News On The Fly

Strobel Lake, Argentina

Some enjoy lakes and others are indifferent towards them. Add stunning water color, extreme conditions, exotic travel and huge fish, however, and you’ll turn most fly anglers into believers, followers or even vehement pursuers of just such locations. Enjoy as Kathryn Hart of Rajeff Sports narrates yet another great flick from Todd Moen.

original content Catch Magazine

Joe D. with a beautiful Patagonia brown trout and the smile of a man who enjoys his work.
All photos courtesy Joe Demalderis

A couple years ago, we ran a series called “Trout Bum of the Week,” in which we highlighted some of the guys living the good life. . .of a sort. (See the bottom of this post for a link to the previous installments.) This is our second round of profiles. Most of the subjects are guides who have turned their passion into. . .

The post Orvis Trout Bum of the Week XXIV: Joe Demalderis appeared first on Orvis News.

No. 4 shot at full choke at 25 yards has solid pattern. photo by Tim Bronson Every turkey hunter gets excited about the upcoming season as soon as they see birds strutting out in the fields. So we start doing a little scouting to find some turkey tracks and fresh scratchings, and this gets us even … Continue reading "Pro Tips: How to Pattern Your Shotgun for Turkey Season"

The post Pro Tips: How to Pattern Your Shotgun for Turkey Season appeared first on Orvis News.

Mom hurry! We are waiting patiently for our treats!
Photo by Pam, Modesto

The post Dogs of the Day: Callee and Odin! appeared first on Orvis News.

Here's a cool, dreamy video shot in winter on Wisconsin's Rush River. In stark black and white, it offers a compelling vision of a cold day on the water, and the wide aspect ratio gives the. . .

The post Video: Rush Hour in Wisconsin appeared first on Orvis News.

From www.vaflyfishingfestival.org:

One of the nation’s top fly fishing events features family fun, live demonstrations, wine and cider sampling, microbrews, on-stream casting classes and fly tying seminars on the banks of the South River at Constitution Park in Waynesboro, Saturday and Sunday, April 12-13, 2014. Festival hours are 9:00 am to 5:00 pm each day, rain or shine.

Daily admission tickets are $20 for adults and kids 16 and under are free. Weekend passes are available for $35.

Highlights include:

From Costa:

Costa Sunglasses announced it recently added fly fishing guides Tom Larimer, Dave McCoy and Marty and Mia Sheppard to its pro staff. As Costa pro staff members, each will bring their expertise, knowledge and understanding of fly fishing and related conservation issues to Costa-sponsored events in their area, engage young anglers in the art of fly fishing, and represent Costa in several fly fishing contests and tournaments in 2014.

Larimer owns and operates Larimer Outfitters, based in Hood River, Ore. He has more than 18 years of professional fly guiding experience, and is a renowned spey casting instructor. He is also a pro staff member for Hatch Reels and Yamaha Outboards, serves as a Simms Fishing ambassador, and is an advisor to Airflo Fly Lines and RL Winston Rod Company. Larimer is a board member for the Deschutes River Alliance.

McCoy owns Emerald Water Anglers, a full service fly fishing outfitter located in

John Montana, of the Carp on the Fly blog, recently hit the water with a buddy and a
5-weight Orvis Superfine Glass rod. His verdict? "Incredibly FUN!"
Photo by John Montana

The post Photo of the Day: Glass Carp appeared first on Orvis News.

We've posted many times about the bravery and sacrifices of military working dogs, and one dog in Missouri recently received a remarkable honor. Alma served three tours in Iraq, sniffing out bombs that could harm her fellow. . .

The post Video: A Patriot Guard Honors a Retired Marine Dog for First Time appeared first on Orvis News.

This week we have what I feel is one of our best podcasts ever—an interview with Colby Trow of Mossy Creek Fly Shop on his advanced tactics for catching smallmouth bass. I learned a ton in this podcast, and it makes me want to. . .

The post Podcast: Smallmouth Bass Fly-Fishing Tips with Colby Trow appeared first on Orvis News.

Photo by Jessica Trinh, via huffingtonpost.com

Young Southern California photographer Jessica Trinh is just nineteen years old, but she is already making a name for herself as a pet photographer. One of her efforts, "Project let It Rain Love," involves creating gorgeous art images of. . .

The post 19-Year-Old Photographer Focuses Hers Lens on Shelter Dogs appeared first on Orvis News.

Long evenings and trout rising to dries are not all that far away, as we’re reminded in this film short from Dry Fly Media.

Guide Ricky Davidson, photographer Kyle Johnson, and cinematographer Jacob Rosen put together this beautiful film short of fly fishing for winter steelhead in the Pacific Northwest.

Fly fishing, like storytelling, is not always a linear pursuit. The folks at FrontsideFly take a unique path in showing a day on the water from end to beginning in this film short.

Simms and Trout Unlimited have partnered on a limited edition t-shirt and hoody to aid Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout conservation. Fifty percent of sales from each item will go to TU’s work to help protect the native Yellowstone cutthroat trout in Yellowstone National Park.

Read more in the press release below.

This week we have what I feel is one of our best podcasts ever—an interview with Colby Trow of Mossy Creek Fly Shop on his advanced tactics for catching smallmouth bass.  I learned a ton in this podcast and it makes me want to head south to chase some right now.  And in this extra-long podcast there are plenty of fly box questions:  Using a stomach pump on trout, how to keep your indicator from sliding, whether bright silver and gold beads are a thing of the past, how to find secondary feathers on a goose wing, and good substitutes for deer hair on a Comparadun wing.

I love to fish streamers, and on the Battenkill—where the number of trout per mile is relatively low—it's the best way to cover a lot of water quickly. However, there are times during the year when hatching insects bring even large brown trout to the. . .

The post Trout Polyleaders: A Secret Weapon for the Streamer Angler appeared first on Orvis News.

Krista Hall is a volunteer puppy raiser for Guide Dogs for the Blind. See how her efforts help the visually impaired, like Vinay Billimoria, whose guide dog, Abel, helps him safely navigate the busy streets and sidewalks of San Francisco. Those who raise and socialize these. . .

The post Video: Puppies on Loan, Volunteering to Raise Guide Dogs appeared first on Orvis News.

Fin-Nor’s "Wedding Cake" reel, designed by Gar Wood, was one of the first fly reels specifically
created to handle the rigors of catching large saltwater fish.
Photo by Sara Wilcox

The American Museum of Fly Fishing is located right next to the Orvis Flagship store in Manchester, Vermont. The folks from the museum will be sharing many of the. . .

The post Museum Piece: A Fine Piece of Wedding Cake appeared first on Orvis News.

Another Day In Paradise

As guides, we stress over particulars of the next day’s trip.  Weather, angler ability, personality, weather and in Puget Sound the presence of fish and weather. Sometimes the stars align and the recount can be short and sweet:

“This weekend I got the chance to fish Puget Sound with two guys from Philadelphia, Caleb and Brian, who were in Seattle for a 3 day convention. The weather was everything you’d expect of a March day in the Northwest: constant rain, fog, and just enough bite in the air to keep things interesting. One thing that was missing from the day (surprisingly… and thankfully), was the wind that can turn an unpleasant day into an unbearable one. One thing that wasn’t missing from the day: fish. We saw fish jumping, and had swirls and takes on every beach we stopped at – a bit of a rarity for this time of year.

"On the ferry ride back to Seattle we were some mixture of soaked, tired, and content from a successful day of chasing cutthroat on the Sound. All in all, another day in paradise.”

photo and words by Alex Collier

From Damnationfilm.com:

“Damnation portrays the fictional “Monkey Wrench Gang” coming to life as we enter into the mindset of those who can no longer sit back and watch the planet and the rivers be destroyed.” – Huffington Post

“A highly entertaining investigation...” – ION Cinema

We are honored, humbled, and ecstatic after four wonderful screenings at SXSW last week.  We are also very proud to announce that we brought home the Audience Award for the Documentary Spotlight category!  We hope winning this award is a sign that the urgent issue of dam removal is resonating and will continue to build momentum as the film tours across the country.

Our Crack Down on Deadbeat Dams petition to President Obama continues to gain momentum. We’ve already gathered more than 6,000 signatures! Please sign the petition, if you haven’t already, and share it with your friends on social media.

Thank you for

Welcome to a new edition of the Orvis News Friday Fly-Fishing Film Festival, in which we scour the Web for the best fly-fishing videos available. We have an eclectic selection this week: seventeen videos, from around the globe. We've got Browns in New Zealand, Italian backcountry, tarpon in the Florida keys, and a couple species you. . .

The post Friday Fly-Fishing Film Festival 03.21.14 appeared first on Orvis News.

From Howler Brothers:

Howler Brothers is adding some serious marketing muscle to the brand with the hiring of industry veteran and brand board advisor Rick Wittenbraker as Chief Marketing Officer.
“We have known Rick for a long time both as a friend and as a business advisor, so we know he’s going to be a great fit here,” said Chase Heard, co-founder of Howler Brothers. “He possesses the knowledge and experience to lead the brand as we continue to grow, and he lives the lifestyle to be able to do it with authenticity. He truly walks the walk and will play a key role in taking Howler Brothers to the next level.”

A confluence of his background and experience, Wittenbraker’s new position will focus on all facets of Howler Brother’s marketing. Wittenbraker joins the Howler family after successfully taking the reigns of several startups, as well as steering Austin-based YETI Coolers from a $5-million to $68-million company in four years, first as a consultant then as vice president of marketing.

In addition to co-founding and running the company on a day-to-day basis, Heard has been shouldering marketing efforts for the brand. Wittenbraker will be

Hey, did you know that today is National Puppy Day? It's a holiday founded in 2006 by Celebrity Pet & Home Lifestyle Expert and Author, Colleen Paige, who is also the founder of National Dog Day and National Cat Day (among many others). According to the event website: . . .

The post Today is National Puppy Day! appeared first on Orvis News.

Written by: Matt Miles, Matt Miles Fly Fishing

Unlike some other species, striped bass eat voraciously during their spawning run.
All photos by Matt Miles

After a long cold winter of fattening up on shad, freshwater striped bass begin to feel the urge for a little romance with the longer, warmer days of spring. Each year, stripers make their journey out of lakes, reservoirs, . . .

The post Photos of the Day: Reservoir Hawgs appeared first on Orvis News.

April Helland hugs her dog, Maisy, after being separated for 6 years.
Photo via wbir.com

Here's another story that drives home the value of microchipping your dog. Six years ago, Maisy followed the three Helland boys into the woods near their home in Hardin Valley, Tennessee. The Beagle never. . .

The post Video: Maisy Is Reunited with Her Family After Six Years appeared first on Orvis News.

The second season of Jazz & Fly Fishing kicked off with a first episode filled with great music, beautiful country, and stunning fish.

The American Museum of Fly Fishing, will hold “Spring Training” on Saturday, March 29.  Anglers of all ages can learn more about the world of fly fishing: from salt water tying and patterns, to rod making and landing fish.

Read more in the press release below. 

To kick off the 2014 fly fishing season, Finn Utility has announced two new additions to their product catalog as well as an updated website design that includes photography of Russell Schnitzer.

Read more in the press release below.

Written by: Kip Vieth, Wildwood Float Trips

Make sure you've got a fly rod with enough backbone to get the job done.
Photo courtesy Wildwood Float Trips

I have been at this game a long time, and the most common question I get asked is, “What size rod should I bring up for our trip?” I guide 99% of the time for smallmouth bass and musky on the rivers of. . .

The post Pro Tip: Choosing the Right Fly Rod for Your Quarry is Vital to the Health of the Fishery appeared first on Orvis News.

Here's a wonderful video from Bill Foundation and the Animal Wellness Foundation. This is what Bill Foundation’s Annie Hart had to say about the experience: . . .

The post Video: The Inspiring Transformation of Gideon appeared first on Orvis News.

Welcome to another edition of our trivia challenge, where we test your knowledge of all things fly fishing and where you might learn a thing or two about this sport we love.

The post Take an All-New Phil Monahan Fly-Fishing Trivia Challenge 03.20.14 appeared first on Orvis News.

From USAC:

It’s Caucus Season

The legislative session wrapped up last Thursday without any surprises at the 11th hour. However, that doesn’t mean that we can sit back and wait until the next legislative session. This year is an election year, which means that every Representative and half of the Senate are up for election – and you can be involved in that process.

As a result of SB 54 and the Count My Vote initiative, even if you are unable to attend your caucus meeting, you can still cast your vote by printing out your ballot and sending it to the meeting with someone else in a signed, sealed envelope with a copy of your ID. All of the information you need to get involved with the GOP Caucus Process can be found here:  https://voterclick.com/utgop_menu.php

The GOP Caucus Night will be Thursday, March 20.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at info@utahstreamaccess.org.

Let your delegates and Representatives know that stream access is important to you, and

From Smith Optics:

Smith Optics is pleased to announce the launch of its new ChromaPop Polar Blue Mirror and ChromaPop Polar Bronze Mirror lens tints to their collection of scientifically advanced polarized lenses. Specifically designed for the avid fisherman, the new lens tints provide 100% protection from harmful UVA/B/C rays with film-free polarization with unmatched visual clarity.

The ChromaPop Polarized Bronze Mirror lens creates a color enhanced visual experience like no other mirror lens you’ve seen. Intensified reds, blues, and greens result in almost 3D-like visuals. Ideal for medium/bright light conditions.

The ChromaPop Polarized Blue Mirror lens produces enhanced visuals amplifying colors in their natural state. Designed for the serious offshore waterman seeking to cut glare, eliminate backside reflections and maximize fish spotting opportunities in open water environments. Ideal for bright light conditions.

Both lens tints feature

Tom Gordon landed this sweet dolphin in the Mexican salt.
All photos courtesy Tom Gordon

Australian Facebook pal Tom Gordon sent in these sweet photos and video from the waters off La Ventana, Mexico, where, he says, "My Helios 2 10-weight got a. . .

The post Photos of the Day (+video): Saltwater Mayhem in Mexico appeared first on Orvis News.