By Joe Cermele

I was poking around YouTube the other day and found this video produced by Rio a couple years back. Maybe you've seen it, but I hadn't, and given that I could watch monotonously-narrated shows that tell you how pencils, bridge cables, or golf balls are made for hours on TV, imagine my delight when I found this behind-the-scenes look at how fly line is made. Make snore sounds if you like, but it's pretty interesting. Consider it your chemistry, physics, and science lesson for the day.

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By Hal Herring

An algae bloom caused by nitrate pollution on Iowa's Big Creek Lake, located northwest of Des Moines, in summer of 2012.

The next time you find yourself jugfishing along the Mississippi River, or lying in your hammock on your old house boat in southern Louisiana where the freshwater hits the salt, pump up the old Coleman lantern and throw open your tattered old copy of D’Aulaires’ Greek Myths, and read the story of Cassandra. You do remember, don’t you? The beautiful prophet whose ears were licked clean by snakes, so that she could hear the future? No matter how accurate her predictions (including the destruction of Troy by way of the super-warriors hidden inside the gift of the Trojan horse) nobody ever listened to her. Ever. [ Read Full Post ]

By Dave Wolak

Hey, are you planning on bass fishing next weekend? If you answered yes, then get ready for a day filled with some combination of the following: Wake-jumping jet skiers and water skiers. Nine guys, three cases of beer, and one life jacket piled into a jon boat that’s getting pulled over by the Water Sheriff. Some guy with the steering cable seemingly stuck in a right turn doing high-speed donuts by the ramp. Or my personal favorite; the music-blasting, mega-wake-making speedboat that comes standard with nine air bags, a retractable water balloon launcher, and the optional Rally Fun Pack. But I don’t let any of that stop me from getting on the lake. This is going to sound crazy, but because I fish heavily pressured waters a lot, I actually like when there are plenty of pleasure boats cruising around. If you can remember these three simple rules, you can use the traffic to help you score plenty of bass despite the army of holiday yahoos that are likely to plague your favorite lake next weekend.

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By Kirk Deeter

I've been fortunate enough to have fished with many professional athletes in recent years. You'd be surprised by how many actually gravitate to fly fishing as a release from the rigors of playing sports under bright lights for a living.

I'll be honest though—some are way better than others when they put on waders, and I think that has to do with the dynamics of their professions. Golfers, for example, are usually really good fly anglers. After all, one could argue that fly fishing and golf are kindred pastimes, both born in Scotland centuries ago. It's all about planning the next move, and adapting to the current situation. The way the wheels spin in golfers' and anglers' minds are very similar, so it's not surprising to know that Tiger Woods, Mark O'Meara, Nick Price, and Davis Love III (among many others) are all avid anglers. [ Read Full Post ]

By Gary Garth

Sen. Mitch McConnell, right, fishing the Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge in Marshall County, Kentucky with the crew of the Kentucky Afield television show.

Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Wednesday he planned to introduce legislation that would place a two-year moratorium on the Corps of Engineers’ plan to restrict boating and fishing access below its 10 dams on the Cumberland River system in Tennessee and Kentucky.

McConnell, the Senate minority leader, expects the bill to get Senate approval by voice vote today (May 16) and then move quickly through the House by way of the suspension calendar, a fast track legislative tool for non-controversial bills. He also predicts quick and uncontested presidential signage.

In a telephone interview with McConnell Wednesday evening, the veteran lawmaker said the moratorium would quickly halt what he and other legislators see as blatant government overreach. Co-sponsors of the bill and outspoken critics of the Corps’ plan include Senators Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Congressman Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.). Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) is also a co-sponsor.

Whitfield initiated legislative action to stop the Corps by introducing the Freedom to Fish Act in February.

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By Joe Cermele

This week's vintage tackle contest winner comes to us from Patrick Phillips, who received this Floating Pal tackle box as a gift from his father-in-law. To me, the idea of a floating box (which I learned could also be used as a PFD) seems like a good idea. But according to Dr. Todd Larson of The Whitefish Press and "Fishing For History" blog, the concept never really took off. That doesn't mean, however, this find isn't worth some coin.

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