"There are as many reasons why and ways to fish as there are people who do it."- Russell Chatham Why? A season can be a reason: Cottonwoods bejeweled in gold; Mountains tipped with snow; Windshields frosted with morning dew. And the colors...Blue Winged Olive, Mahogany, Red Quill, Golden Brown...are reason enough. While I love all the seasons in which trout…
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"Our tradition is that of the first man who sneaked away to the creek when the tribe did not really need fish." - Roderick L. Haig-Brown A river Never Sleeps Now is a great time to sneak away. In Fall the waters are in perfect shape and most of the other anglers have returned to work or school. Your favorite…
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“You can observe a lot just by watching.” Yogi Berra The next time you go the stream take pause and just watch. Don't cast. Don't fish blind; only fools rush in. September is a visual feast for the angler. The clarity of the air, the angle of the light, the colors of the flora all contribute to the mood. Narrow…
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“To go fishing is the chance to wash one’s soul with pure air, with the rush of the brook, or with the shimmer of sun on blue water. It brings meekness and inspiration from the decency of nature, charity toward tackle-makers, patience toward fish, a mockery of profits and egos, a quieting of hate, a rejoicing that you do not…
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“Really, the only thing a psychiatrist can do that a good (fishing) guide can't is write prescriptions.” ― John Gierach This is the time of year most anglers salivate like Pavlov's dog. The days are shorter and the morning temperatures are cooler. The mountains have seen their first dusting of snow and there is a hint of yellow in the…
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“Perhaps fishing is, for me, only an excuse to be near rivers.” – Roderick Haig-Brown With the Wood blown out since the first of the month, I could have easily put away my rod and stayed home. Instead, I went exploring and fished creeks that I had previously overlooked right here in the Wood River Valley and beyond: the East…
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"The two best times to fish is when it's rainin' and when it ain't." ~ Patrick F. McManus After a hot July, August has been the answer to our prayers. The cooler air temperatures and rain has revitalized our rivers. Weather forecasts predict this weather pattern to continue for the next few days, so be sure and go prepared for…
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“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” ― Plato The Sun Valley Symphony Season has arrived and fly fishing is a great way to spend the day prior to enjoying the music. After all, there is a musical quality to fly fishing and rivers if one cares to…
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"Angling is, or should be, essentially a philosophic and reflective engagement, rewarding the practitioner not only with trouts, but with a gentler and more matured comprehension of life itself." Ben Hur Lampman We fly fish not just for trout, but for the lessons we learn in pursuit of trout. We learn about loss and rejection; we learn about joy and…
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"Most anglers soon discover simple fly fishing helps preserve our capacity to wonder." - Yvon Chouinard The next time you go fly fishing, try and simplify your overall approach. Take just a few flies and a spool of tippet. Leave the reel and line behind and grab a Tenkara rod. Make fewer casts. Position yourself closer to the fish so…
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