News On The Fly

This week, I talk with Scott Bosse of American Rivers on the Montana Headwaters Security Act, a 7-year program that will hopefully come to fruition in 2020. It’s draft legislation for new Wild and Scenic river designations on some of the best . . .

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This week I have a chat with Scott Bosse of American Rivers on the Montana Headwaters Security Act, a 7-year program that will hopefully come to fruition in 2020. It’s draft legislation for new Wild and Scenic river designations on some of the best rivers and streams on public lands in Montana. This draft legislation is the culmination of seven years of outreach to a broad cross-section of Montanans from across the state. During this time they have met with over 500 business owners, watershed groups, land trusts, recreation groups, riverside landowners, sportsmen and sportswomen, conservation organizations and other stakeholders. What they heard at those meetings mirrored what they learned in two bipartisan polls in 2013 and 2016 – Montanans love their rivers and want to see more of them protected using the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. It’s appropriate that this major legislation is happening in Montana, because the idea for the original Wild and Scenic Rivers legislation was born in Montana and was signed into law by President Johnson in 1968. In the Fly Box this week, we have questions and suggestions from listeners, including the following: The reason for the T-designation for sinking heads Can I use Tenkara flies with standard fly-fishing tackle? Why can’t I catch fish on nymphs? Do you have some tips for limestone streams? When it is advisable to purposely un-match the hatch Can I use hiking bots in place of wading boots? Can I use midge-sized flies all year long? They only work for me in the winter. Can I use an unweighted fly with a Euro-nymphing rig? Is it a good idea to use gear lubricant on my fly line? Why is fly-fishing gear so much more expensive than conventional gear? Where should I add split shot in relation to my streamer? Is there an easy way to remove split shot?

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 was a banner week, and we’ve got eighteen cool . . .

The post Friday Fly-Fishing Film Festival 05.24.19 appeared first on Orvis News.

Reid is joined by Wes Butler, a friend and Warden for the Vermont Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. Wes, an avid bird hunter and outdoorsman, discusses his pathway into a career as a Game Warden. The two also discuss finer points of fish and game laws, access, and how to build a relationship with your local fish and wildlife officer.

For many years, Idaho fisheries biologists have warned that non-native rainbow trout present a threat to the population of native Yellowstone . . .

The post Wednesday Wake-Up Call 05.22.19 appeared first on Orvis News.

One of the most important modern-day connections in fly fishing, the loop-to-loop connection is used for a variety of applications. However, the most common use is the junction between the welded loop on your fly line and the loop in the . . .

The post Video: How to Make a Proper Loop-to-Loop Connection appeared first on Orvis News.

We are a few weeks into the season on the Bighorn River, excited and looking forward to a fresh start. The spring fishing has been good, and the size of trout being caught is similar to the early years, when the average size was 16 to 18 inches long. The . . .

The post New Water-Management Plan Ensures Great Trout Fishing on the Bighorn appeared first on Orvis News.

On this episode of the Orvis Hunting and Shooting Podcast, Reid talks hunting, ethics, food, and connection with noted game cook and author Hank Shaw. Hank, whose Hunter, Angler, Gardener, Cook website is a magnificent resource for any and . . .

The post Podcast: Cooking Anything and Everything Wild, with Hank Shaw of Hunt, Gather, Cook appeared first on Orvis News.

A couple weeks ago, a father hired me to guide him, his wife, his daughter, and her husband. The father and mother had fished 30 years ago, and the the other couple had never picked up a rod before. At this point in the season, I had planned to take them. . .

The post Photos: An Amazing First-Time Steelhead appeared first on Orvis News.

Like many fly-fishing guides, I’ve been hit pretty hard by middle age. The past 20-something years have been a blur, and I’m starting to feel it…. in more ways than one. I’ve noticed that late nights hanging out at the bar result in my feeling really . . .

The post Lessons from an Aging Fly-Fishing Guide 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 are serving up an even dozen great . . .

The post Friday Fly-Fishing Film Festival 05.17.19 appeared first on Orvis News.

I was down in the Catskills recently and stopped in to chat with Evan Lavery of The Beaverkill Angler in Roscoe, New York. The topic of our podcast is hatches of the freestone rivers of the Catskills, in particular the Beaverkill and . . .

The post Podcast: Hatches of the Catskills, with Evan Lavery appeared first on Orvis News.

Welcome to an all-new 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, I’m serving up ten questions that run the gamut from . . .

The post Take an All New Phil Monahan Fly-Fishing Trivia Challenge 05.16.19 appeared first on Orvis News.

On this episode of the Orvis Hunting and Shooting Podcast Reid talks hunting, ethics, food, and connection with noted game cook and author Hank Shaw. Hank, whose web presence at “Hunter, Angler, Gardener, Cook” (https://honest-food.net/) is a magnificent resource for any and all who are interested in a deeper connection to their food. In the course of this podcast, Hank describes his personal and culinary adventure into the world of wild food, and the deeper relationships that said journey has facilitated. He also offers a few choice tips on game cooking, game prep, and what the well-stocked hunter’s kitchen might require. Enjoy!

Last week I, had the opportunity to participate in the Two Fly Foundation's annual fundraising fly-fishing tournament in Wyoming. Originally formed to promote corporate philanthropy by companies operating in the Cowboy State, the . . .

The post Photos and Story: The Wyoming Two Fly Tournament appeared first on Orvis News.

This week I was down in the Catskills and stopped in to chat with Evan Lavery of The Beaverkill Angler in Roscoe, New York. The topic of our podcast is hatches of the freestone rivers of the Catskills, in particular the Beaverkill and Willowemoc Creek. These are rivers rich with tradition and also rich with a diverse insect population--although they don't have the quantity of insects seen in the Catskill tailwaters like the Delaware, they have a more diverse population so you never know what you'll see. Plus, for the wading angler, these rivers don't have drift boats thus they can be more pleasant for fly fishers on foot. In the Fly Box this week, we have these questions and more: What leader should I use for pike and muskie? How do I fish for grayling in high mountain lakes? Do trout eat moths? What fly line is best for short casts? What indicators do you prefer? How do I tell the difference between a wild and stocked brown trout? Plus a harrowing tale of an "extreme angler"

Welcome to the latest installment of the Wednesday Wake-Up Call, a weekly roundup of the most pressing conservation issues important to anglers. Working with our friends at Trout Unlimited, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, the Theodore. . .

The post Wednesday Wake-Up Call 05.15.19 appeared first on Orvis News.

A couple years ago, I wrote about how fun it was to complete the new Utah Cutthroat Slam, and I also scored the Wyoming Cutt-Slam way back in '04. These programs are fun, educational, and even raise money for conservation. Other states--such as Nevada, . . .

The post Introducing the Mother of All Trout Slams appeared first on Orvis News.

Portuguese Water Dogs. Irish Water Spaniels. Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. These dog breeds are all excellent swimmers, but having ‘water’ or a body of water referenced in your dog’s name isn’t a prerequisite for water-loving dogs. Many dog breeds and rescue dogs enjoy splashing around and swimming. And some adore the water so much they seem part amphibian.

The post The Best Dog Breeds for Swimming appeared first on Orvis News.

The Littlehorn River begins at the outlet of a small cottage-rimmed pond, follows the old Boston & Maine railroad tracks behind gas stations and strip malls and suburban backyards, passes under three highway bridges, and ends several aimless miles . . .

The post “Secrets of the Littlehorn,” by William G. Tapply appeared first on Orvis News.

Some patterns, such as the Bird's Nest, call for hackle fibers all the way around the body, which can be a pain. But Tim has a great trick that makes the process ridiculously easy. It's all in how you prepare the feather and then tie it in. Try it out, and your . . .

The post Video: How to Make Distribution Wraps appeared first on Orvis News.

Photo via orvis.com

The best dog breed for first-time dog owners is the Labrador Retriever. Labs are laid-back, joyful companions, and relatively easy to train, making them an ideal breed for beginners. Rounding out the best six breeds for first-timers are Golden Retrievers, Redbone Coonhounds, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Collies, and Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers.

The post The Six Best Dog Breeds for First-Time Owners appeared first on Orvis News.