Chris and I knew each other well. Five years in a row, he’d made a trip from the Rockies to the Appalachians, not so much for the wild trout that came to hand but for the conversations and the exchanging of ideas. Chris was one of the most accomplished anglers I’d...
Austin and I sat across the coffee table from Trevor and Josh. With a couple of beers and sandwiches, it was good to catch up with the guys -- to tell a few fishing stories and hear about families, recent events and future plans. On a Friday afternoon, this impromptu...
At the end of day three in Patagonia, Austin and I had past over endless miles of gorgeous water, and we desperately wanted the freedom to fish hard. Day one was spent hiking for sight fishing opportunities. And after five miles of wading the upper Malleo River, I’d...
Wading into the Malleo river, I follow our local guide, Mati, upstream to encounter one gorgeous willow-lined riverbank after another. The opportunities are infinite. On day six in Argentina, Austin and I are anxious to pick up where we left off yesterday evening....
The tuck cast presents a fly-first entry, from very steep and vertical with extra slack, to almost flat, with immediate contact. That’s how flexible the tuck cast is. It’s useful. In fact, it’s critical to how I present nymphs and streamers.
The willingness to meet luck wherever it stands, to accept what comes and fish regardless, is the fundamental attribute of die hard anglers, regardless of their region or the species they chase. We fish because we can, because we’re alive, willing and able, and because we mean to beat bad luck just as we did the last time it showed up.
Many anglers hang up the fly rod when the days grow long. As spring surrenders its sweetheart days, summer signals the conclusion of trout fishing season, and new interests take over. The streams are fished out, the water is too warm and trout are off the feed. It’s not worth the effort, they say. Summer water surely presents a challenge. But good trout fishing can be had all summer long by accepting the difficulties and understanding the roots of the problems faced . . .
A good fight starts with a solid hookset. We want it fast, sharp and — here’s the key — downstream, as much as possible . . .
Trout eat the fly or they don’t. Remember, it’s tough to convince a trout that has already said no. Don’t force it. Just fish it.
The Fish With Friends series continues with Josh and Trevor on a night fishing trip, a few big wild trout and the Bad Mother Night Fly recipe . . .