By Kirk Deeter

One of the perks of fishing many different places is absorbing the cultural experiences along the way. For example, on a recent trip to Blackmur's Athabasca Fishing Lodges in northern Saskatchewan I got to fish with First Nation guides who spoke to each other in Chippewa. I had no idea what they were saying half the time, which was probably a good thing, given some of the wayward casts I made at huge northern pike.

By Kirk Deeter

I must admit, I'm not a big fan of most made-for-television fishing shows. But I will definitely tune in to watch one on The Sportsman's Channel that will start airing next week: "Fly Fishing the World" hosted by my good friend Conway Bowman. The show kicks off on October 26. Check thesportsmanchannel.com for particulars on the schedule, and channel listings that apply to you.

Granted, many of those adventure fishing shows--particularly ones that feature exotic locales--are based around expensive lodges that most anglers won't ever get a chance to visit. I know for a fact that Conway is bringing a fresher, more do-it-yourself world view to this program. He'll be doing things like fly fishing for carp on Beaver Island, Michigan (hmmm, wonder where he got the idea for that one), chasing fish off the beach in Baja, running down some bonefish in Hawaii, and casting at wild trout in the Montana backcountry.

By Kirk Deeter

I've had this hunch for many years now, but I don't think there's any "scientific" way to prove my theory. So I'm doing the next best thing: I'm tossing the topic up for debate on FlyTalk.

I think all species of trout are not, in fact, timid, tiny bug sippers by nature. I think the reason that many trout gravitate to itty-bitty RS2s, and Barr Emergers, and Black Beauty midge patterns in some places is because the trout have had the snot pounded out of them so hard by angler pressure that they're almost afraid to eat at all, and they focus on the most consistent, readily-available sources of micro-protein.

Think about it: If you got the tar beat out of you every time you ate a T-Bone steak, but only every once in a while when you ate a handful of granola. Well, you'd be a nuts 'n berries fan soon enough, wouldn't you?

To back my theory, I offer the following: I once watched no fewer than 19, 20-inch-plus rainbow trout eat my mouse fly patterns off the surface on a sunny afternoon. Of course, I had to take a flight to Anchorage, Alaska, a regional hop to King Salmon, Alaska and a 30-minute bush plane ride to find a river where this would actually happen.

By Kirk Deeter

by Kirk Deeter

That time you spend behind the computer daydreaming about fishing in wild and exotic places (like right now) might actually pay off! In celebration of the release of the book Fifty More Places to Fly Fish Before You Die, by my friend Chris Santella (pictured here), Fly Water Travel and Fishing Bear Lodge in the Wood-Tikchik State Park in southwestern Alaska have started the "Where Would You Fly Fish Before You Die?" contest.

All you have to do is write--in 200 words of less--about your dream fly fishing trip. Where would you go, and why? Simply visit www.flywatertravel.com and click on the "contest" prompt. You can also learn more about the lodge here.

All entries must be received by January 15, 2012, and you have to live within the United States to enter. Santella himself will be the judge, and he'll announce the lucky winner on March 1, 2012.