Read on the river, 2024
Sometimes, literally. The five favorite (mostly) fly-fishing books I read this year
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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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Fly-Fishing in the Italian Alps, Part 4: Nude beaches and remote reaches
In Piemonte, on the Sesia and Mastallone rivers, anything is possible with the right attitude.
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Fly-Fishing in the Italian Alps, Part 3: Young marble giants
Searching for slabs on the Passer river in Südtirol / Trentino Alto-Adige, part of our five-part series on fly-fishing in Italy
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Fly-Fishing in the Italian Alps, Part 2: Blowouts, high water, and mystery trout on the Swiss border
Can you help identify this strange trout variant? Salmo truta helvetica?
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Fly-Fishing in the Italian Alps, Part 1: Decoding access
The first in a series on fly fishing in the Italian alps, on getting licensed in Italy, and the main differences between fly fishing in Italy and the USA.
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What we give up fly fishing
On Adam Phillips, and finding, and re-finding our identities as anglers
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Hot weather and trout fishing
A few top tips—and one essential piece of gear—can help keep fish safe when the temps get high.
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How to not look like an idiot when you first start learning to fly fish
Three ways to conquer the self-consciousness that comes with beginning fly fishing and start building your fly fishing practice
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Fly fishing and problem solving
Moving beyond the engineering mindset, and trying to embrace frustration as a key function of learning
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The Five Permissions: How to be a great fishing friend
Take me fishing. A simple request, a schmaltzy commercial, a pivotal role. Here are five permissions you can give yourself and your fishing friend to create space for connection.
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Forest fires and fly fishing
Do forest fires hurt fly fishing? An update from the Clackamas river fire zone.
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Fools rush in: on finding, hooking, and losing a trophy trout
Reflections on an epic face-plant, remembering Bill Walton
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Opening days
Opening up, setting intentions for the new season