News

Thirty years ago, the fly-fishing world was terrified by the discovery of whirling disease in Montana's trout population. Would the rivers of Big Sky Country no longer live up to their legendary status? While the worst-case-scenario predictions never came true, some waters, such as the Madison, saw their rainbow populations reduce by as much as 95%...

The persistence of chemicals in the environment is a widespread concern among biologists, and a recent Canadian study demonstrates why consistent monitoring is so important: Residues of the insecticide DDT have been found to persist at “alarming rates” in trout even after 70 years, potentially posing a significant danger to humans and wildlife that eat...

This week’s Tying Tuesday features a big attractor dry, a deep-diving nymph, and a large saltwater baitfish imitation. We kick things off with a video from McFly Angler, who last week showed us how to tie the Madam X and now follows up with a parachute version called the PMX. This is my go-to pattern for hopper-dropper setups on the mountain streams near...

What do fly fishing, college pride, and honoring the women in our lives have in common? The TU Costa 5 Rivers Mother’s Day Giving Challenge—a fun and meaningful way to support two incredible nonprofits: Casting for Recovery and Trout Unlimited 5 Rivers Clubs! From April 21 to May 11, TU Costa 5 Rivers College fly-fishing clubs from across the...

Forty years ago, writing in the June 1985 issue of Fly Fisherman magazine, Dave Whitlock suggested a novel approach to catching largemouth bass. At the time, streamers and topwater flies were thought to be the best way to catch bucketmouths, but Whitlock discovered that the nymphs he fished for panfish were also hooking bass. One of the largest bass I ever...

The Fly Fishing Film Tour began with a small group of people looking for something fresh—something something that represented he energy, grit, and soul of fly fishing. Today, these films are part of a new wave of storytelling in fly fishing, and this week's guest on the "Wet Fly Swing Podcast," RA Beattie, has been there since the beginning. In this...

By Rick Mikesell Ross Reels has announced the return of the well-regarded San Miguel fly reel. Originally launched more than two decades ago, the San Miguel has been fully redesigned in Ross Reels’ Colorado factory, blending modern machining and materials with the classic elements that made the original iconic. The new San Miguel features a polished...

In 1976, New York Gov. Hugh Carey signed legislation establishing minimum water flows for summer and winter below the dams of the Delaware River system. Angler saw the benefits of these new water regimes almost immediately, in the form of bigger, better hatches of aquatic insects. So more water equals better fishing, right? Maybe not. In the four decades...

In much of the country, mayfly season is just kicking off, so here’s a great primer on these elegant aquatic insects. This video covers the lifecycle of mayflies, as well as how to match each stage. If you’re a new fly fisher, this is a great introduction that will serve as a base of knowledge that you can build on as you learn more about the specific...

This week’s Tying Tuesday features a big attractor dry, a deep-diving nymph, and a cool tube fly. (A reader recently requested a tube-fly video, and we aim to please.) We kick things off with a video from McFly Angler, who teaches us to tie the legendary Madam X, designed by Doug Swisher in the 1980s. This is a great attractor pattern, and one that works...