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Voices from the River: Honeymoon ghosts
The one that got away. In November, I made the bi-annual stumble across the lawn, ungracefully lugging fly rods, waders and tackle to the shed to make way for ski gear in our indoor gear closet. Since catching the last fish on the fly of 2017 (a respectable leopard spotted rainbow trout from a small…
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Fishing in the Olympics?
Photo courtesy of Bassmaster Classic As I watched Chloe Kim defy gravity on a snowboard last night, I was reminded of the splendor and the impact of the Olympics, and what it means to the compeitors who have devoted their lives to just a sliver of actual living. For Kim, it's the half-pipe. She learned…
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Fly tying: Wash your hands
Here's some good advice from professional fly tier Tim Flagler: Wash your hands before you tie. Not only can dirt and grime get into the prints of your fingers, but they can discolor bright materials and reduce sensitivity.Video of Prepping Your Hands for TyingAlso, and I think this is just as important, Flagler recommends taking…
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Smith essay in Braided
It’s fun to edit the magazine and website for Trout Unlimited, because we get to work with many skilled authors and photographers from around the world. But sometimes, I am amazed by the talent we have among our own staff. The latest case in point is a wonderful essay by TU’s vice president for volunteer…
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Video spotlight: Flashback to Saturday morning TV
Two decades ago, television was was still king of the castle when it came to fly fishing video. The film tours and the brand-sponsored "indie" films hadn't come into vogue—the equipment needed for really remote filmmaking was still a bit bulky, and the internet hadn't matured enough to handle the bandwidth needed to broadcast the…
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Trout Tips: Floating fly boxes
Foam fly boxes float. If you want to see your flies again, make sure fly box floats, too. Several years ago, I was steelhead fishing on Idaho's Salmon River. I'd spent the week leading up to the trip tying flies and gearing up. Steelhead on the Salmon were—and still are—a fish that came calling on…
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Voices from the River: Waiting
“You take it on faith, you take it to the heart. The waiting is the hardest part. “ — Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers I made my plane reservations in December. I booked the little house across the street from the beach in November. It sits in the heart of a little fishing village in…
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