Articles

The most read articles of 2023

Reader favorites from the past year

by Hatch Magazine - Sunday, Jan 14th, 2024

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

by Chris Hunt - Thursday, Jan 11th, 2024

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

by Hatch Magazine - Tuesday, Jan 9th, 2024

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.

Cutting back

Where lies the line between collecting and hoarding?

by Tim Schulz - Sunday, Jan 7th, 2024

Photo: Tim Schulz.

Through a series of events as unlikely as finding a pearl in a brook trout’s mouth, I spent thirteen years in university administration—eight as a department chair and five as a dean.

“We have too many damn administrators,” one of my colleagues told me back then, seemingly oblivious to the title “Dean of Engineering” next to my name on the door he’d just walked through.

“How many should we have?” I asked.

“I don’t know, but I can tell you how to find out.”

“How’s that?”