Articles

The truth about false casting

The conventional wisdom you've heard about false casting may not be particularly wise
Photo: Todd Tanner

If you spend much time reading about fly fishing, or hanging around with other fly fishers, you’re likely to run across a common theme in our sport.

“We false cast too much. Stop it.”

That admonition to limit or curtail our false casting is frequently followed with a bit of home-spun angling wisdom. “You won’t catch fish with your fly in the air. False casting is a waste of your time. Get your fly in the water.”

Sounds like great advice, doesn’t it? Stop false casting. Make sure you fly is on, or in, the water. Catch more fish.

New fly fishing gear: January 2024

What's new on the water this month
Skwala's new Backeddy waders (photo: Skwala Fishing).

The weather may be screaming winter, but gear and soft-goods manufacturers are busy launching their spring lineups in anticipation of warmer weather and anglers getting back on the water in the weeks ahead.

This month, we’re shining some light on two new pairs of feature-packed waders, new rods and reels, hard-working apparel, and more.

The most read articles of 2023

Reader favorites from the past year
Photo: Todd Tanner

Another year is in the books, our thirteenth. As has become the custom, each year we look back at which Hatch Magazine stories captivated readers the most. In a typical year, the most read stories are a healthy mix of gear-focused coverage, tips and HOWTO pieces, conservation journalism, and plain old fly fishing stories. This past year was no exception with reader favorites ranging from talk of fly rods, fly lines, and tippet to drought, fish hatcheries, and river etiquette.

Pike flies

Three rules for success with pike flies
Photo: Chad Shmukler

The whimsey starts at the fly shop, really. I mean, this is where the initial brain bomb leads you. One minute, after looking at the calendar, you realize that in just five short months, you’ll be in the Yukon chasing giant northern pike. The next, you’re in the truck, navigating snow-packed city streets in order to pick up all the ingredients you think you need to tie the perfect fly for a fish that’s about as discerning as Fat Albert at the Chuck-a-rama.

Sage introduces new R8 Spey rods and reels

The Bainbridge Island rodmaker brings its venerated R8 technology to a brand-new two-hand lineup
Photo: Far Bank Enterprises.

There may be few other fly fishing disciplines as physically demanding as the one practiced by Spey anglers who pursue fish returning to freshwater with a season’s worth of ocean-spiced strength and vigor. In an arena that requires long days spent wading, long casts, the patience to put in the hours and the ability to react on a moment’s notice, the two-handed angler is both artist and athlete.

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