Articles

Biologists use DNA to identify two 'new' species of black bass in the South

Anglers have likely been fishing for these "new" species for generations
Bartram's Bass (photo: UGA).

To the average interested trout angler, the last half century of taxonomic gymnastics in identifying distinct subspecies of cutthroat trout in what’s left of their native ranges has been mind-boggling. When I was a kid, the mere presence of “natives” swimming in some of the tiniest mountain creeks on the slopes of the Colorado Rockies was a closely held secret.

New fly fishing gear: September 2025

What's new on the water this month
Photo: Farbank Enterprises.

This month's roundup of new fly fishing gear is a rod- and reel-heavy collection. With the exception of one fall and winter apparel piece, all of this month's highlighted introductions are new rod or reel offerings. And, with new freshwater, saltwater, and two-hand rods hitting shop shelves, almost every fly angler looking for additions to their quiver will have something to ponder.

Here's a look at what's new on the water this September.

Redington intros new Predator SALT fly rod lineup

The Bainbridge Island rodmaker's flagship big game rod gets reborn as a saltwater stick
Photo: Farbank Enterprises.

A popular wallet-friendly fly rod is getting a salty makeover, a savvy move by long-time rod-maker Redington, as it aims to improve its footprint on the flats. New this month is the company's new Predator SALT, an armored version of the company’s appreciable Predator line of “big-fish” fly rods.

Review: Orvis Superfine Graphite fly rod (2025)

Will the Helios-infused reincarnation of the 'Seven/Eleven,' the 'Tippet,' and other classic Superfine models delight lightline aficionados?
Photo: Chris Hunt.

There’s a creek freak in all of us. No matter where we fish, what we chase, or why we do it, down deep in our soul is that little kid who used to stop their bike atop the bridge over the local creek and stare over the guard rail down into the water, hoping to see something swimming below. These small waters very likely served as our introduction to fishing and, in time, to that fateful moment when we gripped and wiggled a fly rod for the very first time.

Unicorns of midnight

At nearly 300 miles from the ocean, catching an Upper Delaware River striper requires more than just the right fly
Photo: Jim Leedom.

Besides the hundred or so tires pried from the bottom of the Upper Delaware during last month’s annual “Get Trashed” river clean-up, something else emerged from the depths that day: reports of stripers – lots of them, and big ones, too. Guides in driftboats, tires piled four-deep in their bows, saw them holding in deeper pools, readily visible in the midday sun. So did volunteers in kayaks lugging garbage bags filled with plastic bottles, mismatched flip-flops, and other river jetsam.

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