Chasing Blue Lines

Chasing Blue Lines

Shivering cold, asses planted inside the puddled, hastily assembled tent, soggy feet hanging outside the zippered doors while a steady deluge of rain pounds the fly with enough intensity we have to shout to make conversation.

“Damn it, Kenyon,” I yell, feigning indignation. “You just had to get that one last fish, didn’t you?”

We knew we were pushing our luck, two-and-a-half miles from camp at what came to be known as “the mega hole.” The sky grew darker and darker, and the thunder peeled closer and closer. But the fishing was too good to leave; we just couldn’t pull ourselves away, despite the ample warnings.

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Togiak Kings

Togiak Kings

 

by Alex Gonsiewski

When people think of iconic anadromous species, Steelhead or Atlantic Salmon are often the first to come to mind. For this trip, we were after the thug of all sea-run fish – the Chinook Salmon. Every year, from mid-June to early July, there’s a dedicated and slightly crazed group of anadromous anglers that travel to Southwest Alaska to pursue these powerful fish. These anglers are recognizable by their long spey rod tubes at Anchorage airport – there’s are no single hand fly rods in sight.

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Drakin’

Drakin’

By Lance Nelson, Gates Au Sable Lodge

Big beautiful mayflies, unspoiled trout, comfortable air temperatures and late nights (where commonly an angler downstream or upstream of you can be heard cursing at their wind knots and broken tippet after dark) all make up the zeitgeist of June dry fly fishing in Michigan. Yes, it is true, us Michigan trout anglers are a bit intense and deranged. As if presenting a drag free drift across multiple currents isn’t difficult enough – here we are testing our skills (and patience) with the lights off.

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GLORIA

A beautiful “Gloria” getting ready for release.

 

 “Gloria” is a name you might hear being yelled when fishing any number of rivers surrounding Asheville, North Carolina. Sometimes its a coaxing whisper, other times it’s shouted out of  frustration, and on the best of occasions, it’s exclaimed in a cheerful G-L-O-R-I-AAAAAA!

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AIR 2 MAX FIELD NOTES: South Florida

AIR 2 MAX FIELD NOTES: South Florida

WORDS: Captain Justin Bachert
PHOTOS: Asher Koles

My approach towards fly fishing and guiding for tarpon, overall, is based off of an accumulation of my past experiences – as a mariner, waterman, and angler. Our ecosystem in south Florida, and in the Florida Keys is seemingly ever-changing and being able to adapt to those changes is what we all need to focus on.

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Musky Fools

Musky Fools

Written by Dan Donovan, owner of Musky Fool
The Original Musky Fly Shop

As I sit down to write this in the midst of another musky season I pose to myself…how many muskies have been landed on Winston rods? How many big ones?!

As a gentleman who arrived at fly fishing in one of the most unlikely ways…via muskellunge…it’s a natural question I suppose. Winston rods, at least here in musky country are revered, yet not typically tools we consider for the job. With all the rigamarole, fish breaking rods in figure 8s, casting treble hooks and egg sinkers (can I even say those words here?!??!) it’s no wonder the musky fly anglers aren’t running towards the green tubes for their next green dragon adventure. 

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