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Still crazy after all these years

The psychotic angler

by Richard Wilson - Tuesday, Oct 31st, 2023

One That Got Away on the Kangia River in Greenland (photo: Earl Harper).

It takes two short questions to expose just how viscerally brain-bending fishing can be.

The first is ‘Why do we go fishing?’ This isn’t subtle and needs just 3 words for an answer. Maybe there’s someone out there who’ll say they don’t go fishing to catch fish, but I’ve never met them. There’s no shortage of secondary reasons such as good company and beautiful locations, but they’re all predicated on the idea that we go fishing to catch fish. The clue is in the name. This answer, as I will demonstrate, is wrong.

Falling into the late season

More tips for success during autumn low water conditions

by George Daniel - Friday, Oct 27th, 2023

Photo: George Daniel.

Autumn is one of the most beautiful times to be on the water, especially when fall foliage is at its peak. However, this time of year also creates some of the most challenging fishing conditions of the year, including low water. While there is no shortage of recommendations on how to tackle autumn conditions, here are a few of my favorite tips for dealing with low flows and other challenges common during the fall days on the water.

eDNA study offers compelling evidence that culvert replacement benefits salmon, steelhead and trout

The new research also suggests eDNA may be a powerful new tool for researchers

by Chris Hunt - Thursday, Oct 26th, 2023

A pickup truck drives over a newly constructed bride which replaced a faulty culvert on a salmon stream in Washington state (photo: USDA).

A recently completed study using relatively new eDNA technology shows that replacing culverts that might act as fish migration barriers is key to restoring salmon and steelhead in the Pacific Northwest. And, presumably, wherever faulty culverts interrupt salmonid migration. More broadly, however, the study is a herald for the use of eDNA science in restoration work conducted across environments and around the globe.

Greys introduces new, budget-friendly Cruise fly rod and reel combo kit

A new option for dollar-conscious anglers from the folks at Greys

by Hatch Magazine - Wednesday, Oct 25th, 2023

Photo: Greys Fishing.

It’s not accurate to say that Greys is no longer a household name in the U.S. For those of us over 40, or perhaps even 30, Greys is every bit of a household name. But Greys, which was founded in the 1960s in the U.K., dramatically reduced its American footprint for a decade or longer, leaving some younger anglers unfamiliar with the brand’s longtime reputation for providing well-designed, quality fly fishing gear at affordable prices — a niche brands like Redington and ECHO have become best known for in the U.S. market.

Fly rods and science: Costa's Marlin Fly project

A collaborative effort between researchers, conservation organizations, fly anglers and local partners is helping to expand our understanding of striped marlin and other billfish

by Hatch Magazine - Sunday, Oct 22nd, 2023

Photo: Nick Price.

In a world where the concept of “uncharted” or “exotic” is becoming increasingly elusive, is the bleeding edge frontier of fly fishing not experienced by catching something newer or bigger but through the fusion of fly angling with science and conservation? So says a new short film from Costa Sunglasses, which details the recent effort of a group of scientists, fly anglers, guides, and other volunteers to leverage fly fishing to help researchers learn more about Pacific billfish populations.

Healing

Finding a way back

by Mike Sepelak - Saturday, Oct 21st, 2023

Photo: Mike Sepelak

He slips quietly into the water and gazes upstream. His shoulders slump with a grave weariness that resonates in the wispy mist that clings to the water's surface, the numbing hush of distant whitewater, the dark edges of this secluded sanctuary. It’s been hard times.

The yard list

Taking stock of what's important

by Todd Tanner - Wednesday, Oct 18th, 2023

Photo: Todd Tanner

Most of us live in cities. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 80% of Americans currently reside in urban areas. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that, I suppose, other than that cities are so … limiting. Sure, you can shop to your heart’s content or visit any number of restaurants, bars and clubs. You have your choice of gyms and coffee shops and schools for your kids. And yet the very essence of city life is defined by concrete, steel and asphalt.

New fly fishing gear: October 2023

What's new on the water this month

by Hatch Magazine - Monday, Oct 16th, 2023

Photo: St. Croix.

It’s fall, fellow fly fishers, no matter where you are in the northern hemisphere. You might still be slathering on sunscreen on the Gulf Coast of Florida this week, but just a few days ago, anglers in several parts of the country saw their first official snowflakes of the season. That means that fly fishing gear manufacturers are ramping up for holiday sales, and there are quite a few new items debuting across the angling spectrum this month.