Stories & Essays

Story: Why Are We Out There

If you're in the mood for a story that cuts to the heart of the reason we fly fish, then this recent post from Kyle Wilkinson over at Gink & Gasoline should be on your reading list. Kyle doesn't try to wax poetic or draw some hidden meaning from fishing. Instead, he offers up a few of his own observations, then pushes us to remember to stop and look...

Story: Blow Up Bobbers

In this fun story from Justin Pickett over at Gink & Gasoline, we get to read about Pickett's first time seeing a balloon used as an indicator. It took him by surprise, the same way it did me when I first saw it on the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam. I actually have a friend here in Wyoming who uses them, too. This story is a fun way to learn...

Catch Monster Striped Bass

If you're interested in putting a trophy-sized striped bass in the net, then you should read this story from Ken Baldwin over at Men's Journal. Ken goes into all the details on how to find these big fish, and more importantly, how to hook and land them. It starts, like so many big fish tales do, with finding the right location to chase these trophy...

Old Town Presents Native Brookies

Old Town is a well-known name in the watercraft space. Recently, they've started a content series called "Old Town Presents" and it focuses on telling conservation-themed stories that revolve around water. The third episode of this series just released, and it focuses entirely on conservation efforts around the famed Eastern Brook Trout. Brookies are native...

Opinion: Fly Fishing's Changes

Folks usually attribute fly fishing's latest renaissance to the pandemic and its lockdowns, and they're probably right. Over the past few years, though—even predating the pandemic—I've noticed more and more "mainstream" coverage of fly fishing. It's no longer this bohemian pursuit, but a socially-acceptable way to spend a Saturday afternoon. On the one...

Casting to Apache Trout

We've covered the wonderful news surrounding the Apache trout in depth here at MidCurrent. The fish is currently under review to be delisted from the Endangered Species Act, which would be a huge conservation win for all anglers. To highlight just how wonderful it is to have the Apache trout around in fishable numbers now, US Fish and Wildlife Service...

Story: Patience in Alaska

Alaska isn't the first place we think of when we talk about patience. It seems like - from Instagram and YouTube, at least - the fishing is always fast and furious in the Last Frontier. That's not always the case, however, as you'll find out in this excellent story from Phil Monahan over at the Orvis blog. He recounts a day he spent guiding on the Copper...

Story: Perspective From Salt to Limestone

A little bit of perspective goes a long way in fly fishing. That's why you should read Dom Swentosky's latest story over at Troutbitten. He shares some of the lessons he's learned recently while fly fishing saltwater - a far cry from the limestone rivers he guides back home in Pennsylvania. You can read the story here.

Story: Stranded

Does the idea of being stuck at a fishing lodge sound like a bad time? Do you think there's ever a situation in which you'd be unhappy to be stranded in a fishing lodge? Chris Hunt takes us through that thought process in his latest story over at Hatch Magazine, aptly titled "Stranded." You'll get an inside look at life at an Alaskan fishing lodge when...

Searching for the Real River Why

If you've ever read The River Why by David James Duncan, you're aware of how alluring the river described in the book can be. That river inspired a real-life odyssey by Andy Cochrane to search for the river that inspired the one in Duncan's novel. Cochrane wrote about the adventure over on Thrillist, and it's a fantastic read. "The river is never named...