Fall Angling Opportunities Still Abound in Maine

I received some very disheartening news today: the water levels in many of my local rivers are too low to even support stocked trout this fall. Massachusetts limped through one of the worst droughts on record this summer. As the seasons turned, it seemed some autumn showers would replenish our lakes and rivers. Yet evenContinue reading “Fall Angling Opportunities Still Abound in Maine”

Midsummer Antics

I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you it’s been hot lately. Here in northeastern Massachusetts, we’ve had about a week straight of daytime highs over 90 degrees, and while I’m writing this, the high is nearly 100. Couple that with a lack of rain, and it’s bad news for most cold and coolwaterContinue reading “Midsummer Antics”

Lackluster Return Yields Plenty of Fun

It has been a tough couple of weeks to find time for fishing. Spring is always a busy season for me – of course all my activities have to pick up right at the heart of fishing season – but alas, baseball and school won’t be put on hold because the stripers are running andContinue reading “Lackluster Return Yields Plenty of Fun”

Panfish on the Fly

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”

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”

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”

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”

Favorite Fly Fishing Blogs

As many of you may have guessed, in addition to enjoying writing about fish and fishing, I also love to read about it. Although books and magazines offer a wealth of information like no other format could, blogs present more bite-sized nuggets that are easier to read throughout the many transition times I have overContinue reading “Favorite Fly Fishing Blogs”