News On The Fly
Flies for a Catskills Spring
Posted on March 13 2005
“The Quill Gordon, Epeorus pleuralis, is our first major spring hatch. The fly, also known as the Gordon Quill, has a long history in American flyfishing. Many people regard it as the first truly American dry fly pattern because it … more
Atlantic Salmon Are Easy*
Posted on March 12 2005
“‘The casting is pretty difficult,’ Bowman said. ‘You have to make really long, long casts. They’re probably on average about 50 feet, although there are some even further.'” Ummm, OK. In Search of Fly Water’s Conway Bowman finds that Atlantic … more
The Redfish Riviera
Posted on March 11 2005
“A guide friend of mine says that tarpon are like Deion Sanders and reds are like Larry Csonka. They are a six-pack of Bud to the Atlantic salmon’s Sancerre; a pit bull to the whippet bonefish; a paragraph to the … more
Cinematographer Laszlo Fly Fishes in Retirement
Posted on March 11 2005
Andrew Laszlo is required study for students at most film schools. Born in Hungary in 1926, he survived World War II and later earned Emmy nominations for “The Man Without a Country” (1973) and the 1980 mini-series “Shogun.” Now he … more
Late Winter Fly Fishing on California's Upper Sacramento
Posted on March 10 2005
“No long casts are necessary. Because the water is cold, the trout do not flash cross-stream and strike in wrist-rattling grabs. Instead, the fish sit in pocket water, pointed upstream, waiting for food to come floating by. Cast a short … more
Mountain Trout and the BTU Output of Goat Hair
Posted on March 09 2005
Ryan Jordan waxes philosophical about packing light on an eight-day fishing and hiking trip through Montana’s Beartooth Mountains in search of high mountain lake trout. Just FYI, this is one of the most spectular regions in the U.S. for high-mountain … more
2005's Best New Fly Fishing Equipment
Posted on March 07 2005
John Merwin describes the ten items that most tickled his fancy when introduced at this year’s Fly-Fishing Retailer World Trade Expo. They include the thousand-dollar Hardy Cascapedia MkII reel and Tim Rajeff’s Echo fly rods. In Field & Stream.
Year-Round Everglades Redfish
Posted on March 07 2005
W.H. Faulkner writes about finding redfish in the northernmost parts of Everglades National Park in Florida Sportsman. “Snook season opens, snook season closes. The tarpon show up and the tarpon disappear. The only constant in the complex Everglades fishing equation … more
"Instant Whoppers"
Posted on March 07 2005
In the late 1980s “coarse” fishing — fishing for carp — began luring many die-hard trout anglers to ponds and reservoirs stocked with giant fish. Brian Clarke writes in the London Times how guaranteed success is spoiling British anglers and … more
Yellowstone Cutthroat Reverie
Posted on March 06 2005
“Casting to these creatures in the primordial surroundings of the park’s Buffalo Ford when jewel-like pale morning duns are hatching and cutthroat roil the slick surface of the stream with their gluttonous riseforms is as close as most of us … more
Pre-Season Affective Disorder
Posted on March 06 2005
“Despite my recent pursuit of grayling, evangelical in its zeal, and evening hours spent with the vice after being converted by The Fly-Tying Bible, my fishing soul’s guardian angel just seems to be out of sorts. My angling mojo is … more
Fly Fishing Books: Frank Soos's Bamboo Fly Rod Suite
Posted on March 06 2005
“I thought I was as happy as I had any reason to expect to be. I was living in Alaska, teaching college English, making more money than I’d ever dreamed of making. I was just sitting in my office minding … more
Fly Rods: Bamboo in Maine
Posted on March 05 2005
“In the early 20th century, internationally famous rod makers such as Payne, Edwards, Thomas and Leonard had turned the Pine Tree State into the bamboo-rod capital of the world.” Ken Allen writes about the growth of the bamboo rod industry … more
Midges in Paradise
Posted on March 04 2005
New on MidCurrent: The spring creeks of Montana’s Paradise Valley — O’Hair’s, Nelson’s and Depuy’s — have educated more fly fishers about the intricacies of fishing tiny flies than any other trout fishery in the U.S. (with the possible exception … more
Fly Casting History
Posted on March 03 2005
Here’s some fascinating stuff hidden in this unpretentious site about fly casting, including this history of the double haul.
Fly Rods: Sage's Jerry Siem on Fighting Grips
Posted on March 03 2005
Dan Blanton posted Jerry Siem’s response to an inquiry about the utility of fighting grips on larger fly rods on his bulletin board. “First of all, rod blanks need to be designed to adequately support having a foregrip and the … more
McGinnis Extra Stout Trout Fly
Posted on March 01 2005
“One of Montana’s legendary trout flies, the girdle bug, was designed to imitate a large stonefly nymph, or ‘hellgrammite,’ as the local anglers on the Big Hole River call the big aquatic insects. Lost in the murky currents of time, … more
Hafele on Hatches
Posted on February 28 2005
New on MidCurrent: How many times have you found yourself surrounded by fish and a torrent of insects but unable to discern whether the fish are feeding in the surface film, below it, or even on top? If you’re like … more
New Cabela's Fly Rods, Large Arbor Fly Reels
Posted on February 27 2005
“I used an 8-weight XST prototype while in Florida for redfish and speckled trout last fall. It was a stiff, fast-action rod with a strong butt section. Casting into the wind was almost a pleasure, and the rod had the … more
"A Fly Rod Introduced Us"
Posted on February 26 2005
Ken Allen talks about the boom and bust cycle of the forest, tiny rodents and why fly fishing is so much more than fishing. “Many of us with fishing rods or firearms are looking at the whole outdoors experience, which … more
Andy Mill's "Virtual Fish Fights"
Posted on February 26 2005
Tarpon angler and tournament champion Andy Mill uses a pulley system and a bucket of sand to practice putting maximum pressure on his tippets. “When you’re pumping on a fish, you reel down to zero degrees and pull back to … more
"The Fly Fishing Priest"
Posted on February 23 2005
A new print-on-demand book by Robert W. Callaway includes this joke about the “Fly Fishing Priest:” “There was a priest that loved to stream fish. One year there was a problem every time he had a chance to go fishing. … more
Walleye, On the Rocks
Posted on February 23 2005
“Daucourt believes distilling and fly-fishing have similarities. Both demand a mastery of science and art. Even then, patience and luck are needed to achieve optimum results. Daucourt, 45, has studied fly-fishing since childhood and is still mystified by his nemesis, … more
Fly Fishing Herons
Posted on February 22 2005
Wonder if Aelius or his progenitors got the idea of fly fishing by watching herons use insects to lure an unsuspecting fish? Turns out there are records of herons doing just this, as reported by Dr. Louis Lefebvre at the … more
The Big Water of the Muskegon
Posted on February 22 2005
Field & Stream offers a synopsis of fly fishing Michigan’s Muskegon River for steelhead and chinook salmon. “The hot zone is the tailwater stretch from Croton Dam down to Newaygo. This is big water, as much as 300 feet or … more
Rodmakers Who Thrive on Coffee
Posted on February 21 2005
Time to admit the truth: caffeine — sometimes imbibed via overcooked coffee from earlier in the morning — fuels the custom rodmaking industry. Perhaps an overstatement. But if we can have beers named ‘Trout Slayer’ and ‘Lake Monster,’ surely there … more
Southwest Florida's "Ding" Darling Refuge
Posted on February 21 2005
Author Norm Zeigler, a Sanibel, Florida resident, writes about what is probably his favorite place to fish. “The key to Ding’s superb angling is its rich variety of environments. An intricate maze of creeks, bayous, impoundments, grassflats, oyster bars and … more
Planning for the Salmonfly Hatch
Posted on February 21 2005
If you’ve ever enjoyed the piscatorial frenzy of a salmonfly hatch, you’re likely thinking about it already, even though the first bugs don’t appear for another couple of months. Keith McCafferty writes about 6 U.S. rivers where salmonflies appear in … more
Fly Fishing Florida's Canal Peacocks
Posted on February 20 2005
Steve Kantner is an expert when it comes to finding and catching peacock bass in south Florida’s myriad canals. He offers an extensive review of techniques and locations in Florida Sportsman — good reading if you’ve even thought about going … more
Winter Steelhead Tactics
Posted on February 19 2005
New on MidCurrent: Steelhead expert and author Doug Rose reveals some of the best strategies for identifying a river’s holding water. “Winter steelheaders who focus on a few individual pools rather than a long stretch of river usually catch more … more
The History of Fly Fishing For Billfish
Posted on February 19 2005
Vic Dunaway offers this comprehensive look at the origins and development of fly fishing for billfish, which demanded outsized creativity from its pioneers. The most interesting parts of the story have to do with Helen and Webster Robinson, who almost … more
The "Bone Density" Test
Posted on February 18 2005
On Field & Stream this month, John Merwin reports on his three days at the Bahamas’ Andros Island Bonefish Club last May. “When the guide says long strip, he usually means that he’s read the bonefish’s body language, knows the … more
Yesterday's Ultimate Fly Rods
Posted on February 17 2005
Bob Krumm is mildly irked that about half the fishing gear he owns — perfectly functional and in fact touted as “the ultimate” just a few years ago — is now discontinued. “Major fly rod manufacturers constantly amaze me. It … more
Born Fishermen
Posted on February 16 2005
Galen Garner describes being turned on to fly fishing on Wyoming’s Shoshone river by the ranch boss in the Tuscaloosa (Alabama) News. The article includes a great John Steinbeck quote: “All Americans believe they are born fishermen. For a man … more
Wooden Beads for Flies
Posted on February 16 2005
Mike Hellyer ponders the humble wooden bead and discovers that it becomes quite useful in creating saltwater streamer heads. Article and recipe in Florida Sportsman.
Darrel Martin, Trout Romeo
Posted on February 14 2005
Paul Guernsey notes that Darrel Martin is one the great quiet seducers of trout. Evidence includes his preparation for trip to the English chalk streams. “Prior to traveling, not only did Darrel build every piece of his fishing equipment from … more
Going Furled
Posted on February 13 2005
“Adkins, a retired sheet-metal worker from Barboursville, has revived the old-fashioned practice of making ‘furled’ or ‘twined’ leaders. The originals, which were standard-issue angling equipment in the 1800s, were made of horsehair or silk. Adkins makes his from modern polyester … more
Bikini-Clad Angling Advice
Posted on February 13 2005
“Fly fishing advice from a three-quarters, no, make that seven-eighths, naked blond bombshell soaking up sun in a plastic boat. Yet, somewhere deep in my subconsciousness I admired her. She obviously knew something about fly fishing.” Back in the 70s … more
The Noble Carp
Posted on February 12 2005
Various strains of the carp, which originated in China, are considered prime targets for fly fishers all around the world. But in the U.S. doubts about its status as a game fish seem as prevalent as ever. Chris Hunt offers … more
Fish & Chips, Amazonas Style
Posted on February 09 2005
“‘A jaguar has eaten all my chickens, sir. However, I can sell you the head from a young squirrel monkey I had for breakfast this morning. It is quite fresh, I assure you.'” Breakfast fare for the giant catfish paraiba, … more
"Grayling and How to Catch Them"
Posted on February 08 2005
Here’s a piece on grayling by Brian Clark in the London Times Online that leads to an interesting biography of Francis Maximilian Walbran of Leeds. “Walbran’s writings brought him into contact with the most famous southern anglers, including Frederic Halford, … more
Fly Fishing Video: "Never Name the River"
Posted on February 05 2005
Nice title for this new documentary about the start of the Federation of Fly Fishers, which was formed in Eugene in 1965 to promote fly fishing and to preserve game fish habitat. The film was produced and directed by Michael …
When Bonefish Don't Cooperate
Posted on February 04 2005
“Whether I’m flying out of the country to fish, or just hitching up my skiff for a short drive to Biscayne Bay or the Keys, it’s usually for bonefish, so I pack every kind of bonefish fly for every bonefish … more
Weir Enraging Irish Salmon Anglers
Posted on February 04 2005
A poorly designed weir — or “fish pass” — on Ireland’s River Nore has stopped salmon on their upriver journey except at high water levels. Locals are not pleased. “Local salmon fly-fisherman Jim Brown – who moved from Scotland to … more
Fly Tying: The Rituals of Winter
Posted on February 03 2005
Funny how while tying flies in the dark cold of winter it is much easier to convince ourselves that we are at work on “lethal” concoctions. “It is now, having removed the fly from the vise and placed it gently … more
Science: Fly Fishing for Memories
Posted on February 03 2005
Fly fishing Lake Erie tributaries for salmon kept research partners Chester Mathis and Dr. William Klunk on an even keel while they worked on developing an important dye for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease. “‘In fishing, you don’t get a lot of … more
Winter Trout: Ignore the Bottom Huggers
Posted on February 01 2005
“Pay no attention to trout that are ‘nailed to the bottom of the river.’ Those fish are zoned, spaced out, shut down. Their metabolisms barely are chugging along in winter’s frigid currents.” Ed Dentry takes Pat Dorsey’s advice to concentrate … more
Lyons: Pages As Alluring As Fish
Posted on January 31 2005
Nice to see Nick Lyons making his place in The New York Times. Here he talks about the stories that keep his interest in angling literature fresh and alive. “I might suggest to a friend who fished too hard and … more
A Fresh Look At Spey Rods
Posted on January 31 2005
I always enjoy new perpsectives on “old” techniques, and MidCurrent reader Zach Matthews usually has something slightly different to say when he researches a topic. In “Spey Fishing for Trout” he talks about Spey rods — their history, advantages and … more
Trout Fishing New Zealand's Rotorua
Posted on January 29 2005
“With one hand gripping a native manuka tree, the stocky yet agile Maori fishing guide swung out over the stream and jumped into the churning water. He grabbed his client for the day, steadying them both and shouted at him … more