Read on the river, 2024

Sometimes, literally. The five favorite (mostly) fly-fishing books I read this year

From runway to river

Fly-fishing fashion icons, Joe Pera, final slots for winter classes, and more.

Fly-fishing fashion: Streetwear goes streamside

Are kook fits in? Honestly, the only drip I know is when you're wading deep and you dunk your hat.

Finding your fly lab

Another critical element in establishing your home waters: having a place to test things out. Plus a new book from Robin Wall Kimmerer and the many (gnarly) faces of lamprey.

Avoid this one mistake when buying your first fly rod

How's that for a clickbait title? The CFS first-fly-rod buyers' guide, Winter classes open now, and a push against crude fly names.

Ground yourself on our home planet

Establish The Big Here on the way to finding your home waters. Also, two fun fly fishing films, and registration opening for Winter term class.

A time to mend

If you can manage your line, you can manage your life.

Some lines on knots

When it comes to fly-fishing knot tying skill, it's truly a tale of the haves and the have-knots. OK, ok. I promise not to get things too twisted up here, pun-wise at least.

So long summer, come winter's hope.

If you start summer steelheading earlier than October, does it get less bittersweet?

Invest in Your Angling, and Your Community: Join a Fly-Fishing Club

There's a great new documentary out about the wonderful benefits of joining a club. Guess what? Joining a fly-fishing club is even better, and will make you a better angler.

Remembering John Gierach

Recalling the shaper of a Platonic fly-fishing reality, in his own words

High-torque and low-torque activities

Digging in on the progression from Aspen Extreme to Trout Bum (RIP John Gierach), Grant Petersen CFS GOAT, SalmonSuperHwy lauded by the White House, and more

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My life story as told by water

Who I am, and how that's shaped my fishing life

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Five reasons to start fly fishing

Nobody fly fishes because it’s easy. So why do they do it? Here are five reasons why I fly fish, along with two anti-reasons.

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Streamers and triggering trout aggression

Here are two examples of videos depicting the most visible and dramatic types of eats you'll ever get: territorial brown trout going after streamers.

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Public access and the ethics of fishing trespass

If a trespass happens in the backcountry and leaves no trace, does it make a mark?

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Dapper Don: Stalking large browns with a long rod

Inspiration on moving to a more sight-fishing, patience-oriented trout approach.

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That great fraternity of fishing idiots: Why fly rod warranties matter

There are more ways to break a fly rod than there are to catch a fish. A warranty can help get you back out on the water, but there are nuances to what they cover.

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Adding movement to your wet fly swing: Lift it like Leisenring

Once you're through the main drag-free-drift area, it's never a bad idea to try to impart some motion in your flies. The Leisenring Lift is a great way to accomplish just that.