News On The Fly

The folks at paul Nelson Farm are pround of this recent gift from a guest.
Photo courtesy Paul Nelson Farm

[Editor's note: The folks at Paul Nelson Farm recently shared with us a very meaningful gift that was presented by a special guest in appreciation for a great hunting adventure.]

This flag was flown on a US Army Chinook helicopter during a Special Operations Command mission. Captain Jason Burton led his crew into a “hot” valley in Helmend Province, Afghanistan. . .

The post Photo: A Flag of Honor appeared first on Orvis News.

Sunbrella® Tufted Universal Chair Back Cushion- w/ties
Photo via orvis.com

Can you hear the familiar Porgy and Bess refrain? Summertime, and the livin’ is easy—at long last we’ve arrived there: delicious, lengthening days, high sun at high noon, and sun-kissed life outdoors. And with that come life’s big messes: oily sunscreen residue, splatters from granddad’s secret smoked chicken marinade, maybe electric blue Popsicle drippings or a little splash of deep crimson Malbec on the outdoor seat cushions. Ella did not include those words in her lyrics, but they’re proof positive you’re enjoying life.

You already know the Sunbrella® outdoor cushions you use on your garden or patio furniture are resilient: they’re adventure-ready, fade-resistant, willingly take a beating in the weather, and they’re no match for the triple threat: mold, mildew, and moisture. It’s why you bought them in the first place. But even the world’s most nearly-perfect outdoor seat cushion needs a little help now and then. Pull up your wicker chair and pay attention. But before we travel too far down the cushion care and maintenance road, keep three things...

The post Sunbrella Savvy: Caring for Your Outdoor Cushions appeared first on Orvis News.

Here’s the latest wonderful rescue video from Eldad Hagar of Hope for Paws, in which he and his friend, Shannon, rescue a very sweet Pit Bull who had been living on the streets. It always. . .

The post Video: Eldad Hagar Rescues Danny the Pit Bull appeared first on Orvis News.

Written by: Patrick B. Blackdale, Willowfly Anglers at Three Rivers Resort

Taylor Park Reservoir is gorgeous in the early season, with snow-capped peaks all around.
Photos by Patrick B. Blackdale

Mid-May is a great time of year to search for pike on Taylor Park Reservoir in central Colorado. Sometimes, however, the trip ends up being more about double-haul practice. Either way, . . .

The post Photos: “Pleasure Casting” for Pike in Colorado appeared first on Orvis News.

Reflective Collar
Photo via orvis.com

For many, many years I was that person. An insatiable long-distance runner, my day started at 5 a.m. with at least one dog, often two, occasionally three, outside, running. Did I think about our visibility to passing motorists in the early-morning darkness? Incessantly. When you are running with your leashed dog, you can clearly see Spot run. But it can be difficult for others to spot...

The post Reflective Dog Collars (for dogs who run with crazy humans before sunrise, not that I know anybody who has ever done that) appeared first on Orvis News.

This short film from HOOKÉ features beautiful footage of fishing for landlocked salmon in The Laurentides region of Quebec.

Patagonia has announced an autographed limited edition release of the book “Simple Fly Fishing,” by Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard. The book highlights the “tenkara” technique and follows the “more you know, the less you need” mantra of the brand.

Read more in the press release below.

Written by: Kubie Brown, Orvis Manchester

Kubie Brown is all smiles, as he holds a 40+-inch northern pike from Upstate New York.
Photos courtesy Kubie Brown

Every year, I head up to the Adirondacks with my brother and my buddy, Justin, to hunt the ponds, lakes, and rivers of the region for big post-spawn northern pike. In the past, we've found that. . .

The post Photos of the Day: Drunk and Disorderly Pike appeared first on Orvis News.

When Kiaya the 10-year-old Akita lost her sight to glaucoma , her owner Jessica VanHusen wondered how the dog would manage to get around. What she didn’t count on were Kiaya’s. . .

The post Two Friends Serve as Eyes for Blind Friend appeared first on Orvis News.

Chasing Rumor:  A Season Fly Fishing in Patagonia

A short trailer on a new book Chasing Rumor: A Season Fly Fishing in Patagonia written by Cameron Chambers on fishing and guiding in South America and how he ended up there, published by Patagonia Books. 

original content Patagonia

Here's an incredibly touching story about a marine serving in Afghanistan who met a puppy and fell in love with him. Sgt. Jacob Fisher bonded with the little dog they named Jax, and he. . .

The post Video: Marine is Reunited With Puppy He Saved While in Afghanistan appeared first on Orvis News.

The trout of the Upper Delaware will test all your angling skills.
All photos courtesy Ty Patton

The Delaware River system is famous for its world-class trout fishing, but with the continued very low water and high air temperatures, things are getting a bit desperate. The long-term. . .

The post The Upper Delaware River Needs Our Help! appeared first on Orvis News.

May 23, 2015 Fairfax County Urban Search and Rescue member Charlotte Grove lets her dog, Etta,
find a “missing person” in the rubble during training.
Photo by Linda Davidson/The Washington Post

After devastating earthquakes struck of Nepal last month, rescue-dog teams from the U.S. traveled to the Himalayan nation to help search for survivors. A great story in The Washington Post. . .

The post Rescue Dog Training for Dogs Returning from Nepal appeared first on Orvis News.

Regular blog readers are certainly familiar with Dave and Amelia Jensen, who have been entertaining us for years with their photos, videos, and stories from New Zealand and. . .

The post Video: <em>Fly Baitin’</em> a Big Brown Trout appeared first on Orvis News.

Indoor/Outdoor Water Bowl
Photo via orvis.com

I can’t count the number of times I’ve observed any one of the big, silly dogs in my life abandon a game of fetch for a pass at the water bowl, dropping a slimy toy directly into the bowl itself, and then fishing it out to continue play. The day our “pack” grew to include a second dog, the first one—our house matron—made her displeasure known at the water bowl, jealously guarding it from the cheeky young interloper, and comically growling with her snout fully immersed. Who knew a dog could blow water bubbles? They may not be able to explain the finer points of hydration, but make no mistake: dogs completely...

The post Summer Hydration & Water Bowl Wisdom: Helping Your Dog Take the Heat appeared first on Orvis News.

Statement of Benjamin H. Bulis, president and CEO of the American Fly Fishing Trade Association (AFFTA), for the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship hearing entitled, “An Examination of Proposed Environmental Regulation’s Impacts on America’s Small Businesses”, May 19, 2015.

Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman and members of the Subcommittee.  I appreciate the opportunity to provide testimony in support of the Clean Water Act at the hearing today.  I had the good fortune to be born and raised in the beautiful state of New Hampshire.  I have fished around the U.S. and the world, but the rivers and streams of New Hampshire will always stay close to my heart.  Now I have the great fortune to live and work in Bozeman, Montana, and the fishing is not too bad there either, as you may have heard!

 AFFTA represents the business of fly fishing which includes manufacturers, retailers, outfitters and guides across the nation, who all share the same bottom line: furthering the sport and industry of fly fishing.  This cannot be accomplished without clean water and vibrant fisheries habitat.  The formula that drives AFFTA is very simple:  Access to healthy habitat creates recreational opportunity that drives economic activity and jobs.

There is little doubt that the power of images in this industry cannot be undersold. Images of big fish, and beautiful landscapes drive shares and comments across all social media platforms. But can we do better?

Visual content has become extremely important in driving social engagement and has changed the way we market online.This last week I found two very interesting studies that illustrate the power of color choice and filter selection when creating visual content for online use.

The effects of photo filters on online engagement.

You can’t take  a photo on the camera app of your choice without being offered the opportunity to apply a filter.  Instagram is the example most of us are familiar with. But can these filters really improve the level of sharing for any given photo? Yahoo, the owners of Flickr tried to answer that very question. They shared their findings in a recent tumblr post.

“Looking at 7.6 million public Flickr app photos modeled in a negative binomial regression, we found that filters boost engagement on the site. Filtered photos are 21% more likely to be viewed and 45% more likely to be commented on.”

Those numbers seem crazy to me. Generally speaking, a filtered photo tends to look more interesting than a straight out of the camera photo for the vast majority of us who aren’t professional photographers. One would assume you

A new study launched this month by University of Massachusetts Amherst fisheries biologist Andy J. Danylchuk, in collaboration with Argentina’s Ministry of Environment and regional partners including Juramento Fly Fishing, Tigres del Rio, Fish Simply, and Patagonia Inc., is the first to assess the impact of catch-and-release fishing and other human and environmental pressures on the golden dorado, a fish of high economic and recreational value across South America.

Data obtained from this project in the Salta region of northwest Argentina will be used to develop conservation strategies, proactive management and sustainable fishing practices for this iconic species. The project is also expected to contributute to greater sustainabilty for the regional ecotourism industry and the economic livelihood of local fishing guides.

As Danylchuk explains, “Little is known about how golden dorado respond to being caught and released, yet understanding this can lead to best practices anglers and guides can use to make sure fish swim away in the best shape possible.” Danylchuk, his graduate students and local stakeholders are also radio tracking golden doraro to look at

Mike Mercer was the very first employee hire by The Fly Shop in 1978, and he's been working there ever since. Along the way, he became known for tying innovative and imitative. . .

The post Video: How to Tie Mercer’s Missing Link appeared first on Orvis News.

The post Podcast: Finding and Catching Redfish with Capt. Tuck Scott appeared first on Orvis News.

This week we’ll travel to the Low Country of South Carolina to interview Captain Tuck Scott, who is a master at finding redfish along the South Carolina coast.  In addition, historic Beaufort sounds like an amazing place for a family vacation, so this one might be a trip to plan where fishing is only part of the plan.  Tuck gives us plenty of intelligence on finding and catching redfish in the Low Country, and also some special redfish tips that will work anywhere.  In the Fly Box this week we talk about missed fish on downstream wet flies, fish chasing streamers but not connecting, organizing fly-tying materials, the benefits of hiring a guide, and tips for fishing scuds on spring creeks.

Quite a while ago, we featured a video by our friend Zach Matthews, editor of The Itinerant Angler website and host of the podcast of the same name, about how to set up a trout reel. This. . .

The post Classic Tuesday Tip: Setting Up Your Terminal Tackle appeared first on Orvis News.

From TU:

A new bipartisan renewable energy bill has broad support within the sporting community because it includes royalty provisions for public lands renewable energy development that would help fund important conservation work.

The bill (S. 1407), introduced by Republican Sens. Dean Heller of Nevada and Jim Risch of Idaho, and Democratic Sens. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico and Jon Tester of Montana, would balance the need to protect and restore public lands fish and game habitat with the development of new sources of wind and solar energy.

“It’s important to sportsmen and women that we protect our public lands habitat, because that habitat translates into great fishing and hunting,” said Chris Wood, president and CEO of Trout Unlimited. “We recognize the need for energy security and for our nation to diversify its energy portfolio. This bill will allow the country to tap new energy resources while enhancing the fish and game habitat that is vital to our sporting heritage.”

All four senators who introduced the bill today have supported previous versions of the bill, which means the bipartisan effort to produce meaningful legislation around renewable energy continues. These leaders also recognize the importance of protecting and restoring important habitat for fish and game—hence the bill’s proposal to direct royalties generated by wind and solar energy production to habitat improvement efforts. Other portions of the royalties will go to state and county governments, who in recent years have been strong advocates for the legislation.

“This is a good bill for