Articles

Shad camp

As the last days of April blossom into May, a section of the Delaware River gleams like the center of the universe

by Stephen Sautner - Tuesday, Apr 29th, 2025

A migrating Delaware River American shad (photo: Jim Leedom).

In the Northeast, as the last delicious days of late April blossom into early May, a certain section of the Delaware River gleams like the center of the universe. No, it’s not the Upper Delaware’s wild trout section, smothered by too many drift boats and wade anglers (yeah, I’m one of them). To reach these less fashionable waters, head south into the 40-mile-long Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area — sometimes called the Middle Delaware. Swap out your five-weight with a stout six or a forgiving seven. And don’t forget the stripping basket you used last fall for stripers.

New fly fishing gear: Spring 2025 roundup

A massive roundup of new rods, reels, lines, apparel, accessories and more

by Hatch Magazine - Saturday, Apr 26th, 2025

The Ross Reels x Coors Banquet Cimarron fly reel (photo: Ross Reels).

It’s just past tax time. In parts of the country, trout season is underway — with the redbuds and the dogwoods come the Appalachian brook trout and, even in the upper Midwest, warmer water has trout bums wandering the waters between the Driftless area and the Upper Peninsula. If you’re a closet carp junkie, it’s about time to start looking for big carp moving into the shallows along the Snake River Plain. South, along the Gulf Coast, spring reds and specks are in the backwaters and eyes are open for those first migrating tarpon.

4 underrated Western trout towns

These fishy gems are too often overlooked by traveling anglers

by Chris Hunt - Friday, Apr 25th, 2025

Lower Green River Lake near Pinedale, Wyoming (photo: Bridger Teton National Forest).

I spent a beautiful spring week on Montana’s Bighorn River, one of those western gems that gets fished aggressively come summer. And, on a glorious April day when the mercury tickled 80 degrees, the river saw its share of anglers. The good news? The ‘Horn is one of those rivers that just keeps on delivering big fish, no matter how many boats and how many anglers find their way to its chilled waters below Yellowtail Dam.

Dumb and dirty ethanol

We are converting wildlife habitat to corn monocultures for the purpose of concocting a polluting, energy-inefficient, engine-degrading additive

by Ted Williams - Wednesday, Apr 23rd, 2025

Central Illinois corn farmer Jerry McCulley sprays the weed killer glyphosate across his cornfield in Auburn, Ill. A handful of hardy weeds have adapted to survive glyphosate _ sold as Roundup and a variety of other brands _ which many scientists say threatens to make the ubiquitous herbicide far less useful to farmers (AP Photo/Seth Perlman).

The answer is: The American public.

The question was: Who is forced to buy fuel that costs more to produce than gasoline, reduces mileage, damages boat, car and truck engines and gas tanks, destroys fish and wildlife habitat, pollutes air and water, and makes America more dependent on foreign oil?

Lake derangement syndrome

Open your mind and let the lake fish in

by Chris Hunt - Saturday, Apr 19th, 2025

Photo: Chris Hunt.

I had an interesting discussion with an old friend not too long ago — he was planning a fishing trip with his long-time fishing buddy, who’s gracefully aging and is now into his 80s.

“He’s getting up there, and I’m getting up there, too,” my friend, who’s now into his 60s, said. “His eyesight is failing, and I’m losing my hearing. It’s getting comical when we’re on the water together. For now, we can laugh about it, but it’s starting to get a little annoying.”