Small Water: Where it all begins

Small Water: Where it all begins

“Small rivers, streams and wetlands are literally the lifeblood of all aquatic ecosystems. Yes, they are where big fish make little fish. These are the life factories. The most precious of all water resources.

But it’s not just about fishing. Not by a longshot. When it comes to small freshwater streams, wetlands and such, it’s about bigger things…like the water you, your family, your friends and neighbors and community all drink.

It’s waters like this that deserve the absolute most attention and respect. We need to be more vigilant, not less. And if you fish, you’re the watchdog. You should care, whether you want to or not. Because everything flows forth from small water. The effects of what you do to the source are felt miles and miles downstream.”

Read the entire article on Substack.

Toward Better Casting

“What I find in my own teaching is that while most anglers are eager to improve their casting, they’re not at all sure what “improvement” looks like. They have no visual reference, no mental picture of a sound casting stroke, no expert resource they can go to and compare themselves against. Which is one reason many of us fish for years without showing improvement in our casting. We simply can’t develop a mechanically sound casting stroke until we’ve been shown what one looks and feels like.”

Read the entire article on Substack.

Product Buzz

Scott Fly Rod Company Announces New GT Series Fly Rods. From Scott: “New GT rods are lighter and sportier than their predecessors, yet they still possess smooth progressive actions, tremendous feedback, and incredible tippet protection that have kept dedicated anglers fishing the previous three versions of these rods for almost 50 years. GT rods feature innovations that push them to the forefront of performance while retaining the most cherished attributes of G Series rods.” Find a new Scott GT @ Madison River Fishing Company. We review the Yeti GoBox 15: “I treat the GoBox as ‘home base for the important stuff.’ Camera, headlamp, sunscreen, meds, lighter, spare batteries, gloves, beanie–basically the items you’d be miserable without. It moves with me from boat to tent pad to whatever craft I hitch a ride on next.” Deeter reviews the new Scott GT fly rods. “I was actually a bit skeptical when GT arrived a couple months ago. But I’ve been fishing it in different environments–from a dory, walk wading small streams, lake fishing with float tubes…fishing in Michigan, Idaho and Colorado for fish of various sizes.” Cool drift boat product of the week: “The Fish Ladder” from the troutboatcapn–a trailer mounted gear rack. “The fish ladder provides a super stable place to carry your oars and mount any over-the-counter rod rack securely on your boat trailer. The oar shelf is lined with Seadek for cushioning underneath oars snugly tied down through welded on loops.” 12 Days of Skwala Deals is back. “We’ll announce deals on specific Skwala gear starting November 21st.  Each Skwala Day will feature a different product or collection of products at 15% off standard price. Skwala will also donate 5% of the retail price from the entire sale to Trout Unlimited and the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust.” The Best Websites To Buy Online Flies from House of Fly (lots of Flylab partners in the roundup where you can save). “Nothing replaces a strong local fly shop. If you live close to one, at least for your local fishing needs, that’s always Option #1. That’s because it’s difficult to replace the sense of community, local knowledge and relationships you form at a local fly shop (or even a strong department store with local anglers working in the department). But, that’s not an option for lots of people in many parts of the country.” Best GPS Hiking Watch Guide: 9 Gear Tester Standouts of 2025. “I have been using a GPS watch for hiking, running, biking, and living for over a decade now and have tested dozens of them in my decades-long career as an outdoor journalist and gear tester. For this specific test, I researched eight watches that I thought could be the best hiking watch–based on my past experience–and my team and I tested them for the past four months to create this gear review that will hopefully help you pick the best one for you.” Benchmade Ended My Long Search for the Best All-Around Kitchen Knife. “The tip is what makes this knife so versatile. It gives me control and enough finesse for detailed work–it is small and sharp, allowing me to get into corners and tight spots. It performs well with the smaller prep tasks: chopping veggies, taking meat off the bone, slicing fruit.”

Fly-fishing News

The EPA Is Gutting the Clean Water Act. “The Environmental Protection Agency announced changes to the Clean Water Act that sportsmen’s organizations say could set us back 50 years to a time when rivers lit on fire and fish went belly up. ‘This isn’t a little deal, this is a big deal,’ says Chris Wood, CEO of Trout Unlimited. ‘It means that, in a worst-case scenario, the protections of the Clean Water Act, which meant that you couldn’t store chemicals in ephemeral streams, and you couldn’t have manure lagoons in intermittent streams, those protections could be gone.’” Take action over the Clean Water Act with TU: “Clean water is the lifeblood of healthy fisheries, wildlife habitat, and strong communities. But right now, Congress is considering H.R. 3898, the ‘Promoting Efficient Review for Modern Infrastructure Today Act’ (PERMIT Act)–a bill that would severely weaken core protections under the Clean Water Act.” Montana’s answer to Citizens United (a 2010 Supreme Court case that ruled corporations could spend unlimited sums in order to influence elections). “Where Citizens United ruled that lawmakers could not regulate a corporation’s ‘right’ to spend unlimited sums on elections, The Montana Plan seeks to render that problem irrelevant by turning instead to each state’s right to decide which powers it chooses to grant to corporations…” Wyoming’s Miracle Mile is at risk. Friends of the North Platte River is trying to give the river a voice by protecting its waters, wildlife and communities. The new Seminoe Pumped Storage project is raising concerns: “This project poses a significant threat to the health of our precious ecosystems, endangering vital species such as fish, deer, sheep and sage grouse. The potential harm to their habitats could lead to devastating consequences for biodiversity and local wildlife populations.” Read more and leave a comment for WY’s elected officials. Kyle Frost on the Patagonia Work in Progress report: The [outdoor] industry needs Patagonia to keep pushing, experimenting, and showing what is possible. But even Patagonia cannot build the future alone. The report is a “stark acknowledgement of the contradictory role Patagonia plays in a global system built on extraction. But the report also offers a detailed map of what is working and what is not, even when you are trying harder than almost anyone else in the industry…” Stopping Didymo from Southflyfisher: Essential biosecurity for Patagonia anglers. “Didymo cells cling to anything that stays damp–waders, felt soles, boots, nets, leaders, anchor ropes, boat bilges, even gravel stuck in tyre treads. A single drop of contaminated water can start a new outbreak. The southern Andes are vast, but the pathways between river systems are short. One wet pair of boots can connect entire watersheds.” Hunter Leavine interviews saltwater fishing guide Steve Huff: Lessons from a Lifetime on the Water. “You’re limited only by your imagination and your will. It doesn’t mean you’ll succeed, but if you don’t pursue it to the best of your ability, you have no chance at all.” From Christopher Schaberg, a review of Monte Burke’s Rivers Always Reach the Sea: Angling Stories. “I found myself wondering if the book could have been organized differently, perhaps chronologically. As it is, the pieces–which span the past 25 years–kind of meander through time, from 2004, up to 2016, then 2020, back to 2012, and so on. It’s a little bizarre. Would the book feel more organic if the reader watched Monte Burke evolve as a writer (and a person) over time? And if so, would the reader get the critical buildup of ecological consciousness that he seems to develop–if in a quiet, rather low-grade way?”

Recent Press

“You guys have it together. Best job of integrating a good read along with current fly fishing information. Keep it up.” – Terry, Flylab Fan

“I have to compliment you guys on what you are creating. In my opinion it is by far the best available resource for the fly fishing community.” – Michael, Flylab Fan

On the new GT Series Fly Rods: “Let’s not ignore the fact that Scott is one of the few manufacturers that does not sell customer direct; does not have an online retail division/website designed with the single goal of competing directly with its retailers; does not collect consumer data from their registration information and use it to strengthen its direct sale; does not offer periodic consumer direct or first-time online purchase direct discounts, and has a history of supporting, rather than diluting, the role of the (shrinking number of) retailers in our sport.” – Mike Michalak, The Fly shop

The manufacturers don’t have an explicit responsibility to support the specialty retailers, but they should, because it’s good business.

We’re always looking for Flylab feedback–send any comments, thoughts, suggestions, and we’d love to hear from you.

Castwork: Rusty Vorous

“Rusty is not guarded with his opinions, and he will not roll over for anyone. He is tough, brazen, and at the same time, surprisingly poised and insightful. He has done, seen, and put up with too much in the fly fishing world ever to worry about formalities or facades. Within the first 20 minutes in his presence, you realize that Rusty Vorous is the real deal, an honest title contender. Shoving away from the ramp and pushing out into one of the last undammed trout rivers in the American west, Rusty barks out:

‘Let’s go catch these fish while they’re still alive. Let’s see what they’re chewing on.’”

Read the entire profile on Substack.

Partner Spotlight

J. Stockard Fly Fishing

For over 20 years, J. Stockard Fly Fishing has been the go-to place for high-quality fly tying equipment, materials and supplies. Their collection includes over 15,000 materials, hooks, tools and more, including all the major brands. Located in Connecticut, J. Stockard serves tyers across the U.S., Canada, and the world. Despite being one of the largest retailers of fly tying materials and supplies, J. Stockard stays true to its roots as a family-run operation with a customer-first ethos: deep product knowledge, reliable service and an earnest respect for the craft of fly tying. @jsflyfishing

Flylab member discount: Weekly discounts on all fly-tying products.

If you’re a fly shop, outfitter, fishing lodge or outdoor brand and interested in becoming a new Flylab partner, learn more about our program here. Join the best partner network in fly fishing.

Captain Kyle Schaefer from Soul Fly Outfitters talks about striped bass conservation and the role that the American Saltwater Guides Association helps play in these efforts.