There’s a process of evolution in our fishing that cannot be rushed. It’s better off being accepted. And yet, it might take the wisdom of age to ever understand that.

I’d argue that most anglers pursue fishing for the time-out-of-mind experience. Many styles of fishing allow for it, but surfcasting draws me in unlike anything I’ve ever done.

I think it’s the waves . . .

Continue reading Seven Seasons and Then Peace — Lessons From the Salt, Summer 2024 at Troutbitten.

We want more anglers who appreciate the best things about fishing. We want anglers who fish hard for the experience, who reject fake fishing, who boast not about the numbers of trout caught but are proud of the miles of water they’ve explored and appreciate what they’ve been through to get there. We want wild trout advocates and woodsmen. We need knowledgeable teachers to inspire young people by revealing the complex mysteries of chasing river trout.

Continue reading Do We Really Want Fly Fishing to Grow? at Troutbitten.

The Pennsylvania Fish Commission needs to hear your comments. And a simple, short email makes a BIG difference. Stop stocking over wild trout. Let's support all policies that eliminate the stocking of hatchery fish over wild trout. Pass it on . . .

Continue reading Be a Voice for Wild Trout — Your Most Effective Conservation Measure is Also the Easiest at Troutbitten.

. . . There’s a segment of fly anglers who will never see streamers, nymphs or wet flies as a legitimate offering. That’s fine. Keep it to yourself.

There’s another segment of fly fishers who believe trophy hunting for big browns with big streamers is the only way to live out there. And everything else might as well be tweed hats and waxed catgut. That’s fine too. Keep it to yourself.

The majority of us are fishermen, just having fun, trying to catch a fish and then catch another one . . .

Continue reading Dry or Die? at Troutbitten.

I play the odds. I’ve seen what works best, so I repeat it the most. And I’d rather get two or three good casts against the next log for the next thirty seconds rather than just one cast to the log and twenty five seconds of stripping away from it. This is the mindset of having tight targets, of getting short and effective drifts . . .

Continue reading Q&A: Long Drifts or Short — What’s Better and Why? at Troutbitten.

Accomplished and skilled fly fishing requires that you give part of your life to the river. That’s evident in the first few trips, and I think the depth of all this surprises would-be anglers. It intimidates some, and it captivates others . . .

Continue reading Life On the Water at Troutbitten.

I use euro nymphing often, but won’t be limited to it. And I don’t like the term because of the limitations associated with it.

That said, I don’t think we can change it. Just like the rest of language, we are stuck within a framework for communicating that precedes us. We can only do our best to define and work through this system accurately . . .

Continue reading Q&A: What Do You Have Against Euro Nymphing? at Troutbitten.

Barbless or barbed hooks? How does the barb help keep trout on the hook? And is there a higher mortality rate with barbed hooks?

Continue reading Q&A: Barbless Hooks or Barbed? Does It Matter? at Troutbitten.

Trout can’t hear your boot studs — not in a river with any movement to it. So stud-up those wading boots and love your life. Here's a video to prove it . . .

Continue reading Q&A: Can Trout Hear Your Boot Studs? (with VIDEO) at Troutbitten.

No forgiveness. No freebies. Just wild trout that require your best effort and then some. From our best trout rivers, we’re dealt a fair game. We know what trout want. They look for something safe to eat. Something familiar. Something easy with a positive calorie reward for their effort. Something natural, with maybe just a little spark.

Continue reading We Don’t Want Easy Fishing at Troutbitten.