Articles

Review: Redington Butter Stick fly rod (2019)

Are you glass-curious?

by Chris Hunt - Tuesday, Nov 27th, 2018

Photo: Chris Hunt

If there really is a fly rod for every situation—and, by God, there better be, or I’ve been lying through my teeth since I got married (and then got divorced) all those years ago—there’s a place in your quiver for a supple glass rod that’s both intuitive and a little goosey.

Winter fly fishing: A different world

Winter is the most unique of all fly fishing seasons

by Spencer Durrant - Saturday, Nov 24th, 2018

Photo: Joe Rossi

Spring, summer, and autumn remain distinctly different seasons of the year yet fish in a faintly similar fashion. Blue-winged olives are a staple spring and fall hatch, while a reasonably sized elk hair caddis will produce fish more often than not for three-quarters of the year.

Hook set

When trout fishing, one should ignore the 'no trout sets' mentality

by Mike Sepelak - Friday, Nov 23rd, 2018

Photo: Mike Sepelak

The point was sharp as a tack. That wasn’t the problem. The foam hopper floated just fine, its hook angled properly, and my light hangover was just a dull buzz in the background and had no appreciable effect on my reflexes. So why was I missing fish after fish, hookset after hookset?

Review: Winston PURE fly rod

A close look at Winston's new dry fly specialist

by Spencer Durrant - Tuesday, Nov 20th, 2018

Photo: Spencer Durrant

About a month ago, I finally got my hands on a 9’ 4wt review model of the PURE. Winston bills this rod as a light-line presentation stick for wary trout – much in the same way the company’s vaunted IM6 and WT series have been described.

The PURE isn’t a “modern” version of those classic rods, which is a good thing. The PURE stands on its own, much as the B3LS did, and performs admirably in most classic trout fishing situations. It may not be the company’s flagship rod, but at $850, it’s priced as a flagship stick for dry-fly enthusiasts.

Review: Rock Treads traction system

Can Rock Tread's aluminum discs upgrade your wading boots?

by Matthew Reilly - Friday, Nov 16th, 2018

Photo: Matt Reilly

I learned early on as a hunter that training one’s self to walk quietly without having to focus on foot placement translates directly to greater success via less head movement and more time available to scan for movement. I quickly became a fan of shoes with soft, relatively thin soles, as they allow the wearer to walk more quietly and feel what’s underfoot.