Fly Fishing

If you’re headed to the tropics for bonefish this winter or plan to try for salmon in Alaska next summer, you’re going to have to learn to cast into the wind. Here are a couple of helpful tips from a Cayman Islands fishing guide. 

 A study commissioned by Trout Unlimited to assess the combined value of sport, commercial, subsistence, and hatchery fisheries in Southeast Alaska has determined that these activities top $986 million and account for nearly 11 percent of the region’s jobs.  According to Trout Unlimited communications director Paula Dobbyn, “The bottom line, it is a huge economic driver of the economy, and we hope the forest service will take this information and really move forward with its. . .

Two brothers learn the finer points of fly casting at the Orvis Fly Fishing 101 booth at the Denver ISE. photo by Hutch Hutchinson

Wow, the Denver International Sportsman’s Expo was spectacular. We had more than 165 people come to the Orvis booth and attend our 45-minute Orvis Fly Fishing 101 classes. Men, women and kids of all ages participated. Most already knew how to fish with spinning gear, but they wanted to learn how to use a different type of tool to extend their fishing time and enhance the experience. Everyone walked away with little bag of goodies, information on what and where. . .

Young Alex ties her first fly with her dad.

[Editor’s note: Here’s an email we received from a reader named Jeff, who had listened to Tom Rosenbauer’s podcast on  Fly Tying with Kids and put Tom’s advice to work.]

Hey Tom!

I decided to follow the advice you gave in the “Fly Tying With Kids”podcast and gave my six year old daughter Alex her first session at the vise this afternoon.

We have a fairly large kitchen table, which let me set up a tying space for each of us. Prior to “The Big Event,” I collected several baggies of materials just for her—some chenille, marabou, and peacock herl, among others. The largest hook I have is a size 8 streamer, which turned out to be. . .

Opening day of salmon season is a big deal in Helmsdale, Scotland, with a parade, dancing, and, of course, bagpipes. Oh, and there’s fishing, too. This video ends with a plea from Orri Vigfussen, chairman of the North Atlantic Salmon Fund, for the Scottish government to do. . . 

The snowpack in the mountains above the Big Hole is looking good for next summer.  photo by Craig Fellin

At Big Hole Lodge we are eagerly awaiting the 2011 fishing season. Winter 2010 was very dry and mild in Montana, which normally means summer drought for our snow-fed rivers and streams. However, we had a wet spring, summer didn’t arrive until mid July, and it was abnormally cool when it did. We had one of the best water years on record, and though the hatches and fish. . .

Upon hearing of Tom Rosenbauer being named Fly Rod & Reel Angler of the Year, one of his biggest fans, Steve Zakur, felt compelled to make this short film. We agree with all opinions expressed herein.