Quail in the Epicenter of Plantation Hunting

RioPiedrahunt2011
Rio Piedra hunters benefit from thousands of acres of managed habitat.

Bill Atchison is justifiably proud of Rio Piedra. Year after year it wins awards—including the Orvis Wingshooting Lodge of the Year award an unprecedented three times. That’s purely based on customer feedback. In 2009 it won the Sporting Classics Hunting Lodge of the Year.

His secret? . . .

Read More

Late Fall on the Little Red

Dana Walker Brown_1
Dana Walker shows off a chunky brown from the Little Red River in Arkansas.
photo by Toby Swank

I just wrapped up a whirlwind tour of the Little Red River in northern Arkansas. November and December is typically the time of year when the brown trout move into the shallow shoals to spawn. We planned this trip so that we could both sight fish and streamer fish to some trophy-classfish. Well, as with just about every fishing trip, Mother Nature and the Army Corps of Engineers. . .

Read More

The Orvis Fly Fishing Guide Podcast: The Go East – Go West Podcast

Tom covers a lot of material in this podcast. In the “Fly Box” section, he compares and contrasts vests vs chest packs vs waist packs vs sling packs, he covers how best to keep your flies floating (and reveals his secret) and then answers a question about realistic vs impressionistic flies.

The main topic of this podcast, though is what easterners can expect when taking a fishing trip west and what westerners can expect when making a trip east. What are the differences? How can you best prepare?

Click the play button below to listen to this episode. Go to orvis.com/podcast to subscribe to future episodes

If you cannot see the podcast player, please click this link to listen.

Read More

In the Loop 12.02.10

I recently ran across this marvelous piece of archival film from the International Game Fish Association, which shows casting champion Bill True and guide Jim Brewer chasing tarpon in the Florida Keys. It’s a great piece of history, and it will give you a sense of how much easier. . .

Read More

Reading Between the Lines

Redacted 1
A nice brown from the [REDACTED] River in Montana.
photo by Phil Monahan

A couple of years ago, Eric Rickstad and I made plans to go to Montana in late April for the Orvis Western Guide Rendezvous. As soon as our travel plans were finalized, Eric started talking about a river I’d barely heard of. “We gotta hit the [REDACTED] River,” he said. “I’ve heard lots of whispering about some big browns there in spring and fall, but I’ve never had the chance to fish it.” When I mentioned that I hadn’t heard any such rumors, Eric just said, “Exactly,” and smiled knowingly. The possibility that there was an “undiscovered” river anywhere in Montana. . .

Read More

Orvis Fly Fishing App Now Available in the Android Store!

Ok! Finally… ‘Droid users, you can now stop the emails and Facebook posts that simply say “ANDROID!!”

My friends at Green Mountain Digital submitted the Orvis Fly Fishing App to the Android store for Android version 2.1 and 2.2 last night and it is now available for download. Go to the Android store and search for ORVIS.

It was worth waiting for:
  • Animated knot instruction
  • Fly casting video instruction
  • Top 10 fly casting mistakes (I’ve made most of them at one time or another)
  • A field guide to the top 100 trout flies
  • LIVE Orvis fishing reports from around the country
  • A glossary of terms
  • AND the Orvis Fly Fishing Guide Podcast
All of this at your fingertips! So go to the Android store, check it out and let me what you think.
My turn: ANDROID!!

Read More

Orvis Puppy Monday – Ruby!

Orvis Cover Dog Contest - Ruby
Picking our new puppy! Yep, she’s the one!
Jane, Federal Way
Enter the Orvis Cover Dog Photo contest for your chance to put your dog on a future cover of the The Orvis Dog Book catalog, win a $500 gift card from Orvis and help us beat canine cancer! Enter online at www.orvis.com/coverdog.
Read More