Month: September 2022
Brother Jam and the Old Grass Rod
As a traditional longbow is to a high-tech compound, or a 6-string acoustic Dudenbostel guitar is to a 12-string electric Rickenbacker, so too is a fine bamboo fly rod when compared to one made of graphite or glass. Likewise, just as proper string selection is critical to the performance of a vintage bow or a …...
In Need of Bad Habits
Some of my so-called friends have been suggesting I might want to give up a few bad habits in my old age. I argue my habits are those normally associated with those who splash through cold water in search of finned creatures. Perhaps I’m most aligned to Mark Twain’s train of thought when he said, …...
New Faces in Fly Fishing
If you have been a fan of fly fishing, you may have noticed that the faces on the stream are much more attractive these days. Women are taking a keen interest in the sport and they are having a positive impact! Not only are they participating, but in many cases, they are taking leadership roles. …...
The Evolution of a Fly Fisherman
Fate has allowed me many years of fruitful time on the water. Fly fishing has been an important part of my life. Having fished for most everything with a fly rod, trout and salmon are especially fond acquaintances. My friends and I have fished noteworthy destinations, and I have fished streams, ponds and lakes that …...
Fly Fishing for Common Ground
It’s been thirty years since Robert Redford brought to the big screen A River Runs Through It, Norman Maclean’s treasured novella, and fly fishing continues to grow in popularity and purpose as a source of recreation, respite, and service. More than just sport, fly fishing and its portfolio of novels, essays, memoirs, and videos...
Of Flies & Fishermen Gone By
During a lifetime spent wading rivers chasing browns, brookies, and rainbows, it seems that memories and details of many trips fade like the passing of another day. Trying to remember specifics of older trips in years gone by has eroded. As time continues its journey, I find that many old fly patterns, once successful, are …...
GETTING MORE WITH LESS – Fly Fishing with a Sub-9′ Fly Rod
The saying goes, less is more. And in the realm of fly fishing, that is a hard concept to grasp. Most fly rods have a standard length of 9’ and occasionally 8’-6.” Smaller weight fly rods (0-3 weights) that are used for small dry flies in creeks occasionally are shorter than 8’, but by and …...
