News On The Fly

Stream Access Now! This is the title of a very useful guide produced by Back Country Hunters and Anglers (available on their web site or on the Orvis Learning Center) that gives you the stream access laws for all 50 states, plus some fascinating essays on the varying ways states treat stream access. It’s also the title of this week’s podcast with Rob Parkins, Public Waters Access Coordinator for BCHA. Rob details how laws vary from state to state, how you can find access points, and dos and don’ts of fishing on both public and private lands. It’s essential knowledge for the traveling angler, particularly if you don’t fish with a guide and are unsure of the legality of entering a stream in a state where you have not fished before. In the Fly Box this week, we have the usual mix of great questions and suggestions from listeners: If my fly comes back with empty caddis cases on the hook, does that mean the caddis hatches are over and I should not fish a caddis? Are sea-run Pacific steelhead any more delicate than Great Lakes steelhead? If I harvest a deer, should I try to use any of the hide for fly tying, and how do I deal with it? Is it OK to fish a click-and-pawl reel for smallmouth bass, and does reel “balance” matter? Why don’t people fish much with winged wet flies anymore? How do I keep my Double Bunny Rabbit strips from getting stiff? How can I see my dry fly when looking into strong glare? What is the best camera for capturing the brilliant colors of fish?

Written by: David Coggins

The author relaxes on the Madison River with his favorite low-brow midday beverage.
Photo courtesy David Coggins

One of my most beloved angling traditions is the lunchtime beer. The midpoint of a float trip is largely an excuse to open a can of Miller Lite. If the morning has been a good one, then it’s a well-earned celebration. If the fishing . . .

The post Just Like Water: The Case for Bad Beer appeared first on Orvis News.

“RIO Fly Fishing Tips,” a new series from RIO Products, is a series of instructional videos bought to you by a RIO employee or ambassador. The first tip of the series focuses on a pretty simple tip: how to quickly thread up a fly rod.

“RIO Fly Fishing Tips,” a new series from RIO Products, is a series of instructional videos bought to you by a RIO employee or ambassador. The first tip of the series focuses on a pretty simple tip: how to quickly thread up a fly rod.

“RIO Fly Fishing Tips,” a new series from RIO Products, is a series of instructional videos bought to you by a RIO employee or ambassador. The first tip of the series focuses on a pretty simple tip: how to quickly thread up a fly rod.

The rivers of Alaska’s Bristol Bay are home to the world’s largest runs of sockeye salmon, like those shown here beneath the falls on the Copper River. Near the headwaters of this incredible resource, a Canadian mining company has proposed an open-pit copper and gold mine of a scale never seen before in Alaska. Mining … Continue reading "11.27–Save Bristol Bay"

The post 11.27–Save Bristol Bay appeared first on Orvis News.

The post Moment Of Chill appeared first on Orvis News.

Whittling down to these ten finalists was a difficult job!
Photomontage by Phil Monahan

Starting on the first day of September, many of you committed to trying to get on the water at least 20 times during the next 30 days. As an added incentive--although you probably didn't need one--we launched our fourth annual “20 Days in . . .

The post Vote for the Winners in Our “20 Days in September” Contest—and Maybe Win Something for Yourself! appeared first on Orvis News.

Whereas the best way to present a mayfly imitation is almost always a dead drift, trout are often willing to chase a caddisfly skittering across the surface. Some of us learned this by . . .

The post Video: How to Tie the October Caddis Skater appeared first on Orvis News.

For some puppies, wrestling is a favorite game. Dogs can also use wrestling to communicate with each other, as well as to burn off excess energy. Most of the play puppies engage in is a form of practice for adult dog behavior. Spread the Chill Know someone who could use a Moment of Chill?

The post 11.28–Play-Fighting appeared first on Orvis News.

The post Moment Of Chill 2 appeared first on Orvis News.

The post Moment Of Chill appeared first on Orvis News.

Here’s another great video from Carpe Diem, about a nice trout that they’d seen a couple of times before but had never gotten to take the fly. They are very patient this time, allowing the fish to move, spook, and then settle . . .

The post Video: “Our Good Friend,” the Brown Trout appeared first on Orvis News.

Yesterday, Tom Rosenbauer hosted a Facebook Live session on his favorite patterns for catching trout in the fall. Since not everyone has Facebook--and so you don't have to rewatch that lo-res compressed Facebook video--here's an . . .

The post Video: Tom’s Top 8 Flies for Fall Trout appeared first on Orvis News.

Written by: Greg Vincent, H2O Bonefishing

Catching a bonefish is an accomplishment for any angler, novice or expert.
Photo courtesy H20 Bonefishing

Every year, hundreds of new anglers join the migration to the tropics in search of what many consider to be one of the world's finest light-tackle game fish: bonefish. Here in The Bahamas, we are fortunate to have hundreds of . . .

The post Pro Tips: The Keys to Learning the Bonefish Game appeared first on Orvis News.

For those of us with fat fingers, tying tiny patterns can be a real trial. Just getting the hook from the package to the vise can be frustrating. Here, Tim shares his secret weapons: plunger-style . . .

The post Video: How to Handle Tiny Hooks Without Going Crazy appeared first on Orvis News.

RIO Products has announced the release of a new DirectCore Jungle Series, designed to be ideal for golden dorado, peacock bass, tigerfish, and bass in hot and humid fishing conditions.

Read more in the press release below.

RIO Products has announced the release of a new DirectCore Jungle Series, designed to be ideal for golden dorado, peacock bass, tigerfish, and bass in hot and humid fishing conditions.

Read more in the press release below.

RIO Products has announced the release of a new DirectCore Jungle Series, designed to be ideal for golden dorado, peacock bass, tigerfish, and bass in hot and humid fishing conditions.

Read more in the press release below.

At 663,268 square miles, Alaska is the largest state in the United States by total area, more than twice the size of Texas and larger than the combined area of the 22 smallest states. It is even larger than all but 18 countries. Spread the Chill Know someone who could use a Moment of Chill?

The post 11.29–The Last Frontier appeared first on Orvis News.

Written by: George Daniel

Just because you can't see the fish refusing your nymph doesn't mean they aren't there.
Photo by George Daniel

While watching Horton Hears a Who with my kid, I was reminded of the difference in tactical approach between a nympher blindly fishing a run and a dry-fly angler targeting a rising fish. In the latter situation, the angler can see a target, but the . . .

The post Pro Tips: Rethink Your Nymphing Approach appeared first on Orvis News.

There are times when conventional fly-fishing techniques won't get your fly deep enough, especially in heavy water. This is the time to use a heavy jig-head streamer, combined with either a Power Taper floating line or a fast-sinking line like the . . .

The post Master Class Monday: How to Fish Jig-Head Streamers appeared first on Orvis News.

Written by: Peter Nardini, American Museum of Fly Fishing

One of the first saltwater bucktails, the Gibbs Special is forefather of many modern striper flies.
Photo courtesy AMFF

One for the Salt: Harold Gibbs Striper Bucktail
Harold Gibbs is considered the father of modern striper fishing in the Northeast. Originated in the 1940s, the Gibbs Bucktail (above) was one of the first attempts at suggesting a specific forage. . .

The post Museum Pieces: Five Go-To Streamers for Fall appeared first on Orvis News.

In this episode of the Hungry Life series from Yeti, chef Eduardo Garcia travels to Mexico with fellow anglers Oliver White and Hilary Hutcheson to pursue saltwater’s four key sport fishing species—bonefish, permit, tarpon, and snook—and prepare a small feast for themselves and their guides.

In this episode of the Hungry Life series from Yeti, chef Eduardo Garcia travels to Mexico with fellow anglers Oliver White and Hilary Hutcheson to pursue saltwater’s four key sport fishing species—bonefish, permit, tarpon, and snook—and prepare a small feast for themselves and their guides.

In this episode of the Hungry Life series from Yeti, chef Eduardo Garcia travels to Mexico with fellow anglers Oliver White and Hilary Hutcheson to pursue saltwater’s four key sport fishing species—bonefish, permit, tarpon, and snook—and prepare a small feast for themselves and their guides.

Autumn is a great time to fish mountain streams in the Appalachians, as cooler temperatures make the fish more active, and many of the larger fish that live lower in the watershed begin to move upstream to spawn. This stream, in the Green Mountains of southwestern Vermont, flows into a river that holds wild brown … Continue reading "11.30–Fall Small-Stream Magic"

The post 11.30–Fall Small-Stream Magic appeared first on Orvis News.

A new report shows outdoor recreational activities, including hunting and angling, on Bureau of Land Management lands significantly contributes and supports Western state economies.

Read more in the press release below.

A new report shows outdoor recreational activities, including hunting and angling, on Bureau of Land Management lands significantly contributes and supports Western state economies.

Read more in the press release below.

A new report shows outdoor recreational activities, including hunting and angling, on Bureau of Land Management lands significantly contributes and supports Western state economies.

Read more in the press release below.

The final stage of a mayfly’s life cycle is called an “imago” or “spinner,” and clouds of these mating insects are often visible dancing in the air above a river. Spinners are usually easy to identify by their transparent wings, extra-long tails, and large eyes. The aquatic insects are born in the streambed and live … Continue reading "11.21–Waiting for the Fall"

The post 11.21–Waiting for the Fall appeared first on Orvis News.

In this short film from LOOP, team members enjoy a great few days fishing for wild brown trout in the Flow Country in the Scottish Highlands.