Fly fishing can create memories that last a lifetime. It's something Angelica Talan previously touched on in her 'Creating Memories One Fish at a Time' post, where she shared how fly fishing became her and her daughter's haven — a source of happiness, a chance to bond, and a way to de-stress. You might view fly fishing the same way, which is why you enjoy doing it over and over. So it is important to photograph your adventures, preserve those memories, and document your catch at the same. With
Bonefish spawn through an epic feat of polygynandrous love. From fall to late spring, they arrive in schools to nearshore spawning sites and fill their swim bladders with air, before heading offshore at night, diving deep, and surge back to the surface. The change in pressure causes their bladders to expand and release eggs and sperm into the water around them. Juvenile bonefish are hatched over a month later, in areas such as mangroves and bays, after having drifting back from offshore. The cur
I live in the tiny little town of Dover, Tennessee. It’s not uncommon for those who live in Tennessee to ask where that is - it’s that small. Aside from embarrassingly being known as the #6 speed trap in the US, Dover is known as the place at the base of the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. History buffs will recognize it as the home of Ft. Donelson understanding it as the place that changed the course of the Civil War. The Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area is a 1
I took my first job after graduate school in Twin Falls, ID in 2013. I had never lived west of Oklahoma and was extremely excited to finally be near mountains. My then-boyfriend and I decided this would be a perfect opportunity to teach ourselves about fly fishing. From our first fishing trip in the Rocky Mountains, I fell in love with the challenge of getting a perfect drift, and the thrill and validation I felt when I was able to convince a trout to go after my dry fly. Every experience fishin
I fell into fly fishing by accident when I randomly signed up for a fly tying class one really cold day while I was living in Ann Arbor, MI. To be completely honest, I signed up for the class because it sounded like something different, and it was really cheap — like $65 for eight classes, and I didn’t need any equipment. I figured I had nothing better to do, and it was time to stop hibernating and get out into society again. I had no idea what fly tying even was. But from the moment I walked in
The other day I met Certified Casting Instructor Susan Thrasher at a Nashville park to test for my Gold Fly Casting Skills Challenge. About halfway through the challenge, I noticed a man had stopped to watch us. When we decided to take a short break and get out of the sun for a few minutes, he approached Susan. It was obvious she taught fly fishing, he said. It was always something he had wanted to try, and did she have a card? How many times have you been approached by someone on the river, or
It's a bright Florida day as Captain Gabrielle Mercado reverses her Lady Luck Adventure charter boat out of the slip and motors towards the Choctawhatchee Bay. The emerald green waters of the Gulf of Mexico are just over the dunes in the intracoastal waterway, and she keeps a close eye on her GPS as she moves against the waves. Every month Captain Mercado collects water quality data and samples for local nonprofit Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance (CBA). CBA staff use the data to inform the public
Forget the gym, the spin classes, and the yoga studio. There’s a new practice in town, and it’s called fly fishing. Formerly thought of as an old, white, rich man’s sport, the fly-fishing generation of today is as diverse as the species they target. The sport that at one time was considered male-dominated is now taking the world by storm as it quickly becomes the new yoga. Here are some reasons I think it should be just that. It’s inclusive. Like yoga, fly fishing is a sport that is available
The natural home of a fly rod is the river setting, but fly rods should not be limited to river fishing. They are also great tools for warm water species in lakes. When you start targeting lakes, you open up a whole new set of fishing opportunities and challenges for catching fish. There are literally lakes everywhere, and in states where poor access laws can be an issue, lakes provide an excellent way to get out and fish while not having to worry about trespassing. Certainly, we would never
There are a lot of great flies in the bins of your local fly shop. These days, in fact, there are so many flies that it’s difficult to choose the right one. The four flies below are our go-to trout flies. They work for us no matter what trout fishery we happen upon. In addition, they can easily be tied in the local dive motel near your favorite stream or with your fly tying friends at the shop. We have attached some of our favorite videos from across the web for you to tie them yourselves and l
The first time that I wandered into a fly shop I was with my family, and most likely just doing the “tourist thing”. I’m pretty sure that I was a respectful customer (I try to be nice), but if I knew then what I know now, I would bet that the fishy roads that I’ve traveled might have been a bit different (easier?). Here are the things that I wish I had known WAY BACK WHEN … 1-6 … The Do’s #1 Do be upfront with your skill level Try not to feel embarrassed or reluctant to admit where you are in
