Tenkara Fly Fishing With My Son

Sometime last summer, my son and I were standing on the edge of a river – something we do often. It was a pretty warm day, and instead of his waders, he wanted to stand in the river with just his shorts on. We stood there for a quite a while as I was trying to teach him a little bit more about how to cast with a fly rod. At the time, he was only 6, and despite my best efforts, he wasn’t that interested. He loved being out on the river, and anytime I hooked into a fish, he would rush over, reel it in, and then give it a kiss (I know it’s weird, but he loves to do that) before we put it back in the water. But, he just didn’t want to stand there and figure out how to cast. Learn More “Tenkara Fly Fishing With My Son”

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4 Tips for Fly Fishing With Kids

For many, the lifelong love affair with fly fishing is ignited at an early age. Summer afternoons near the creek or on the banks of a lake provide the ideal classroom for lessons taught by elders who generously pass down knowledge from one generation to the next. Years later, we find ourselves thankful for the enduring memories and opportunities to bond and spend time in the outdoors. As time goes by, an added appreciation for these gestures develops as we become more aware of the patience and understanding required to teach such lessons.

Ultimately, fly fishing serves as more than a hobby, a sport, or an escape, but as a vessel to deliver excitement, valuable experiences, laughter, frustration, and fleeting moments with loved ones—some of whom have passed on, but not before bestowing their insight and passion for fly fishing on us.  For adults with children, nieces, nephews, or grandchildren, the opportunity to kindle the love of fly fishing in youth presents itself. While the sacrifice of spending time tying on flies, untangling line, and monitoring safety measures may be daunting, perhaps one day the student will become the teacher, eager to continue the tradition of the fly fishing legacy.  

Here are a few tips for teaching youngsters to participate in and grow to love fly fishing. Learn More “4 Tips for Fly Fishing With Kids”

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Editor’s Choice: Favorite New Gear

This time of year is among the most exciting for us at AvidMax. The fishing is still great, the holidays are around the corner, and the latest and greatest equipment and apparel from top-notch brands is arriving daily. With so many innovative, new products available to meet the needs of fly fishing and outdoor enthusiasts, there is no shortage of selection, features, and styles to match your personality. Now is the perfect time to stock up for your outdoor adventures or get a head start on holiday gift buying, so we figured we’d offer up some our top picks for your consideration.

New Arrivals from Howler Brothers:

Howler Brothers Harker’s Flannel Long Sleeve Shirt

Howler Brothers Harker's Flannel Long Sleeve Shirt Review

No shirt can match the versatility, ruggedness, and protection from the elements like a trusted flannel. Howler Brothers Harker’s Flannel is best-seller—for good reason. This shirt is packed with features that allow you to go toe-to-toe with Mother Nature: reinforced elbow patches, a right shoulder hunters’ yoke, and custom metal buttons. Brushed for softness, the Howler Bothers Harker’s Flannel combines style with comfort, which is something we really love about this brand. Learn More “Editor’s Choice: Favorite New Gear”

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5 Reasons Why Fly Fishing is Good For You

Fishing is one of the great American pastimes as a poll has revealed that as many as 33 million people aged 16 or older participate in the activity. Recreational fishing ranks even higher than playing basketball, soccer, softball or bowling, and more Americans fish than play golf and tennis combined. Apart from the satisfaction of catching your own fish, fly fishing has many health benefits, and it also has been shown to improve one’s quality of life. If you’ve never tried fly fishing before, you may want to try it out sometime to see how it can impact your entire well-being. Learn More “5 Reasons Why Fly Fishing is Good For You”

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Fly Fishing: The Season of Orange

Halloween is around the corner and it seems that everywhere you look you can’t escape the color orange. While changing leaves, pumpkin patches, and snack-sized peanut butter cups abound, for fly fisherman, the color orange presents a different appeal—one that triggers a ferocious take, the arching bend of the rod, and the screeching sound of line peeling from the reel. Everyone’s go-to fall color is universally appealing for both humans and fish alike.

As the weather cools and you hunker down in your fly tying cave before sneaking out for some pre-winter time on the water, it’s important to embrace orange and use it to your advantage. Here are four great ways to put a little more orange into your fly box. Learn More “Fly Fishing: The Season of Orange”

Four Nights Four Rivers

Day 1

Four nights and four rivers. That was the plan. My Dad and I were going to head out on our Harleys, with all our fishing gear, and take a tour of Colorado rivers. Since it was the middle of July, we knew we’d hit a little a rain, but we ended up riding through a lot more than we bargained for. The first day was going to be the longest day of riding. We left Denver at a decent time, and the plan was to try and outrun the rain, making it over Wolf Creek Pass while it was still dry.

Half the fun for the trip though, started long before we ever left. After we had decided where and when we were going, there was still the pretty big task of trying to figure out how to fit everything for a trip like that on a motorcycle. There were a few fishing things that were a must; waders, boots, 7 piece rod to fit in the saddlebags (and a Tenkara rod for good measure since they don’t take up any space), and my new Patagonia Stealth Atom Sling Pack. Of course, there were also some motorcycle things that were a must; a cover, helmet, jacket, gloves, chaps, and enough clothes that I wouldn’t be able to smell myself too much on the last day while heading down the road at 80 mph. Learn More “Four Nights Four Rivers”