News On The Fly

RIO Products has announced two additions to its spey line category: the RIO Scandi and Scandi VersiTip. Both lines utilize RIO’s ultra-low stretch ConnectCore technology for increased control and sensitivity when casting.

Read more in the press release below.

Here's something you don't see every day: a rap song told from the perspective of a dog who has passed away. But, believe it or not, this really does offer an affecting message about. . .

The post Video: The Rainbow Bridge Song 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. This week, we've got ten more new questions on fish foods and the flies that. . .

The post Take an All-New Phil Monahan Fly-Fishing Trivia Challenge 03.06.14 appeared first on Orvis News.

From Umpqua:

Umpqua Feather Merchants (Umpqua) is on the move once again, bringing a revamped and improved line of leaders and tippet materials to market in their new, contemporary packaging.

Umpqua’s leader and tippet manufacturing partner has consistently invested in the most modern, cutting-edge equipment that allows for more accurate tolerances during the extrusion process, providing even greater consistency and reliability in the materials and designs.

“We feel that Umpqua Leader and Tippet offers the angler the perfect blend of strength to suppleness ratio. 
No sacrifices have been made to offer a product that is extra strong yet too stiff, or gaining more suppleness 
by weakening the break strength.”
— Riley Cotter, Umpqua Sales Manager, Umpqua Feather Merchants

Over the past year and a half, Umpqua has been integrating new and improved product into its previous generation of packaging. The official announcement of the improved leader and tippet product lines coincides with Umpqua’s launch of an entirely redesigned packaging system. The new leader packaging reinforces

From Southwick Associates:

Hawaii, Florida, Texas, California, Costa Rica, Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, Alaska—all offer world-class fishing. And with cold weather slamming much of the country for the past two months and spring still more than a month away, where do seasoned anglers dream of traveling to land their next big one? According to a survey conducted by AnglerSurvey.com, South Florida remains the top dream destination of would-be traveling anglers with 43 percent of those surveyed choosing it as the location they would most prefer to fish if they had the opportunity.

The popularity of South Florida was followed by Costa Rica with just over 18 percent of respondents selecting the Central American country as the place they would go. Next on the list was Mexico with 12 percent, followed by

From Howler Brothers:

Howler Brothers launches its Spring 2014 apparel line on Tuesday, March 4, 2014 with four brand-new styles of men’s shorts and shirts, and updated colors and patterns throughout the line. The Howler Brothers Spring 2014 apparel line, which is available on the all-new HowlerBros.com and at retailers across North America, perfectly blends functionality and modern design with the soul, passion and timeless style of water sports such as surfing and fly-fishing.

“Now in its fourth year, Howler Brothers is continuing to offer fresh, innovative and original pieces,” said Chase Heard, Co-Founder of Howler Brothers. “The new pieces reflect the forward thinking and continued growth of the brand, but still honor the heritage and core principles upon which Howler Brothers was built by keeping versatility, functionality and attention to detail at the forefront.”

In conjunction with the new spring products, Howler Brothers is launching a more user friendly website with a

From TU:

State-of-the-art water management in the West can help ensure ample water supplies and quality fishing, even during prolonged times of drought across the region, according to Trout Unlimited scientists and organizers who work with anglers and hunters to protect habitat, reconnect watersheds and restore degraded rivers and streams.

For instance, collaborative restoration work with private landowners in the Maggie Creek watershed in Nevada has resulted in healthier habitat, more water for ranch operations, and more water for native Lahontan cutthroat trout.

“Mostly through a combination of improved grazing strategies and some fencing we’ve seen huge increases in stream-side vegetation, an influx of beavers creating storage ponds, and increasing water clarity and flows,” said Helen Neville, a TU research scientist. “This work has also increased the

This reel, built by Edward Ringwood Hewitt, is one of just seven in existence.
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 cool items from their collection in an ongoing series called "Museum Pieces." You can take a. . .

The post Museum Piece: An Extremely Rare Fly Reel appeared first on Orvis News.

The dog, formerly named Raffiki, is seen here with 4-year-old Daniel Torres.
Photo via nydailynews.com

A lost puppy in Los Angeles has led to a battle between the dog's former owner and the rescue organization that gave the puppy to another family. Raffiki, an eight-month-old Rhodesian Ridgeback, somehow. . .

The post Video: Animal Rescue Group Refuses to Return Lost Dog to Owner appeared first on Orvis News.

What's better than big, wild steelhead from one of British Columbia's storied rivers? This latest chapter in the "Tasty III" series by Boondoggers Fly Fishing offers up plenty of. . .

The post Video: Slab Steelhead on the Bulkley appeared first on Orvis News.

Otis Orth's golden retriever, Amber, poses with Alaska State Trooper Lucas Hegg.
Photo via adn.com

In Alaska, snowmachines are vital to winter travel in many places, and folks use them as you or I would use a car. So it was not unusual that Otis Orth headed out on his snowmachine on Sunday afternoon to. . .

The post Man Says Dog Saved His Life After Snowmachine Crash appeared first on Orvis News.

Kamchatka Steelhead Project

While eastern Russia is known far and wide for its amazing trout angling, fewer are aware of the presence of steelhead in the region. Here is a glimpse of the efforts to better understand their habits in an environment that’s as untouched as possible.

original content The Fly Shop
video by Ryan Peterson

Written by: David Garritt

A beautiful winter brown trout is worth heading out in the cold.
All photos by David Garritt

[Editor's Note: Here's a great letter and set of photos Tom Rosenbauer received from podcast listener and blog reader David Garritt]

The post Photos of the Day: Winter Solitude on the Farmington, Thanks to Tom appeared first on Orvis News.

Brad Beal knew that his beloved dog, Boh, would hang out in the cemetery next to their home in Lincolnton, North Carolina, but he never gave too much thought about what the dog actually did. It was only after. . .

The post When Their Dog Goes Missing, His Owners Discover His Role as a Comfort Dog For Others appeared first on Orvis News.

From TRCP:

Following today’s release by the White House of the administration’s fiscal 2015 budget, sportsmen’s groups highlighted measures of particular importance to hunters and anglers while reiterating calls for House and Senate appropriators to prioritize funding for critical conservation programs, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership announced.

The president’s budget proposes full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a key sportsmen priority, as well as strong funding for the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and an increase in the price of the federal Duck Stamp. Important reforms to funding wildfire suppression also are proposed.

“Responsibly managed lands and waters, high-quality habitat for fish and game species, dependable access to places to hunt and fish – these represent priorities of the sportsmen’s community that are unattainable without

From Trout Unlimited:

Denver Water, Trout Unlimited and Grand County today announced agreement on a package of river protections designed to keep the Fraser River and its trout populations healthy.

The Mitigation and Enhancement Coordination Plan brings to a close several years of discussions over the proposed Moffat Collection System Project and its potential impacts on the Fraser River. All sides hailed the stakeholder agreement as a breakthrough that balances municipal needs and environmental health.

Trout Unlimited called the agreement “a victory for the river.”

“This package of protections and enhancements, if adopted in the final permit, gives us the best opportunity to keep the

The Zonker streamer has been around since the mid 1970s, when Colorado fly-shop owner Dan Byford came up with the pattern, based on some unconventional streamers coming out of New Zealand at the time. Like many streamers, the Zonker can be tied in a. . .

The post Video: How to Tie a Pearl Zonker Streamer appeared first on Orvis News.

This is the face that launched a campaign to save some of America’s most vulnerable dogs.
Photo by Brandon Stanton, via ABC News

When Brandon Stanton first saw Susie on the street, she belonged to someone else. But Stanton featured her on his popular website, Humans of New York, calling her. . .

The post New Organization Finds Forever Homes for Senior Dogs appeared first on Orvis News.

Iceland is on the bucket lists of most fly fishermen, and this video will only solidify the country's place. There are lots of fish in the air, some. . .

The post Video: Incredible Footage from Iceland appeared first on Orvis News.

This is a wonderfully cute video, but Kiwi is certainly not very good at catching the ball. It doesn't matter because she clearly. . .

The post Video: Kiwi Plays Catch in Slow Motion appeared first on Orvis News.

Once numbering in the tens of thousands, Southern California’s runs of native steelhead are now on the brink of extinction. This documentary from California Trout tells their story.

Good Reason for Freezin’

Love to hear the commonality among those in our sport who seek water, no matter what it takes, for the never quenchable thirst of angling adventure. Even better is seeing it through their eyes, hearing it in their voices and feeling connected through their experiences, no matter where they are. From northern Georgia some trout angling in the cold… no excuses.

original...

Here's a pretty cool idea: the American Red Cross recently released an app for iPhone and Android that offers pet first-aid information at your fingertips. The aptly named Pet First Aid App is loaded with features: . . .

The post American Red Cross Releases Pet First-Aid App appeared first on Orvis News.

Written by: Orvis customer Maggas2, Toronto, Canada

I ordered the Backseat Protector about two months ago and have used it sparingly since. However, that all changed recently, when we rented a pet-friendly cottage in the Kawartha Lakes for 10 days and the protector was put through its paces. It was amazing how easy it cleaned up after both dogs had done their best to it—dirt, water, and, oh yeah,hair! (I have two Labs, black and yellow.)

The post Backseat Protector: “It works like a charm!” appeared first on Orvis News.

Orvis rod designer Shawn Combs is a streamer fanatic.
Photo by Jim Logan

Because I fish mostly in the Northeast—where over the course of a season nymphs and streamers surely catch more large fish than dry flies do—I am loath to fish anything but surface patterns when I’m out West. Don’t get me wrong: I’m no dry-flies-upstream-only purist. It’s just that. . .

The post Tuesday Tip: How to Get the Most Out of Your Streamers appeared first on Orvis News.

Young Reed spends a bit of quiet time with Boone, a seven-year-old Golden Lab.
Photo by Tim Larick

Here's a cool image from my friend Mike Sepelak's blog Mike's Gone Fishin'. . .Again. Although Mike didn't take the photo (a friend did), he rescued a. . .

The post Photo: The Magic of a Quiet Moment with Boone appeared first on Orvis News.

It's been more than eight months since the gang at Jazz & Fly Fishing produced a real video, but they've burst back onto the scene with a 16-minute episode to kick off their new season. This is cool because it. . .

The post Video: Jazz & Fly Fishing Are Back for Season Two! appeared first on Orvis News.

From Casting for Recovery:

Casting for Recovery, a non-profit organization offering support and educational retreats for women with breast cancer is announcing its expansion to southern California. On June 6-8th on Lake Arrowhead at the UCLA Lake Arrowhead Conference Center volunteers, staff and participants will gather to commence the first Casting for Recovery retreat in the greater Los Angeles area. These retreats are not only to teach women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer to fly fish, it is an entire quality of life program that teaches tools on how to cope with a diagnosis and subsequently deal with the physical and mental hurdles they have and will encounter. On this weekend in

Here's a cool video from Carrileufu Valley Lodge in Argentina's central Patagonia. Amazing scenery and beautiful fish abound.

The post Video: The Magic of Central Patagonia appeared first on Orvis News.

From G.Loomis:

We know fishing rods get broken. We all fish hard and put our tackle through plenty of abuse. But don’t kick yourself if you do break one, relax – G.Loomis will help you out with a simpler warranty process, and an expanded ‘Xpeditor’ service program.

We inspect every rod sent back to the factory, and if it’s a problem or break due to material or workmanship, G.Loomis will always cover it with our limited lifetime warranty. And now, when submitting a warranty claim, anglers no longer are charged a claim review fee. If the rod is covered by the warranty, a replacement rod is sent at no charge. If it’s not, anglers can pay

Photo via ozarksfirst.com

Like most states, Missouri is home to a host of towns and cities that have breed-specific legislation that affects owners of Pit Bulls and similar dogs. But one state representative, Ron Hicks, aims to change that. He has introduced. . .

The post Video: Missouri Representative Aims to End Breed-Specific Laws appeared first on Orvis News.

If you plan to buy a used double barrel shotgun anytime soon, you’ll want to listen to the latest Double Barrel Podcast with Bruce Bowlen, Orvis’ Head Shooting Instructor at the Orvis Wingshooting School in Manchester, Vermont. It offers invaluable and. . .

The post Classic Podcast: Tips on Buying a Used Shotgun appeared first on Orvis News.

What better present to kick off your Tuesday than a bunch of amputated bunny limbs?
All photos by Phil Monahan

Do these things happen where you work? About a half hour ago, Sporting Traditions Administrator Jody Frederick walked into our pod with a grocery bag and announced, . . .

The post Photos of the Day: Tom’s Bunny Connection Comes Through Again appeared first on Orvis News.

Bella the dog might take a little ribbing at the dog park after this one.
Photo via ABC11

Here's something you don't see every day. . . . A dog from North Carolina named Bella did what dogs have. . .

The post Photos: Mortal Enemies Find Themselves Up a Tree appeared first on Orvis News.

From Tatrofish Films comes a look at what guides from Fly Fishing Outfitters do on their days off: head back out to the water.

Trout Unlimited president and CEO Chris Wood responded to the EPA’s decision Friday to more closely examine the potential negative effects of the Pebble Mine. “By putting the process outlined in the Clean Water Act into play,” explains Wood, “the EPA is setting a very high—but reasonable and appropriate—bar for Pebble Mine to get over and prove there won’t be impacts to water quality and the region’s irreplaceable fishery.”

Read more in the press release below. 

Clint Packo shows off a sweet rainbow trout.
All photos courtesy Clint Packo

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 a vocation, spending their time in an outdoor “office” that may include a. . .

The post Orvis Trout Bum of the Week XXI: Clint Packo appeared first on Orvis News.