By Joe Cermele

A few weeks ago I shoved off to Minnesota to achieve two goals: Fish with my old buddy Dave James who lives in St. Paul and who I haven't seen in over a year, and top the 36-inch muskie (my first ever) that I caught in the last "Hook Shots" episode of 2011. The plan was to set up camp on Mille Lacs Lake with guide Steve Scepaniak, who had been slaying muskies all summer during the crazy heat wave Minnesota had been suffering through. Of course, I show up and so does a cold front, which turned what I'd hoped would be a slamfest (meaning like 6 fish in a few days...we're talking muskies here) into yet another bout of working lures until your arms went numb and hoping and praying for an eater. So did I top my 36-incher despite the conditions? As a matter of fact I did, but not without some nerve-racking shifting on the fly and a lot of luck and some help of wild card guide Josh Stevenson. Enjoy the ride. 

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By Joe Cermele

Ulf Hagstrom is a writer, avid fly fisherman, and tyer who pens his thoughts and fly recipes on his blog, The Way of the Fly. Recently, Hagstrom cited an article from a Swedish fishing magazine that featured the results of a study from the mid-1990s that suggested big pike, in many cases, would rather attack and steal prey already captured by smaller pike than hunt down their own forage. I don't know if that's true, though I've had plenty of pike steal small fish off my line. But Hagstrom put some stock in the theory and came up with what he calls the "Fish Eating Fly," which mimics a hammer-handle pike swimming with a meal  sideways in its maw (below).

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By Kirk Deeter

Most fly anglers devote a lot of time and energy into honing their casts, as they should. The cast is what allows you to play the game in the first place. Without a good fly delivery, your chances of hooking a fish are minimal.

But the effort and focus shouldn't end as soon as that fly hits the water. In fact, I think that's when the real attention to detail should begin. How you drift your fly (presentation) is as important as how you cast your fly, and mending the line (moving the fly line upstream or downstream of your flies, depending on the currents, in order to eliminate drag) is the key to making that happen. [ Read Full Post ]

By Tim Romano

There was a number of great responses to the latest caption contest — 260 to be precise. As usual, there were quite a few that could have won Clear Creek's Swing-Back Pack. But the caption that got me came from Sureshot516, who wrote, "off to rehab, my addiction to fly's has gone to far."

I found it to be short, simple and funny. Sureshot, hit me at tim@anglingtrade.com with your name and address and I'll get your gear sent right out. [ Read Full Post ]

By Tim Romano

The Drake Magazine held its 7th annual Fly Fishing Video awards at the International Fly Tackle Dealer Show a couple of weeks ago. The video above from "The Last Salmon Forest," which won best cinematography. It was shot and edited by Detonation Studios. [ Read Full Post ]

By Kirk Deeter

My favorite business stories in fly fishing are the ones that go something like this: Person genuinely loves fly fishing and realizes a need or an opportunity to make something cool, based on their experiences. Person then goes "all-in" with an investment to chase that goal. Person doesn't compromise their values, manufactures in the United States, and maintains a focus on innovation and the interests of the customer. Person's company is successful.

I'm pretty sure that's how the script is going to play out for Vedavoo, maker of slings, packs, bags and the like for anglers. Vedavoo is a small operation, but it made a strong impression a couple weeks ago at the International Fly Tackle Dealer trade show in Reno. (The name Vedavoo is an alternate spelling of “Vedauwoo”--an outdoor park with notable natural rock features in southern Wyoming; company founder Scott Hunter attended the University of Wyoming.)
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