A bit of writing from about 10 years ago in which I actually use the term “most-subtle” with a straight face. Hope you find it useful (even if the wording gets a bit fluffy in spots). – – – – – – – – – Fly fishing for trout can be a most-subtle affair. The [...]

Drawing Flies 52 Flashback PT. Really pressed for time today, so drew in mechanical pencil (50s-style sleek), and went after it with detail brush, crayon, and some down-and-dirty washing and spattering. Tech info: 6″ x 9″ Academie sketch pad. Mechanical pencil with watercolor crayon. Had one idea in my head all week, and I flat ran [...]

For those following the Speed of Haul discussion on the Sexyloops Bulletin Board, here’s that post I promised. For those not following the discussion (or not wanting to read through those pages of casting-tech pontification), what follows is a quick taste of double-hauling (short cast) as shown on the 200-frame-per-second motion-capture system used by the [...]

I recently re-acquired all 315 remaining copies of my Nature of Fly Casting book. I sold through a small stack last week at two club events, and am making the last of the books available here on FF&W (for a special price, of course). All 320 pages of pedagogical fly-casting goodness are available to U.S.-based readers [...]

GB has now finished the initial writing of Reading Waters, the second book in our upcoming series. From the title I’m guessing that you can figure out what the book is about. We are editing book one (Fishing the Film) now, and we are also setting up the pricing structure, distribution, and other details for the series. My [...]

Wrote this years ago, but I still use the idea in my demos and clinics. It’s definitely more dynamic when presented live with props, but I think you can get the idea without watching me tear a rotator cuff… – – – – – – – – – - Why is it that “beginners” always [...]

Drawing Flies 52 Boss. We like the old-school here at the DF52 project! A classic steelhead/salmon fly, done in a rather “improper” way (but then, my illustrations are frequently tortured into existence via whatever method I can get to work). Tech info: 9″ x 12″ tracing paper. Mechanical pencil colored with watercolor pencil and watercolor [...]

I often read passages and sections from Norman Maclean’s A River Runs Through It. What so often jumps out at me about great narrative writing is how even the sparsest language can convey sweeping ideas and emotions. Many who have read (or seen) River Runs are familiar with the opening and closing lines. The close is [...]

One of my favorite ways to illustrate is to rough sketch with an added story line. Two more like this yet to come (previous one already posted). Those of you who own Presentation have already seen these, but expect a bunch more in the new books. Below is a color version of the above (from a [...]

While many FF&W readers have likely already heard about the freeze issues affecting the Florida coastal fishery, I thought that I’d put up a quick link to the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust’s news center (includes links to official FWC statements, as well).

With the recent concerns about the Harriman Ranch section of the Henry’s Fork (arguably one of the most famous stretches of river in the world), I thought I’d post a story that I wrote some years ago about a particularly memorable day on the Fork. – – – – – – – – – The [...]

I’ll be speaking at two fly-fishing clubs—one in southwest Washington and one in southwest Oregon—this coming week. The first engagement is at the Clark-Skamania Flyfishers in the Vancouver/Camas (and by default, Portland) area on January 20th. The second engagement is the next night in Grants Pass, Oregon at the Southern Oregon Fly Fishers. If you’re [...]

Drawing Flies 52 Keys-style tarpon fly. Old-school, with a bit of flash thrown into the wing. Nothing fancy, but it would work… Tech info: 8-1/2″ x 11″ recycled inkjet paper, inked with an Office Max fine-point roller ball pen (only 79-cents!), and colored with watercolor pencil, watercolor crayon, and a dash of Prismacolor marker. Decided [...]

[ Javascript required to view QuickTime movie, please turn it on and refresh this page ] Nail knots can be a pain to tie—especially when you really need one and there is nary a tool in sight (or you don’t know how to use said tool). Well, a “Nail-less” Nail Knot is a slick and [...]