Articles

Redington intros limited edition GRANDE Artist Series fly reels

The longtime value performer gets a stylish update

by Hatch Magazine - Tuesday, Aug 12th, 2025

The new Redington GRANDE Artist Series bonefish edition (photo: Farbank Enterprises).

Special edition fly reels are one of those pieces of gear that appeals to almost every fly angler. We are, after all, easy prey for pretty things. Whether it’s a perfectly tied Atlantic salmon fly, a finely crafted bamboo fly rod, or a perfectly machined reel adorned with hand-painted artwork or an artistic engraving, there’s no denying that aesthetics matter to most fly fishers. Yet, limited edition reels have long been out of reach for many of us, often requiring would-be buyers to saddle up to the bar and swallow a four-figure price tag to walk out the door with one.

Lifestyle and function meet as Simms launches Grateful Dead collaboration

Simms kicks off new 'Dead on the Water' collection

by Hatch Magazine - Friday, Aug 8th, 2025

Photo: Darcy Bacha.

Even the most casual Deadhead angler can manufacture an emotional connection between America’s most influential counter-culture musical movement and the fluid and often-improvisational nature of fly fishing. Now, one longtime industry stalwart is just saying the quiet part out loud. Deadhead fly fishers rejoice. Your next pair Simms G3 guide waders will feature the familiar Dead lightning bolt and the band’s iconic dancing bear (fashioned into a fly-drying patch no less).

Hear me out: Half-size tippet matters

Why half-size tippet isn't just a marketing gimmick

by Tim Schulz - Friday, Aug 8th, 2025

Photo: Tim Schulz.

If you grew up reading Patrick F. McManus in Field & Stream and Outdoor Life, you probably learned to fly fish with spools of 3X, 4X, 5X, and maybe 6X in your vest pockets. Then, one day, you went to the fly shop to replace a spool or two, and what on earth did you see? Half-sizes. If you were like me, you viewed this as the third sign of the Fly-Fishing Apocalypse. The first being nippers that cost more than a brake job. The second being Euro-nymphing.

Can fish see directly behind them?

No, fish don't have 'eyes in the back of their heads.' Or do they?

by Hatch Magazine - Tuesday, Aug 5th, 2025

Photo: Chad Shmukler.

We’ve all been there. You spy a trout finning in the current, not too far off the bank, oblivious to your presence. A perfect target. Easy, even. You stand quiet and still, assess the current, watch the fish’s behavior to see if you can discern what it is or isn’t eating, and envision your cast. Only to make it, you’ll need to get a bit closer. The good news is, that shouldn’t be a problem. The fish is 40 or 50 feet upstream and barely a rod length off the shoreline. You’ll practically be walking up straight behind it, able to sneak up close and personal for a short cast.

Review: Toadfish Waterproof Backpack and Sling

Our review of Toadfish's waterproof storage offering

by Chris Hunt - Monday, Jul 28th, 2025

Photo: Toadfish.

Finding the ideal waterproof backpack may seem like a “first-world” challenge to some, and I get that it might come across as a bit pretentious to tackle a series on protecting a host of largely recreation-based gear from the perils of water. Keep in mind, though, that specialty items have been ever-present in the fly fishing industry — smart gear manufacturers make everything from stripping gloves to special leaders and tippets made solely for anglers who swing soft-hackle flies. The reason? There’s a market for them.

Finding a good waterproof backpack that can meet the multi-functional needs of anglers on the water, on the trail, and on the road, I would argue, is as worthwhile as any deliberative gear search out there. We’ll toil over decisions to spend $1,000 on a fly rod that’s designed a built for a very niche purpose. Why wouldn’t we spend as much time debating the merits of the waterproof backpacks on the market that are designed to keep important gear dry on the water? And, I would argue, adding in some everyday functionality is an important consideration. With that, here’s the next installment in this series: