COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo. Standing on a rock outcropping that juts into Officers Gulch Lake, Char Bloom resembled an orchestra conductor the moment before a concert. Instead of lifting a wand, though, ...

Daniel Galhardo, John Gierach and I are standing on a remote branch of the St. Vrain Creek with 12-foot-long fly rods in our hands. But I should qualify my usage of the word “fly” rod. We are indeed ...

If you’re looking to buy a high-quality fly fishing reel, you have lots of choice, and there’s certainly no need to spend a fortune. However, modern reels offer a number of options, and understanding ...

The Abel SDS has a fully sealed multi-disc drag, more than 20 pounds of drag pressure, an anodized aluminum construction, and an original-owner lifetime warranty. The NXT Black Label II offers a ...

There are a lot of numbers in fly fishing, and some of the numbering may not make sense to the uninitiated—or to the initiated, for that matter. A higher number means a smaller hook, yet the opposite ...

In the beginning, I had a classic Zebco 202 spin-cast combo, and it was good. At least, good enough for 5-year-old me. But I've owned many types of fishing rods since I was a freckle-faced boy who ...

As I gear up for prime saltwater fly-fishing season–when tarpon begin rustling from murky depths and migrate inland, making themselves all too available–I’m reminded of my grandfather. He was among ...

In fly fishing, the rod is the rock star. It gets all the attention when you’re bragging about the big one from your last trip. On the other hand, reels are the unsung heroes. They’re the studio ...

A day redfishing Florida's Space Coast revealed how modern fiberglass rods load quickly, cast short and accurately, and still handle real-world distance. Cold temperatures thin the crowds—but not the ...