insects that provide food for native trout in nearby streams. The work got under way Monday with the blessing of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and will be…

I used to walk down the dirt road that would run parallel to the train tracks when I was a kid that led to the blackwater river. Walking the way brushing my hands on the tops of the wheat grass , enjoying the sweet smell that came from it. I would stop occasionally to set up an old rusted can and spend a few minutes throwing rocks to see if I could knock it over. I would rub the warm dirt in my hands and brush it off as if I was standing on the pitcher’s mound. As soon as the dust cleared and I could see my target again, I would heave another rock, in my mind each rock was a strike that was…

BASS just now released its much-anticipated 2009 Bassmaster Opens schedule, including the reinstated Northern Opens. The Open Series now comprises ...more

(Editor's note: This is part 1 of a 3-part story that analyzes the 2008 <a href=&quot;http://www.bassfan.com/rankings.asp&quot;><u>BassFan World Rankings</u></a>.</i>) BassFan ...more

Multiple changes in a working environment are almost always greeted with a mix of reactions from the rank-and-file, and the alterations to the FLW Tour ...more

Mark Davis is about 100 pounds lighter than he was in the early 1990s, and the records show that he fished pretty well back then. But by his own estimation, ...more

To follow up on BassFan's coverage of the Top 3 patterns from the recent Forrest Wood cup at Lake Murray, S.C., here's an analysis of how the 4th- and ...more

BASS announced its 2009 Bassmaster Open season today. For the full details, click ...more

Mercury Marine director of communications Steve Fleming announced today that he has accepted the position of editor at Bass & Walleye Boats magazine. ...more

The No. 1-ranked angler in the world won't be competing in the PAA Corporate ...more

Yamaha announced yesterday ...more

The Top 4 anglers held their positions, but the race got tighter on day 2 of the 26th U.S. Open at Nevada's Lake Mead. Shaun Bailey (pictured, 20.35 pounds ...more

In today's episode of BassFan Radio, host Jon Storm talks with Danny Blandford of Secret Lures about his company's newest developments. Storm also talks ...more

The final event of the FLW Tour season starts next week at the Detroit River, and Angler of the Year Andy Morgan controls his own destiny. He needs to ...more

I made a sad but anticipated trip to Nashville on July l2 to deliver a eulogy at the funeral of Stan Sloan. Stan was 70 and passed away after a long battle ...more

Anybody who's followed pro bass fishing for very long knows that Rick Clunn doesn't think like the average angler. And the average angler certainly ...more

Some BassFans fish the Great Lakes all the time. Others visit only occasionally. If you're the former, you know that the bite's all about the &quot;feel.&quot; ...more

We brought up a pc from our old office to replace her Mom's that was over 5 years old now.  Of course the transfer of data was slow and it is still not done. But I am downloading AVG on my PC to take over to hers, she is on dial up and it is so SLOW. I will get it done sooner or later.  I think I also have some work to do on my Mom's PC this week.  Post from: The BASS CAST PC work Share and Enjoy:

One of the Wife's friends, Tammy came over and they ended up setting plans to go to the new Track in Erie. I have never been to a horse track and I am not much of a gambler.  I placed a $2 bet on horse #9 to win and he came in last place so that was about the end of my betting. The wife tried a few trifectas and usually picked 2 or 3 of them but not in the right order.  She came close to winning $750 a few times but we just ended up donating our $2 bets to the track.  Post from: The BASS CAST Presque Isle Downs Share and Enjoy:

We did not do too much during the day, we are on vacation you know.  We are sleeping late and even taking few naps.  We promised my brother we would watch Ashley (niece) while they went out to dinner and a movie. We got there around 3:00 and then watched Go Diego Go a few times and went out to the Dairy Queen for supper and dessert.   We then stopped by my Mom's and stayed a while there. We did not have any  problems with her at all and she was very good. Post from: The BASS CAST Niece Sitting Share and Enjoy:

I got up and headed South toward Meadville, PA. I tried to go to my normal ramp but there was construction blocking that section of the road so I going around and it was blocked from the otehr end too. So I launched at the fire house ramp.  As I was launching I saw Mike Dunkerley's truck and trailer here already.  I put her in and roamed the lake a little till I found Mike.  We shot the breeze and fished along the weeds.  I set the hook in a pike on a jig.   My day went pretty well, I followed Mike and his 2 companions around the lake.  I hit a total of 3…

Last night my nephews were up to the camper and I told them I would take them out today.  So at 9:00 they were here ready to go fishing. We put the boat in at Edinboro Lake and started fishing.  I hit a place called the Fingers and did not get any action so I went to the opposite end and started fishing.  I tied both of them on frogs and also worked a frog through the creek banks. I hit a couple of small fish and let them reel them in.  Then we got to the fun part, we hit a section of the creek that was a corner pocket filled with pads and as soon as I tossed my frog in…

New Jersey's Kyle Harrigan, 18, and New Mexico's Jordan McMorris, 15, won their respective ...more

Mercury Marine director of communications Steve Fleming announced today that he has accepted the position of editor at Bass & Walleye Boats magazine. ...more

Yamaha announced yesterday ...more

Arizona's Shaun Bailey leads with 11.20 pounds after day 1 of the WON Bass U.S. Open at Lake Mead, Nev. "We had an awesome time, (and) I did the ...more

(Editor's note: Intermedia Outdoors today issued the following press release to announce its acquisition of Barrett Productions.) New York, ...more

Ray Scott turns the big 75 this Sunday (Aug. 24). How 'bout it BassFans? Why not send him a birthday note and say thanks for starting this thing we all ...more

 Minneapolis, MN – August 28, 2008 – Minnesota’s best amateur bass anglers set sights on Mississippi River On Saturday, August 30th, approximately 200 anglers will arrive in the Wabasha, MN area to practice and prepare for the Minnesota Bass Federation Nation Tournament of Champions on the Mississippi River; Pools 4 & 5. These 200 anglers have qualified from their local clubs from all over the state. 41 clubs will send teams and individual representatives to the Tournament of Champions (TOC).  In addition to the TOC, an alternate’s tournament will be held on…

Well I arrived at the Fortune Bay Casino RV Park around 4:30pm, just enough time to tie up some last minute stuff and walk down to the dock for a few minutes before it was time to head to the pre-tournament meeting.  The meeting was at BayView Lodge and it was packed with anglers for the meeting.  With my limited experience on the water, which is 5 hours, 3 weeks prior to this tournament, I was hoping for a late boat draw, so I would get the extra 30 minutes of fishing.  As it turned out, I was boat #2 and drew a guy from Hibbing, MN who actually fishes the lake…

Day 3, my partner convinced me it would be to both of our benefits to use his boat, as he had a ton of waypoints for good smallies out on Winnebago.  It took some convincing and some considerable thought on my part before I gave in.  We discussed, that we would go back and forth on our water which was actually close to each other if needed and that he would have about an hour to prove the worth of his smallies reefs, before I would go back and forth on my largemouth water.There was a pretty decent wind from the Northeast coming down the lake, but we made it to our starting…

My goal on day 2 was basically to repeat day 1, I figured that if I caught a 10lb limit every day, that would keep me moving up.  My 2nd day partner was Robert Sullivan from Iowa, he had 2 keepers on Day 1, so he was up for letting me fish my fish, as long as we saved a little time for one key bank that he wanted to work.We were boat #36 out of 48, yet had no problem getting into my area first.  The bites were a little slower this morning.  I caught a couple short fish early and my partner had one that looked like it would have kept jump off.  I then got on a little run…

One thing that I forgot to mention about practice, is how bad the power situation for charging batteries was at the hotel before the official practice.  There were a bunch of guys sharing plug-ins and many guys woke up the next morning with almost no charge on their batteries.  Guys had to give up time on the water to come in and charge their batteries or try to practice with no trolling motor.  My StayNCharge and All Charge systems that kept my batteries charged from my outboard and tow vehicle were a life saver until the actual boat yard was ready.  It sure is nice…

Day at the derby The Great Ontario Salmon Derby might be good for fishing, but it's also a place to contribute a few... Displaying 1 John Tory speaks out Ontario PC Party leader John Tory spoke out against the ...

Tom Brooks, chairman of the Life Enrichment Center's long-range planning committee, will soon depart the states to compete in a tournament that's, well, full of carp.

Standing in ankle-deep water on Dunkelberger Bar, Jerry Cornish notes the telltale wiggle on the end of his fishing rod that signals one of the 124,832 reasons to feel good about fishing the lower Rogue River ...

David Hayes' granddaughter just asked him to hold her Barbie rod and reel while she went to the bathroom.

Sometimes the best angle for a column comes from hanging out with the experienced anglers! At 86, television icon Gordie Tapp is just a kid to Hurricane Hazel McCallion, who is 87.

I was not intending to catch anything this evening. I bought a new Bandit 100 series square billed crank earlier today along with some jigs and I wanted to break in the crank. The weather has calmed down since yesterday when the remainder of Fay came through east of here. Wind and rain stirred things up out there. A championship tournament was held on Saturday, so I really did not expect to catch

While this is a bass fishing blog, I do fish for other things. When I moved down south, the way I fished for crappie changed forever. Aside from the fact that the locals don't call them crappie and incorrectly call them white perch (see Local Fish Names), the crappie down here don't behave the same as crappie I am accustomed to catching. The basics seem to still hold true. You can still find them

Anglers add jig rattles to their jigs to make noise that entice bass into biting. Some choose to have the added noise in situations where visibility might be reduced such as in heavy cover or muddy water. Others use rattles to reproduce the clicking sound of a crawfish. In colder weather, adding rattles may help tempt a bass out of its winter sluggishness. Not everyone likes using rattles on

I hadn't planned on doing any fishing this evening, but when I glanced down at the water from the house, something was splashing around. I watched for a few minutes to see if I could tell what was out there. The splashes looked more like a gar because of the upward movement of the splash. When I noticed something was moving a little faster and chasing, I knew it had to be a bass. I grabbed my

I have not posted a fishing report in a while because I have not caught very much lately. I've only been fishing off the pier. The boat needs gas and I'm watching gas prices a little closer. The weather has been changing in our area a lot lately. We were having 100 degree temps during the day without any rain over weeks at a time. Over the last week or so, we've had a few good downpours and that

As anglers aren't we always looking for the most effective way to catch more fish? Well, if we truly want to become better anglers, we most certainly should be. We should always be striving to improve our skills and find out more effective ways to catch more fish, which is exactly what this article will do. Introduce you to some tips and techniques that will enable you to become a much more effective angler.

Enjoying the Outdoors By Terri Mackinnon At what cost must we endure to enjoy the beautiful outdoors? We have been told by medical professionals that we must make sure that we protect ourselves from the sun and outdoors elements and it is suggested that we use appropriate products to ensure our well being. There are many UV products today on the market available to ensure the safety of our family from the sun.

These powerful attractants can make a difference. I found that they actually stayed on longer then some of the other scents that are currently on the market. It comes in a variety of scents as follows: Bass Max, Bass Feast, Bass Hammer, Sand Shrimp, Shrimp, Special Mix, Shad, Salmon Egg, Salmon Feast, Crawfish, Crawfish/Anise, Craw Blend and let’s not forget Nightcrawler. Liquid Blend is also available in: Anchovy, Baitfish, Anise, Herring, Walleye Feast, Krill Xtra, Trout Enhancer, Sturgeon Feast scents.

Fishing in Algonquin By Terri MacKinnon We recently spent time in the beautiful outdoors camping and fishing in the amazing Algonquin Park. Its breathtaking lakes made for an incredible adventure. For those of you that are not familiar with Algonquin here is the official info on the park with some links.

I just thought I would pass this alone, I found a web site that offers all sorts of fishing gear at what seems to be a decent price. Just though someone maybe interested in checking it out. It's smokeymountainsports.com

Enjoying the Outdoors By Terri Mackinnon At what cost must we endure to enjoy the beautiful outdoors? We have been told by medical professionals that we must make sure that we protect ourselves from the sun and outdoors elements and it is suggested that we use appropriate products to ensure our well being. There are many UV products today on the market available to ensure the safety of our family from the sun.

These powerful attractants can make a difference. I found that they actually stayed on longer then some of the other scents that are currently on the market. It comes in a variety of scents as follows: Bass Max, Bass Feast, Bass Hammer, Sand Shrimp, Shrimp, Special Mix, Shad, Salmon Egg, Salmon Feast, Crawfish, Crawfish/Anise, Craw Blend and let’s not forget Nightcrawler. Liquid Blend is also available in: Anchovy, Baitfish, Anise, Herring, Walleye Feast, Krill Xtra, Trout Enhancer, Sturgeon Feast scents.

Armbreaker Custom Rods has moved into the future and is the current leader in the World,in the fantastic looks of a marbled Finish fishing rod. All color combinations are made avail,therefore the client can explore his or her imaginat