Articles

Trout Unlimited's 10 Special Places

by Ben Kryzinski - Thursday, Nov 6th, 2014

As part of an effort to highlight the potential impacts of natural gas drilling in the eastern states of Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia and Ohio, Trout Unlimited recently began revealing its list of "10 Special Places." These 10 places, found in the Marcellus and Utica Shale regions, offer some of the most unique and highest value angling opportunities in the eastern United States.

According to the Trout Unlimited report, "The longstanding sporting tradition in the eastern United States has been a part of the region’s history and culture since colonial times and this heritage still holds true. Today, the central Appalachians’ remote mountains, forest and rivers that have provided abundant fish and wildlife habitat, and attracted generations of sportsmen, are at risk."

TU calls the threat from natural gas development a "big deal," noting that the continuing rush to extract natural gas from far beneath our hunting and fishing lands could "fundamentally alter" these pristine resources.

The Dark Arts

by Steve Zakur - Wednesday, Nov 5th, 2014

When you're new to fly fishing your view of the sport is largely shaped by what you know and you generally don't know shit. At best you have some idealized view of what it's all about because you watched "The Movie", read Hemingway's Metaphor for War or because you saw some guy do it and now you're a dry fly purist too. Even after a couple of outings, you still don't know anything but are convinced that your way is good enough.

When you're first introduced to the dark arts you shudder, give a wave of the hand and move on trying not to retch.

Nymphing. You don't want to do it but you must fish and when the trout aren't looking up you can either practice casting or man up and get it done. So you slip a bit of fuzz on the leader and chuck line. Nymphing is the gateway drug to the underworld. The leap from a Catskill dry to a Prince Nymph may be great, but the slide from there to Wooley Buggers and articulated junk is a small one. Then you learn about sink tips and sinking lines and soon you're fishing everything from sipping trout in thin-water to raging flood with five hundred grains cutting through a vicious cross wind.

RIO Expands Skagit Lineup with Skagit Max Long, New VersiTip Packages

by Ben Kryzinski - Tuesday, Nov 4th, 2014

RIO has continued adding to its arsenal of lines for spey anglers as well as its integration of its "ultra-low stretch" ConnectCore technology across its lineup with the addition of the new Skagit Max Long shooting head. Also new to RIO's array of two-hander offerings is the two new VersiTip packages, the Skagit Max Long VersiTip and the Skagit Max Short VersiTip.

The new Skagit Max Long is a new, extra long skagit head designed for casting big flies and big tips with big rods. The Skagit Max Long ranges in length from 27 ft to 30 ft, starting where many traditional skagit heads end and venturing into lengths traditionally the domain of Scandinavian style heads. Grain weights range from 500 to 750 grains.

RIO calls the new head "an exceptionally easy casting Skagit style shooting head that will cast big flies, and the heaviest sinking tips with the utmost of ease. A unique taper design not only casts all the nasty stuff associated with Skagit fishing, but also forms beautiful loops and is extremely pleasant to cast." As noted, the Skagit Max Long is built on RIO's ConnectCore technology. And, like all of RIO's lines of late, includes welded front and back loops with their Easy ID labeling system for quick line identification.

Tomorrow is the Most important Day of the Year for Anglers

by Todd Tanner - Monday, Nov 3rd, 2014

The most important day of the year for anglers is almost here. And no, it’s not Christmas, or Thanksgiving, or New Year’s Day. Nor is it the opener of trout season, or the peak of the steelhead run, or your best chance to wade a pristine flat for bonefish or permit.

Tuesday, November 4th, is the day that America chooses its elected officials. And if you’re a passionate fisherman, then nothing is more important than casting your vote for people who will protect our landscapes and waterways. In a world where greed and idiocy run rampant, and where Washington, D.C. seems up for sale to the highest bidder, any politician willing to stand up for sportsmen, and for fish and wildlife, is literally worth his or her weight in gold.

Mousing Hallows

by Steve Zakur - Friday, Oct 31st, 2014

Frank let the oars hang loose in the locks as the current pulled the boat towards the takeout. The day had started early but fall days also end early and Frank was looking forward to a cold beer, reheated pizza and fast forwarding through commercials on the DVR.

As the bow of the boat grated against the bank Frank hopped out and steadied the craft. While Frank's attention was focused on ensuring that neither of the sports went swimming he couldn't help glancing up the road to the empty space where his truck should have been parked. Had Seth left him stranded?

Not wanting to trouble the anglers, Frank chatted them up about the better fish of the day hoping that while he was stowing the gear Seth would roll in. After fifteen minutes of stalling he finally let the sports in on the problem hoping it won't affect his tip.