My transition to a catch and release angler paralleled the wild trout takeover of Laurel Run. And like that stream and its wild trout, it was a gradual process. I eventually replaced the excitement and anticipation of a full creel with the joys of fooling trout and knowing that I might catch the same fish again . . .
Wild trout are the heart of Troutbitten. We chase these fish so we can be part of the extraordinary places where they're found, if just for a little while. Eventually, the environs become part of us, and we carry a piece of the river inside our own thoughts and...
All good things come with consequences. It’s life’s way of keeping us grounded, I guess, making us work for the very best things and helping us appreciate what’s nearly perfect, since true perfection is too rare to wait for. Tight line nymphing with extra-long leaders...
... So I was startled, but not surprised, when something heavy hit my legs in the dark around midnight ... ... I flipped on my headlamp and looked downstream to see a porcupine returning my wide-eyed gaze. His head turned, and he glared back as if the hit-and-run was...
Night fishing requires some sacrifice. High catch rates are exchanged for a couple fish large enough to fill out the net — a hopeful bargain. Visual excitement is traded for an adrenaline rush, sustained by roaming among the unseen. And sleeping hours are swapped for...
I have a bad habit that I'm trying to break. Let's say I'm standing in the river, and I decide to make an adjustment. Maybe I change flies, add weight, switch to streamers or to a suspension rig. But after standing still for the modification, I often take a few steps...