It’s another pretty day up here in Mt. Shasta land, which leads me to wonder what’s headed our way this winter. In truth, we’re in a bit of a dry spell up here, with the usual 2″-3″ of rain normally seen since early summer falling elsewhere. (We’ve had none).
No need to go ringing the Gongs [...]

Some days I fish because I actually want to catch a boatload of trout (I know it’s getting bad when I find myself “air casting” on the drive to the river), and other days I fish because I need to get the hell out of the house and connect with something that isn’t a keyboard.

It’s [...]

Conversations are raging on any number of topics here at the Underground. From coffee to sneaky, everybody’s got something to say, and my only wish is that more lurkers would say what’s on their mind. Love to hear from everyone.
Right now, I’m writing new business pitches (a periodic exercise for any freelancer), which are time [...]

Trout aren’t stupid. They might be brainless and lack creativity (a lot like the creators of Gilligan’s Island), but they’re survivors. And they didn’t get that way by offering themselves up as a meal for every predator that wanders by.
Which – if you stop to watch most fly fishers on the water – begs the [...]

Wyatt at Flytimes has been posting photos from his trip to Yellowstone. If you’re the type who likes to look at beautiful pictures of places you want to go right now but can’t, then this is your chance.
Technorati Tags: flytimes, montana

Enough already with the new blogs. Well, OK. One more.
Called the Trout Zone, it’s based in Crossville, TN - about 90 minutes from the Smokies and the home town of James Beasley - one of my favorite bamboo rod builders of all time.

Nicely written and worth a visit.
Technorati Tags: trout, tennessee

With clouds appearing on the Western horizon and light rain forecast for the late afternoon, I was getting revved up by the thought of clouds of blue-winged olives pouring off the water.
It only took a few seconds to convince Chris Raine to abandon his adult responsibilities, and in the early afternoon, downriver we went.

My [...]

The Mad Fishicist is an odd name but a worthwhile blog emenating from the enigma that is Alaska. Long on literary references and nice pictures, it’s an interesting effort and well worth a visit. Written by (and we quote):
A fly rodding, sheep stalking, moose calling, guitar trying, bird watching, fly tying, Katie loving stay-at-home-dad.
We’re down [...]

Saturday’s hike into the backcountry forced me to ask myself why I don’t do this more often. In truth, it’s been a far better year than most in terms of backcountry fishing, and I’ve gotten my feet wet in a couple small streams and a bunch of alpine lakes.

Meet the backcountry brookie - the Official [...]

It’s Friday, which means those who don’t work weekends have made it, while those who do have absolutely nothing to look forward to.
We’re starting this edition of Friday’s Underground Entertainment with yet another entry in the bikini wars from Moldy Chum (what did we start?). Never in my life have I wished I was a [...]

Years ago I toyed with the idea of fishing all season with only one kind of fly. Back then it was a soft hackle, but I seem to remember stumbling on this idea pretty much every winter, and wonder a little about what it means.

The world’s simplest, most effective fly? (Hare’s Ear soft hackle)
Is it [...]

First we stumbled on the wholly overwhelming Fly Fishing in Yellowstone blog, the reports from which were so detailed and volumnious that there’s really no need to actually leave the house and go fishing.
Now there’s the Yellowstone, A Step Apart blog, which seems intent on giving us a tour of the park so detailed that [...]