News On The Fly

In his latest podcast, Reid digs deep into shot-shell development with two key members of the Winchester Ammunition Team-- Mike Stock, Director of Commercial Sales and Product Management, and Ben Frank, Product Manager.They discuss all facets of shotgun shells, including performance, construction, and the different materials that impact both. It's a great chance to "nerd out" on the nuances of shotgun ammunition with two industry pros. Enjoy!

My friend Jeff and I recently took our families to explore a high elevation lake and stream in the Uinta Mountains of Utah for a couple of days. The hike to the lake was only about a mile, but we had heard good things about it. When we arrived, . . .

The post Tips for Fishing High-Elevation Lakes for Brook Trout appeared first on Orvis News.

There are lots of choices when it comes to natural dubbing materials, but do you know the differences between, say, rabbit, beaver, muskrat, or angora? Tim offers a quick take on each, highlighting its best uses for fly tiers. As you build your . . .

The post Video: A Primer on Natural Dubbing Materials appeared first on Orvis News.

Brown trout love to hold near undercut banks because such a lie offers them the best of all worlds: they don't have to work against a fast current, they have a conveyor-belt of food going by, and the cover of the undercut bank means that they feel safe. . . .

The post Master Class Mondays: How to Catch Trout in Shallow-Water Undercuts appeared first on Orvis News.

In the latest how-to video from Ben Sittig, a.k.a Huge Fly Fisherman, he teaches you one of the first things you need to know as a fly fisher: how to string your rod so you can start casting. Although this is a simple task, we’ve all seen folks do it wrong . . .

The post Video: How to String a Fly Rod appeared first on Orvis News.

This week, the main topic of the podcast is the issue of etiquette on our more crowded trout streams, in particular the conflicts that have arisen due to the popularity of fishing from drift boats and the issues that have developed with both boat and . . .

The post Podcast: Drift-Boat Etiquette on Crowded Water, with Wade Fellin appeared first on Orvis News.

In this month’s “Top 5” video from Trouts Fly Fishing in Denver, Ivan Orsic and the legendary Landon Mayer fish the “Dream Stream” section of the South Platte and find some pretty trout. Then they sit on the tailgate of the truck and list Landon’s . . .

The post Video: Top 5 Flies for August 2019 appeared first on Orvis News.

A trip to cast for Atlantic salmon is a bucket-list item for many fly fishers. But it’s a completely different game from the trout fishing you may be accustomed to. In this excellent video from The New Fly Fisher, Bill Spicer covers all the essentials to . . .

The post Video: How to Fish for Atlantic Salmon appeared first on Orvis News.

Welcome to another edition of our weekly trivia challenge, in which 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 a new set of ten questions about scientific terms, . . .

The post Take a New Phil Monahan Fly-Fishing Trivia Challenge 08.08.19 appeared first on Orvis News.

This week the main topic of the podcast is the issue of etiquette on our more crowded trout streams, in particular the conflicts that have arisen due to the popularity of fishing from drift boats and the issues that have developed both with boat and wade anglers. My guest is Wade Fellin, Montana native, lifelong fishing guide, and lodge owner. Wade gives some examples of recent poor etiquette he’s seen on his home river, the Big Hole, and how these kinds of conflicts can be avoided. We also explore some ways that clients as well as guides can help mitigate these issues. In the Fly Box this week, as usual we have some interesting questions (and tips) that I hope will be of interest to everyone. Some of the topics we explore are: What do you think of flies with spinner blades in front of them? Are Tenkara rods good in small brushy streams? Should I be worried about fishing in a lightning storm with my graphite rod? What are your thoughts about orientation on articulated hooks? What can I do about CDC getting slicked back on my flies? Is swinging flies for smallmouths a valid tactic? Can I swing wet flies with my level competition line? What can I do about red dye running from materials on my flies? Is it OK to use a level leader when surf and jetty fishing? What can we do about fish in heavily fished areas getting mangled mouths? Can I catch catfish on a fly? I have heard people say they catch trout with 80-foot casts? What is a practical casting distance?

Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency announced that it was withdrawing the 2014 Proposed Determination, which ” would have safeguarded Bristol Bay from the proposed Pebble mine and other large-scale industrial development by . . .

The post Wednesday Wake-Up Call 08.07.19: Pebble Mine Edition appeared first on Orvis News.

With the exception of small freestone streams, no type of aquatic habitat is more identified with brook trout than beaver ponds. In areas such as interior Maine, they are more important to the brook trout angler than freestone streams, which are often . . .

The post Book Excerpt: Brook Trout and Beaver Ponds appeared first on Orvis News.

To many hunters, dogs are like family. After spending countless hours in the car and in the field together, you get to know them as you would a person. You figure out how they think, their physical abilities, and how they like to hunt with you. In the spirit . . .

The post Hunting Dogs: The Pickup and The Porsche appeared first on Orvis News.

Terrestrial season on many western rivers is just getting going. When most anglers think western terrestrial fishing, they think grasshoppers. When hoppers are in abundance, they are a great food source for trout when not much else is hatching in . . .

The post Pro Tips: How to Make the Most of Late-Summer “Hoppertunities” appeared first on Orvis News.

From the hottest dog days of summer to the chilliest three-dog nights, our best friends accompany us through the years. But what do those doggy figures of speech actually mean? Here’s the lowdown on dog days, three-dog nights, hunting dog idioms, and a fine litter of other dog phrases.

The post Dog Days of Summer and Other Dog Idioms appeared first on Orvis News.

You celebrate your furry best friend 365 days a year, but on a few special canine-inspired holidays, dogs of all stripes (and spots and patches) get an extra dash of love and appreciation.

The post National Dog Day: Annual Dog Holidays and Celebrations appeared first on Orvis News.

When no fish are rising and you can’t see them actively feeding below the surface, you don’t really have many clues about what tactics will work best. So you guess and hope for the best. But sometimes, the trout will tell you what tactics you should be . . .

The post Master Class Monday: How to Give the Fish What They Want appeared first on Orvis News.

In the latest how-to video from Ben Sittig, a.k.a Huge Fly Fisherman, the former full-time Colorado guide shows you how to dress for success without donning waders. When you’re not wading deep and the weather is warm, why swaddle yourself in heavy . . .

The post Video: How to Gear Up for Wet Wading appeared first on Orvis News.

Reid joins Orvis Gunroom Manager Greg Carpiniello and Gunsmith Jordan Smith in a conversation about the history of Orvis branded shotguns. Jordan, who recently celebrated his 40th year at the Orvis bench, looks back over the various makers who have provided guns to Orvis, and the reasoning behind the various partnerships that have been cultivated. Plenty of perspective on the quality of Spanish guns, the shifting trends of over/under vs. side-by-side, and the current state of Orvis shotguns. Enjoy!

This week, back by popular demand is Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions , who is one of the best fly-tying teachers around and also produces the best tying videos on the Internet. (See his One-Minute Tying Tips on our Fly Fishing blog or in the . . .

The post Podcast: Fly Patterns old and New, with Tim Flagler appeared first on Orvis News.

Welcome to the another edition of the Orvis News Friday Fly-Fishing Film Festival! Each week, we scour the Web for the best fly-fishing videos available and then serve them up for you to enjoy. This week, we’ve got fifteen killer productions, featuring . . .

The post Friday Fly-Fishing Film Festival 08.02.19 appeared first on Orvis News.

Welcome to another edition of our weekly trivia challenge, in which 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 a classic set of ten questions about scientific fields, . . .

The post Take a Classic Phil Monahan Fly-Fishing Trivia Challenge 08.01.19 appeared first on Orvis News.

This week, back by popular demand is Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions, who is one of the best fly-tying teachers around and also produces the best tying videos on the Internet (like our One-Minute Fly Tying Tips, available on Orvisnews.com or in the Orvis Learning Center.)  Tim and I talk about great new patterns and old patterns that should be resurrected, as well as taking old patterns and incorporating modern materials into them.  We also discuss that state of fly-tying today, which is probably more exciting than at any other time in history because of the great interchange of ideas in places like Instagram and You Tube.

In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions and suggestions:

• Suggestion on how to keep your split shot from sliding down the leader
• Suggestion on how to remove water from dry flies that won’t cost you a cent!
• Do nymphs work all season long?  What method should I start with?
• Should I do anything to maintain my old Orvis Green Mountain outfit?
• What do you think of foam posts for parachute flies?
• How do I catch rolling tarpon in deep water? 
• How can I catch gar on a fly?
• Can I use big streamers on small streams in Central New York?
• I like short rods.  Should I get the 6-foot Superfine Carbon or 6/12-foot Orvis Superfine Glass rod?
• Can I buy the right Comparadun hair online?

There have been just a few experiences in my life that have rearranged my list of priorities and changed the course of my decisions. If you asked me to describe them and their impact on me, you would probably get a poorly articulated but . . .

The post Essay and Photos: Fishing For Change in Honduras appeared first on Orvis News.