Articles

Redfish: The gateway to a flats habit

Redfish are simultaneously a second-to-none fly rod target and a great first-step species for flats fishing beginners

by Chris Hunt - Saturday, Jul 18th, 2026

Photo: Chris Hunt.

When we were kids, my generation was dutifully warned about the evils of substance abuse. We were warned of complete strangers wandering oh-so-purposely into our paths with the sole intent of giving out free dope so as to perpetuate life-altering addiction among our crop. Far be it from me to discourage those who discourage drug and alcohol abuse, but I’ll also be the first to chime in and say, “Hey, Mr.

The wide place

A mass of people, even people with the best of intentions, will always kill wild magic

by Johnny Carrol Sain - Monday, Jul 13th, 2026

Photo: Johnny Carrol Sain.

Before the time of electronic navigation tools—when the hallowed hideaways were discoverable only by map and compass or through careful direction of someone who trusted you—this was an enchanted place.

Tips for the traveling angler

Preparing for your next big (or small) trip

by Bob White - Friday, Jul 10th, 2026

Artwork: Bob White.

The morning had started off well. I was helping one of my fishermen attach a new leader to his fly line, and before the drone of the departing floatplane had drifted away, the other had hooked a bright salmon.

“I’m almost into my backing!” he shouted above the scream of the reel as the ocean-fresh fish ran toward the estuary it had left just an hour before.

“Don’t try to hold him,” I coached. “You should have plenty of backing—let him run, or you’ll break him off for sure!”

Crawling for carp

No matter where you are in the U.S., you're in reach of one of the world's best fly rod targets

by Chris Hunt - Friday, Jul 3rd, 2026

Cruising carp (photo: Chris Hunt).

No matter where you might roam across the United States (this one’s for you World Cup visitors who might have toted along a fly rod in addition to your football kit), you’re going to be within reach of an excellent fly rod target. Carp might be America’s least-appreciated game fish, but the hardy Asian imports can and do live just about anywhere in the US.

Sunfish: No press is good press

You’d think five-gallon pluckiness in a pint-sized package would garner some media attention

by Johnny Carrol Sain - Wednesday, Jul 1st, 2026

A longear sunfish from an Arkansas creek (photo: Johnny Carrol Sain).

Until quite recently, my main money-making gig was “content director” — an ambiguous job title that, by design, leaves itself open to all manner of obligations and responsibilities — at a pretty major fly-fishing media outlet. Vague title aside, it wasn’t a bad gig. I’ve had infinitely worse. A large portion of my work for this fly-fishing outlet involved curating fly-fishing photos and videos. For those unaware, fly-fishing culture anywhere more than 100 miles inland is, by and large, trout culture. This means I’ve looked at shit-tons of trout pictures.