Fly fishing is often described as a relaxing endeavor – all your worries and gripes are supposed to melt away as you divert your attention to the rod in your hand and the fish in the water. The stress of making important decisions and completing demanding tasks is said to disappear into the surrounding outdoorContinue reading “Panfish on the Fly”
Author Archives: Spencer Belson
Second Helping
Stocked trout fishing is all too often feast-or-famine, with successful days being legendary and tough ones candidates for short-term memory loss. For most, the first of this year’s stockings have followed this pattern. I’ve heard plenty reports of double-digit days on the river, but also a good amount of skunk days. It seems further west,Continue reading “Second Helping”
Marlborough Fly Fishing Show 2022
After a Covid hiatus in 2021 and a postponement to April this year, it certainly felt nice to once again connect with “my people” (as my mom refers to fellow fly fishers, tyers, and conservationists) at the 2022 Marlborough Fly Fishing Show. The show is not only a great chance to chat with some ofContinue reading “Marlborough Fly Fishing Show 2022”
Overcoming Obstacles for the Health of a River
For nearly all of history, river herring swam in massive schools from the expansive Atlantic Ocean, up the mighty Merrimack River, and into the smaller, calmer Shawsheen River to spawn. The journey was one that happened across the East Coast every spring, feeding millions of birds, mammals, fish, and humans along the way. For many,Continue reading “Overcoming Obstacles for the Health of a River”
Finding Time for Stockers in a Busy Spring Schedule
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: there’s nothing better than fishing for wild fish in their native habitat. Fishing for wild, native fish is a defining experience for every diehard angler. Still, who am I to turn my nose at freshly stocked fish? Stocked fish and I have a complex relationship. InContinue reading “Finding Time for Stockers in a Busy Spring Schedule”
Early Season Tactics for Chain Pickerel
Chain pickerel are easily one of the most underappreciated species of gamefish, especially in their native range. When bass anglers hook a “slime dart” instead of the bucketmouth they’re targeting, they groan before brutally manhandling the poor pickerel in an effort to get it off the line as quickly as possible. Stocked trout anglers getContinue reading “Early Season Tactics for Chain Pickerel”
Early Spring Adventures
Spring is on its way. I can feel it in the humid morning air and hear it in the chirping spring peepers. The true sign of spring, though, is the stocking trucks beginning their seasonal journey around the state to dump their garish cargo into roadside lakes and rivers. It takes a while before theContinue reading “Early Spring Adventures”
StikeMaster Lazer Hand Auger Review
After my first full season using a StrikeMaster Lazer hand auger, I can say my already high expectations were far exceeded. Towards the end of last season, I broke my Eskimo Hand Auger, my trusty ice fishing companion for numerous seasons. I liked the Eskimo because it was simple and cheap – two nice featuresContinue reading “StikeMaster Lazer Hand Auger Review”
Confidence Flies
Every angler, no matter the time they’ve put into the sport, develops a set of confidence fly patterns that grows and evolves as they learn. At first, those flies could be based solely off appearance; perhaps they like color variety of a rainbow warrior, or the simplicity of a zebra midge. Maybe this angler hasContinue reading “Confidence Flies”
Sebago Lake Ice Fishing Derby 2022
If there’s one thing I learned this past weekend, it’s that no matter how far you travel, who you’re with, or the gear and resources you have access to, you can’t always be successful. That much was evident at this year’s ice fishing derby on Sebago Lake, where, although there was plenty of excitement (anxietyContinue reading “Sebago Lake Ice Fishing Derby 2022”
Current Angler 