Articles

Go back to school on small streams

Refocusing on fundamentals through the lens of creeks and small streams

by Chris Hunt - Friday, Sep 20th, 2024

Photo: Chad Shmukler.

There’s a creek freak in every fly fisher, even if it's compartmentalized away, deep in the emotional recesses of our psyches. Most of us who have fly fished for years — decades, even — cut our angling teeth on small water. That we’ve left these out-of-the-way little angling destinations for bigger waters and more sophisticated challenges is a bit unfortunate. For these diminutive waters still hold valuable lessons.

New fly fishing gear: September 2024

What's new on (and off) the water this month

by Hatch Magazine - Wednesday, Sep 18th, 2024

The new Winston Pure 2 (photo: Winston Rods).

Fall is officially upon us, and fly-fishing gear manufacturers are pushing new rods, reels and other goods out to consumers this month. From a handful of new reels — both freshwater and saltwater — to a new high-end trout rod and a surprising entry into the optics market from a traditional rod manufacturer, gear junkies should rejoice.

Here are some of the highlights from in these new September offerings.

Cloud, castle, creek

Lost and found in Poland

by Dave Karczynski - Sunday, Sep 15th, 2024

Photo: Dave Karczynski.

The first time I traveled to Poland I was 11 years old. It was about a year and a half after communism had fallen and my aunt, who my mother had not seen in fifteen years, was getting married. My brothers and I were taught no Polish growing up, but by the time we landed in Warsaw we could each repeat a token phrase. Mine was to be delivered to my 92-year-old blue-eyed great-grandmother: “My mother says I have your eyes.” More useful would have been: “Please don’t let us die.” The trip nearly killed all of us in different ways.

50 million anglers

How can we address the biggest threat to our fly fishing?

by Hatch Magazine - Thursday, Sep 12th, 2024

Aerial view of the Bridge Fire on Angeles National Forest on September 9, 2024 (photo: USDA Forest Service / cc2.0).

Climate change may not be making many headlines right now, but that’s only because presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are sucking all the oxygen from the room.

Sleeping dogs

Zeppelin will have none of it

by Mike Sepelak - Wednesday, Sep 11th, 2024

Photo: Mike Sepelak.

I try to let sleeping dogs lie but Zeppelin will have none of it. He seemed deep in his dreams at the foot of the bed when I slipped down the dark hallway to the kitchen, but, as I stand at the counter eating a hasty bowl of cereal, I hear the whisper of pads on hardwood, a breathy harrumph, and the soft thump of old bones settling to the floor beside me. I reach down and scratch his head.