The Fly Fishing Show

The Fly Fishing Show

“I often use the Fly Fishing Show as a bellwether of things to come for the season ahead. This year wasn’t all that different than last year, but I did take notice of a few signs.

It seemed to me that Friday was the older men day (the retired sorts who didn’t have to go to work), and Saturday saw a lot more families, women and younger folks in general. Let’s be honest, the sport of fly fishing is still pretty heavily weighted on a demographic of retirement aged, mostly white males. But I actually thought the Saturday showing was a positive indicator, especially since the weather outside the exhibit hall was 65 and sunny–picture perfect for doing outdoorsy stuff with the family. I hear Super Bowl Sunday was a mixed bag, and not as light in attendance as many anticipated, maybe because the Broncos weren’t in the game…”

Read the entire write-up on Substack.

The River Dick

“You don’t low-hole, high-hole, middle-hole, or any other hole another angler, period. If someone is in a spot, you not only respect that spot, you also respect (ask) which way they’re going. If you pop in the river just one run ahead of someone, that’s bad. If you are a guide, and you drop yourself and your clients in a run just upstream or downstream of a DIY angler, you’re a total dick.”

Read the entire article on Substack.

Take a Kid Fishing

“A report from the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation shows that about 25% of young Americans got a chance to go fishing in 2023, which, honestly, is impressive. The statistic that concerns me is that 5.1 million kids wanted to go fishing, but weren’t able to.

So, we’ve got a gap. A big one, and I’d say it’s on us, as anglers, to fill that gap.

In my nine-to-five job, I find myself lucky again, managing the youth fly-fishing programs for Trout Unlimited. Day after day, I get to see how transformative getting young people on the water can be for both mentee and mentor. But why is taking a kid fishing so transformative, and why should you do it?”

Read the entire article on Substack.

A Fabulous Trick For CDC Flies

“In the mid-1980s, Blue Ribbon Flies introduced cul de canard (cdc) to the United States. We imported both the feathers and a variety of dry flies tied from those feathers through a source in Europe. As serious fly tiers we quickly recognized the many different ways in which these feathers could be used. As anglers we appreciated both the ethereal quality cdc lent our flies and its superb floating qualities. We cataloged the flies and feathers, anticipating great success in selling both. Alas, the reception from the angling public was…blah.”

Read the entire article on Substack.

Winter Holding Water with Mike Dawkins

“A tip I always recommend during the winter season: don’t get caught up with fishing your summer water.

The fish have moved off of those grassy banks, riffles, rock walls, boulder pools and buckets in favor of the tailouts and slow, deep holes, where they can consume energy, but not have to expel energy…”

Read the entire fishing tip on Substack.

Deck Boots: A New Niche in Fishing

“‘Deck boots’ have, for whatever reason, become a niche trend in fishing, and even fashion from London to New York, Milan to LA and beyond–maybe it’s the seemingly endless array of men’s and women’s Chelsea boots on the market. But I now receive a pitch to write about deck boots from some company at least once every other week. It’s kind of weird.

‘What the heck, sure, I’ll try some out,’ I figured. Unlike most readers of Marie-Claire or Vogue, I’ve stood on blood- and scale-splattered decks of commercial and sport fishing boats. I’ve also fished from flats skiffs and river dories wearing everything from sandals to full wading gear, flip-flops, Crocs, wet-wading boots and more.”

Read the entire article on Substack.

Colorado public access challenges are highlighted in Common Waters, a film about the long history of conflict between public anglers and private landowners, and, hopefully, a sober legislative solution for everyone in 2026. The state of Colorado’s lack of clarity regarding river “navigability” and the public’s rights to stream access are creating an environment of increased conflict between anglers and landowners. The Colorado Stream Access Coalition (CSAC), in partnership with organizations like American Whitewater, is aggressively pursuing a legislative fix during the 2026 Colorado Legislative Session to resolve the state’s notoriously vague river access laws. Their primary goal is to codify the “right to float,” providing legal protection for recreationists, while balancing the concerns of private landowners.