Articles

Have the fundamentals of fly casting changed over time?

Styles change, or do they?

by John Juracek - Thursday, Jan 7th, 2021

Photo: Outwitting Trout with a Fly by Bertram Lackey

The photo shown above is from an obscure book titled Outwitting Trout With a Fly, Letters of a Western Angler, written by Bertram Lackey and published in 1929. I'm rather struck by the caster's attire. Seems to me more fitting for a night on the town than fly casting instruction. Then again, providing commentary on the sartorial choices of any female, in any era, is miles outside my ken. I'll simply note that styles appear to have changed over the intervening years. On the other hand, I feel much more qualified to discuss the casting mechanics being demonstrated.

Leave it to the Beaver

The DeHavilland Beaver is one of the most durable and dependable aircraft the world has ever known

by Chris Hunt - Wednesday, Jan 6th, 2021

Photo: Chris Hunt

As we glided over the boreal forests of northwest Ontario some years back, the 20-something pilot of the vintage DeHavilland Beaver in the seat to my left gave me a nudge. I looked over at the kid — the first question I asked him upon boarding was, “How many hours do you have?” — and he pointed to the sticks in front me.

His blonde hair poked out like corn silk from under a ball cap and his youthful face bore a questioning look. He glanced again at the sticks, and gave me a nod. Realizing what he was suggesting, I looked him dead in the eyes and mouthed the question, “Me?”

Daniel Webster's ghost

Is there any ground whose fruit was not once watered in blood?

by Jon Tobey - Thursday, Dec 31st, 2020

Photo: Albert Sands Southworth

I stood on the bridge over Punch Brook, watching a small barefoot boy who had fallen asleep in the sun, his line still in the water. There was a school of brook trout just below me, and I wondered why they were not enticed by the boy’s offering.

Winter fly fishing 101

Dying to get out there? Don't be intimidated by winter angling.

by Ben Kryzinski - Wednesday, Dec 30th, 2020

Photo: Chad Shmukler

The reason many anglers either avoid winter fishing entirely or struggle when they choose to tangle with trout during the colder months has as much to do with perception as it does with reality. It’s frigid outside. Maybe there’s snow on the ground. The water is cold. Odds are, fishing is going to be slow. Right?

Fortunately, that’s not the whole story.

The 10 most read articles of 2020

Reader favorites from the past year

by Hatch Magazine - Monday, Dec 28th, 2020

Social distancing (photo: Chad Shmukler).

Look back on 2020? Why? Aren't we all just ready to forget this one and move on? If that sentiment sounds familiar, you'd certainly be forgiven the impulse to wipe this past year from the memory banks and forge ahead. That said, we believe in silver linings and even though 2020 is no doubt a year that will be remembered for its numerous dark and unpleasant events, there are always bright spots or, at the very least, lessons learned and experiences lived that are worth revisiting.