science

A collection of 40 posts

colorado

History of the Mysis Fishery: Gaffe to Gold Medal

Gather around the fire and let me tell you a fly fishing tale of how mysis ended up feeding fish well downstream from the intended destination.

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trout

Crash Course in Picky Trout Behavior

Fly Fishing graduate school: Understanding a picky trout can be the difference-maker when trying to present flies to these stubborn fish.

pattern hangover

Fish Memory and Pattern Hangover

You missed the big hatch, but if you know a little about how trout brains work you might know that you're window of opportunity hasn't fully closed yet...

behavior

Do Other Fish Know When A Fish Gets Hooked?

Let's talk about the social cues a group responds to, or doesn't respond to, when a fish gets hooked.

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fish behavior

The Science of Rest: Trout Get Burnout Too

How long is a fish's recovery after getting hooked? And how long would it take to reset the timid behavior of previously hooked fish throughout an entire fishery?

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largemouth bass Featured

Understanding Warmwater Lakes

In warmwater fly fishing, especially bass fishing, we often just throw poppers and streamers with little emphasis on understanding the reasoning for these tactics

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cutthroat

How Did Cutthroat Trout Cross the Continental Divide?

Most cutthroat trout are found west of the Continental Divide, so how did they find their way to the east side of the divide? Science behind fly fishing

exploring

End of the Year Round Up: Best of 2022

We revisit the best of the best from 2022 slate of fly fishing articles.

cutthroat

The Cult of the Rainbow

We simply don't need more rainbow trout, and rest assured, they aren't going anywhere. So don't be swayed by the cult of rainbow trout.

conservation concept

Conservation Concept: Tragedy of the Commons

For every angler, tragedy of the commons is a core concept you should know about

technical trout

Catch More Trout with These Articles

Fly fishing: Let's discuss everything from approaching the water, to rigging, flies, and dealing with picky trout.

steelhead

The Weird Biology of Half-Pounder Steelhead

Fly fishing: Let's take a look at the weird biology of half-pounder Steelhead

terrestrials

Silver Linings Fly Box: Grasshoppers and Drought

Fly fishing: There is one interesting byproduct of the drought that could serve to favor trout anglers when fishing hoppers

cutthroat

Native Trout South of the Border?

Fly fishing: What if I told you that there are native species of trout found in North America that extends as far south as the tip of Baja California.

alpine

Alpine Flies: Darker as You Climb

Alpine fly fishing: the higher the elevation, the darker the fly

conservation concept

Conservation Concept: Shifting Baseline Syndrome

Grandpa might have been right after all: The fishing just ain't what it used to be...

climate change

Western Trout Rivers: An Angler's Prospectus

Fly fishing: Out west, with years of lingering drought, and now reports of declining trout populations in the holy-waters of Montana...

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barometric pressure

Myth-Busting: The Barometric Pressure Debate

Lets look at the Barometric Pressure debate, one of the most enigmatic topics in fly fishing.

essential reads

End of the Year Round Up: Best of 2021

We revisit the best fly fishing articles from 2021. Covering topics from alpine ice-off to fish behavior.

Members only

behavior

The Dynamics of Fish Spooking

Fly fishing: Why do fish spook? Why don't fish spook? Let's investigate.

behavior

Sibling Rivalry? Behavioral Differences When Browns and Rainbows Share a Stream

Fly fishing: How do these species behave differently when living side-by-side? Even more importantly, how can that help your angling?

stillwater

Why Don't We See More Chartreuse in Stillwater Trout Flies?

Fly fishing lakes: Do you recall any chartreuse flies for trout when shopping at your average fly shop?

Members only

terrestrials

The Colorful World of Grasshoppers

Fly tying: What are the best colors for tying and fishing grasshoppers. Check out our breakdown.

cutthroat

Using Nature's Engineers to Slow Early Runoff

Before civil engineering ever existed, there were animals shaping rivers across N. America. Have we forgotten the benefits they offer?

colorado

Alpine Ice-Off: Raining Dust

We discuss a phenomenon that's causing earlier spring snowmelt