Articles

The 10 Commandments

For beginner trout anglers

by Todd Tanner - Thursday, Sep 28th, 2023

Casting lessons at The School of Trout (photo: Todd Tanner).

Most new fly fishers have a hard time telling good advice from poor. Sadly, the internet is full of questionable guidance from people who portray themselves as experts yet lack the requisite skills and knowledge. If you only fish a few times per year, or if you’re relatively new to the sport, it’s not always easy to know who to trust. With that in mind, I’d like to share ten tips that our instructors at the School of Trout offer on a regular basis.

Fish refused your fly? Hurry up and wait.

Resist the urge to quickly recast to feeding fish

by Chris Hunt - Tuesday, Sep 26th, 2023

Photo: Chad Shmukler

The rock face across the river stood sentry over what, from my limited Atlantic salmon experience, looked like the perfect stretch of fishy water. The river, fresh from a manic tumble over a frothy cascade, fell into an emerald green pool that hugged the basalt wall like a kindergartner clinging to his mother on the first day of school.

Fishing the popper-dropper rig

You've heard of the hopper-dropper, but what about something with a bit more gusto?

by Chris Hunt - Thursday, Sep 21st, 2023

Photo: Chris Hunt

We’ve all heard of the “hopper-dropper,” the ubiquitous, two-fly method for summer trout all over the world. But what about the “popper-dropper” for bass, panfish and other warmwater fish? Well, it’s a thing, and I can attest to its effectiveness.

A couple of years ago, while fishing in the Big Thicket National Preserve in southeast Texas, I was introduced to the method, and I’ve used it a few times since in places like north Florida and even in eastern Idaho, where we have something of an unknown, but robust, population of smallmouths in the Snake River.

New fly fishing gear: September 2023

What's new on the water this month

by Hatch Magazine - Thursday, Sep 14th, 2023

Photo: Simms Fishing

The fall fishing season is upon us, and fly-fishing gear manufacturers are pushing out some new items worth a look.

From a stipper caddy to a new Scandi shooting head, a conscientiously constructed cold-weather wading jacket to a new rotary tying vise and a few items in between, here’s a quick look at some of the most promising new items for September.

On a mission to build the world's most accurate fly rod

A look inside the Orvis rod shop

by Tim Schulz - Tuesday, Sep 12th, 2023

Photo: Tim Schulz

When I stepped through the double entry doors under the small gable roof at the entrance to the Orvis Rod Factory last June, I expected to be greeted by old men with silver-gray beards, half-frame reading glasses, brass pocket watches, and full-length canvas shop aprons.