“Be humble after but not during the action.” – Ernest Hemingway The greatest lesson the river and its inhabitants teach is humility. The Big Wood March is special on the Wood, especially on cloudy days; the midge fishing can be spectacular. Regardless of the weather conditions, it is best to be on the water from about midday till 4 PM.…

Photo Credit: Ed Northen “If you dig a hole and it's in the wrong place, digging it deeper isn't going to help.” – Seymour Chwast Successful winter angling is more than just being in the right place. You also need to be there at the right time, with the right fly, and make the right presentation. The Big Wood The…

“We could keep talking about the river or we could just get in.” – Jeff Tweedy Planning and preparation are important for a day of winter angling; however, the doing of the thing is paramount. The Big Wood February is a special time on the Wood. The days are a tad longer and this current storm cycle has brought the…

“People are always looking for the single magic bullet that will completely change everything. There is no single magic bullet. Progress is about bridging the gap between what we observe and what we can imagine — one careful step at a time.” – Temple Grandin Observe the wind, the light, the currents, the bugs, the disposition of the trout. Imagine…

“I must change my life so that I can live it, not wait for it.” – Susan Sontag Don’t wait for warmer days. With the flurry of the holidays complete, solitude awaits along the banks of the river. Just don’t forget to renew your license. The Big Wood The Wood saw considerable pressure over the holidays; however, for the next…

“There are so many things standing in my way this morning, I can hardly begin. Yet I’ve heard rumors of water. Maybe that is enough.” – L.L. Barkat In the midst of a holiday whirlwind, you may have lost touch with the water. Rest assured, the rumors are true. The Big Wood If you want to hit Baldy in the…

“The goal of fishing is not just to catch fish, but to catch them with style.” – John Gierach While style is important, so is staying warm. Winter fishing style is more about function than fashion. A warm angler is a happy angler, and a happy angler catches more fish. Silver Creek The Nature Conservancy stretch of the Creek is…

“Trout and salmon use a calibration of light, magnetism, and the scent of water to find their way home. People use memories and dreams. Both get lost sometimes.” – Mark Hume As you find your way home this holiday season, make some new memories with the rivers and people you dream with. Silver Creek There are only a few days…

“The month of November makes me feel that life is passing more quickly. In an effort to slow it down, I try to fill the hours more meaningfully.” – Henry Rollins To fill the November hours more meaningfully, seek Wordsworthian “spots of time” in the company of rivers and their inhabitants. Silver Creek While wintry conditions are setting in, the…

“In November you begin to know how long the winter will be.” – Martha Gellhorn The first snows have dusted the mountain tops and soon the trees will be stripped bare. Fall's finale is upon us. Anglers and trout need to prepare for the season to come. Silver Creek November marks the final month for fishing the Creek in the…