Public Lands and Waters Need Your Help

Advocating For Public Lands and Waters

Public lands, by law, are public and should stay that way.

And if you don’t care enough to advocate in favor of keeping them public, do everyone a favor and stop fishing on them.

There are many reasons to appreciate being a fly angler in the United States of America. We have abundant, diverse river systems and plenty of lakes and ponds. We have native fish, wild fish–even stocked fish, which so long as they don’t impede native and wild fish can be an asset in that they get some people hooked on fishing in the first place. The more you care about fish and fishing at all, the more you might come to realize just how precious those native and wild fish are.

But what sets the American angler apart from almost any other on the planet is that we have millions of acres and thousands of miles of fishable streams (and lakes and oceans) that are available to us as a birthright… – Kirk Deeter

Read the entire story. If you’re interested in taking action: make your voice heard.

Interview: Adam Hudson

“What’s unfortunate is that we [Blue Line Fly Co.] can’t find a single quality and reasonably-priced U.S. fly manufacturer, and we’ve looked pretty hard at it. They don’t exist. It’s the same reason so many fly rods are made overseas. People won’t respond to the price point. Everyone wants the “made in the USA” product, but no one wants to pay the receipt. That’s just the harsh reality. We certainly keep trying, and the minute we can figure it out, we’ll get our flies made in the U.S. But at this point, they’re made overseas, just like every other large-scale fly manufacturer.

It all comes down to how much you’d have to pay “per fly” as a consumer and our math says we’d have to double our prices. Some of our bigger (articulated, deer hair) flies are already retailing for $10 or $12 and they might be tied with $5 to $6 in materials. The math simply doesn’t work. On the upside, we’re using 10 to 15 pound tippet, so you’re not losing a lot of them…”

Read the entire interview.

Product Buzz

Simms Fishing Products has announced the release of their all-new Flyweight Packable Waders ($380). They’re described as the “lightest, most packable wader Simms has ever built.” More about the Simms Flyweight Waders. From Flylords: The Best Fly Fishing Waders of 2025 (men) and The Best Waders for Women of 2025. “Let’s be honest: most women’s fishing gear still feels like an afterthought. I’ve spent years shoving my body into waders and bibs clearly designed for men and called it a day…” From Field & Stream: The Seven Best Wading Boots, Tested and Reviewed. “There’s more that goes into choosing wading boots than just finding the right size. You must consider weight, materials, traction, sole type and lacing.” Skwala’s new boots were notably omitted, as well as Patagonia’s Forra Wading Boots. David Coggins has been fishing with a new Cameron Side Bag from Colorado’s Emerger Fly Fishing: The Emerger X Coggins | The Traveler Side Bag. “As a bag lover and bag obsessive, I thought with a few slight adjustments it would be even easier to travel with: a lighter strap, a slightly streamlined silhouette and just make it all green, since I love that color.” From GearJunkie: Bajío Zapata Fishing Sunglasses Review. “The copper lenses specifically provide excellent color separation in freshwater fishing scenarios, allowing [anglers] to see more fish, track lures underwater better and identify structure.”

Fly-fishing News

Check out our new Angling Trade coverage on Flylab: For the past 20 years, Angling Trade has been an independent media brand, covering the business of fly fishing in North America. From House of Fly: How to Tie Sam Wike's Hi-Viz Spent Caddis. “This variant works well on Montana’s Missouri River, where it was developed. It’s a simple caddis pattern worth trying, whether you’re fishing Montana or anywhere else caddis are hatching.” Watch the fly-tying video. A DIY Road Trip to British Columbia from Greg Thomas. “British Columbia is saturated with lakes. You can’t drive far in any direction and not see an appealing sign promising prime fishing at the end of a dirt road…” Skwala interviews Brian O’Keefe about stillwater fishing in New Zealand’s lake country. “Despite the fact that he fishes all over the world, often getting invited to shoot photos at the finest lodges, Brian remains a DIY dirtbag at heart.” Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve Unveils a New Sustainability Plan. The new plan identifies some key areas of focus: “To secure the long-term sustainability of Turneffe’s flats fishing, key objectives include protecting critical habitats, expanding scientific research, recommending sustainable practices and maintaining economic benefits.” Preserving Paradise: Voices From the Jefferson River Basin. The long-term health of one of the world’s best trout fisheries (the Jefferson River Basin) is in question according to the population data collected annually by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Recent Press

“Here’s an idea for a story: Have the last couple years been the weirdest that you’ve experienced in fly fishing? Big brands selling, merging, selling again, VC guys, equity partners driven by accountants, playing as if it’s corn, pork and soy commodities…” – Brooks, Flylab Fan

It’s probably difficult for long-time industry insiders to see this idiosyncratic sport as “cool,” but that’s probably how the outside world sees it.

“Great content lately, especially the deep dives. Hey, people still read…” – Kristi, Flylab Fan

“What’s the best way to get involved in the fight to save public lands?” – Concerned Angler

If you’re interested in taking public lands action: make your voice heard.

We’re always looking for Flylab feedback–send any comments, thoughts, suggestions, and we’d love to hear from you.

Learn to Love Dirty Water

Don’t be intimidated by dirty water. While it’s easy to think that the fish won’t be feeding because the water is off-color, that simply isn’t the case.

Short of a full-on flood, fish are used to natural fluctuations in river levels, and they feed throughout all of them. They eat more often in certain conditions than others, but they do eat…

Read the entire fishing tip.

Partner Spotlight

Strike Indicator Company

The Strike Indicator Company is a family-run business that is passionate about fly fishing and conservation. They specialize in the New Zealand Strike Indicator System, an innovative, knotless and adjustable solution for nymphing that allows anglers to present flies with stealth and precision. The system utilizes natural New Zealand wool or hydrophobic synthetic yarn, combined with precision-engineered tubing and a patented tool, enabling quick attachment and removal without damaging the leader.

Flylab discount: 10% discount off all products.

If you’re a fly shop, outfitter, fishing lodge or outdoor brand and interested in becoming a new Flylab partner, learn more about our program here. Join the best partner network in fly fishing.

From Trout Unlimited: The threat of losing our public lands looms large. “With ownership comes a sense of responsibility…”