Sara Hudson was one of those great anglers who didn’t boast about her skill level. She was an accomplished angler who just loved to fly fish. She was kind, beautiful, and supportive. At DUN, we appreciated her sunny disposition and her desire to work with us to improve and grow the female angling community. We are heartbroken that we didn’t get that chance. Sara’s life was sadly cut short on Monday, August 19th, her 22nd birthday, in what appears to be a random act of violence. She was a re
Working in the fly fishing industry is my dream job. I’d like to think I was deliberate in my pursuit, but honestly, I fell into it by accident. To say I feel fortunate is an understatement. I get to travel, meet the most interesting people, and fish. I never thought that one day I’d be living this life. That’s why when I read about this opportunity, I just had to say something. If you are working in a job that’s not your dream job, but know what your dream job is, then what I’m going to say ne
Fishing Hit a Record in 2024. The Hard Part Starts Now. I read the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation’s 2025 Special Report on Fishing with one goal in mind: translate the numbers into what they mean for real outdoor lives. Not just anglers. All of us. This report tracks participation through 2024, and it tells a clear story. Fishing is big, still growing, and still acting like a gateway to time outside. It is not “solved.” Retention is the next fight. 57.9 million people went fishing
Where do you call home? Right here in Mims, Florida. No restaurants, no main street, no quaint shopping stores. Boring beyond belief however no traffic, no over population, every pit bull dog is friendly, and so are their owners. How did you get into fly fishing? I think I sort of morphed into it. Flip never forced the idea nor did he pressure me. After fishing with him for a few years with spin tackle, I decided one afternoon to ask him for a casting lesson. He was more than accommodating and
When I heard of a new book on shelves involving a group of women fly anglers, I just had to read it. While the book itself is well worth the read, the story behind the story is the true inspiration. Join me as we discover dreams, inspiration, tragedy, and lessons well-learned. by Jen Ripple Jen: Where do you live? I grew up on a farm in Norton, Kansas and currently live in Littleton, Colorado with my husband and two boys. Jen: Writing a book is a big undertaking. What made you want to write a
About an hour outside of Nashville, in the little town of Lancaster, Tennessee, is a picturesque camp on a beautiful trout stream. Dotted by trout-painted vintage campers with a view of the Caney Fork River, I talked to Southern Brookies’ founder Susan Thrasher about fountain pens, life lessons, and euro-nymphing over a glass of southern hospitality. Jen: Are you a native of Tenness? I was born in Mobile, Alabama and moved to Bristol, Tennessee when I was two. Jen: Before Southern brookies, wh
We had the opportunity to speak with Kara, Communication Specialist at Convergence, and Co-Founder of Artemis, an organization of bold sportswomen creating fresh tracks for conservation. Kara has a passion for the outdoors focusing on fly fishing and conservation. Her passion was instilled in her at a young age by her great-grandmother. As an avid outdoor woman, her great-grandmother continued to camp until the age of 96, and finally passed away at the age of 104. You may know Kara as the mar
DUN: So, Abbie, Martha’s Vineyard. Tell me about fly fishing at Martha’s Vineyard. Abbie Schuster: Martha’s Vineyard is a fisherman’s paradise. The season runs May-November and is chock full of fish the whole time, except for a minor lull in the heat of August when the fish go to deeper, cooler waters. In June and early July, it is hard to tell if you are in Belize or on Martha’s Vineyard. The flats are sandy, the water is gin-clear, and you are sight casting for big, beautiful stripers. The se
How long have you been in the industry? I started fly fishing at a young-ish age, but didn’t officially get into the industry until 2011 when I joined the guide staff at the Old Baldy Club in Saratoga, Wyoming immediately after graduating from the University of Virginia. If ever there was a pivotal moment in my life, it was when I decided to resist the pull towards a life and career in the city and move back out west to try my hand at guiding. As an Art History major with no interest in working
JEN: When I first saw your work at last year’s Somerset show, I was blown away. How did the idea of The Forged Fly come about? I’ve always felt an uncontrollable curse, where I imagine most things I see “in metal.” For over a decade, I’ve been looking for something that hasn’t been done in the world of metal art. When I got back into fly fishing, I was drawn to the possibility of creating flies of steel. I saw flies as tiny sculptures. One day, I desperately wanted to fish in an area, and didn
