Smelt are among the main forage species for many game fish that live in lake-and-river systems. Whether you’re casting for landlocked salmon, smallmouth bass, or pike, you’ll want to have a few of these bright patterns in the box. Scott Currie of . . .
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Fish Facts: Colorado River Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhyncus clarkii pleuriticus)

This Colorado River cutthroat, from southern Utah, displays dark, rich colors.
Photo by Mike Hadley
Considered one of the more beautiful trout in North America, the Colorado River cutthroat trout (Oncorhyncus clarkii pleuriticus) once inhabited the high-elevation streams and lakes of the Green . . .
Read MoreVideo: How to Measure Hackles
One of the keys to a well-proportioned fly pattern is using the correct size hackle. And it’s not just about the appearance of the fly, as most dry-fly patterns depend on a certain length of hackle to ride properly on the . . .
Read MoreA Good Checklist is a Key to a Great Hunting Trip
If you’re anything like me, you hate being on a hunting trip and discovering that you have forgotten to pack some necessary item. At best, you may have to spend money to buy a duplicate of something you already own, while at worst, the absence of that . . .
Read MoreFriday Fly-Fishing Film Festival 03.24.23
Welcome to the Orvis News Friday Fly-Fishing Film Festival! Each week, we scour the Web for the best fly-fishing videos available, and curate them for you. This week, we’ve got a baker’s dozen videos, but in terms of sheer minutes of video to watch, I think . . .
Read MorePodcast: All About the Mono Rig, with Dom Swentosky
This week, my guest is Dom Swentosky of the Troutbitten blog, podcast, and guide service. If you have not seen his stuff, it’s definitely one of the most informative and thoughtful fly-fishing blogs out there. Dom devotes a lot of his blog to the mono . . .
Read MoreWednesday Wake-Up Call 03.22.23
Although red tide is naturally occurring and has bloomed frequently in the past, this year’s massive blooms seem to be partially a result of nutrient-rich water flowing from the land into the estuaries along the coast. This story and more in our weekly roundup of important conservation news. . .
Read MoreVideo Pro Tips: The Basics of Mending to Achieve a Drag-Free Drift
In this helpful how-to video from Ben Sittig, a.k.a Huge Fly Fisherman, he talks about something that many novice anglers–and even some more experienced fly fishers–struggle with: mending. He does a good job of explaining . . .
Read MoreVideo: How to Tie a Catskill-style Red Quill
The proper way to tie a Catskill-style dry fly has been the subject of many debates and even the cause of a few feuds over the years. You’d be amazed by how passionate a grown man can . . .
Read MoreJoin Phil Monahan for Orvis Week at Maine’s Libby Camps in Late May
Although I grew up in New Hampshire, I really learned how to fly-fish on the brook trout and landlocked salmon rivers of Maine. Twice a year, in spring and fall, I’d head north with my friends Fred and Sandy Hays–a.k.a.. . .
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