Meditations - Current Flow State

Pacific Northwest river with clear water flowing over rocks through forested canyon in winter

Weekly Update

Low and clear

Knowing the odds are long—but showing up anyway—is the core of being an angler, and maybe a person, too.

Meditations

Hold on loosely

Trying to not try so hard.

Aerial view of winding Limay Medio river through green valley with dramatic red rock cliffs at golden hour under stormy sky

Weekly Update

This year's favorite fish

Reflecting on some favorite friends (finned and non-finned) after a great year, and ten fishtastic links to start your fly fishing week off right.

Two anglers fly fishing from a raft on a turquoise river, surrounded by lush green vegetation with snow-capped mountains rising dramatically in the background.

Meditations

Blowing off the stink

Whether you're buzzing with holiday excitement or feeling that slack tide of the soul, here are ten fishy detours to transport you.

A wall labeled 'GUIDES' holds approximately 100 handmade coffee mugs arranged in horizontal rows. Each mug is hung by its handle and features a name, forming a colorful mosaic.

Meditations

Making it

Where can you hang your mug on the wall?

17th-century Dutch painting of an alchemist in his workshop, surrounded by glass vessels, ceramic jugs, papers, and scientific instruments in a cluttered stone-walled room with arched doorway

How To

Arcane specs: Fly fishing tackle measurements make no sense

Decoding the antiquated systems we inhabit in fly fishing, and measuring things, so it all matches up real nice.

A sequence of skateboarder David Gravette riding a miniramp with fly-fishing waders on, and then riding to catch a fish.

Meditations

Skate or Fly: How two outsider sports foster the same creative flow state

From boardslides to redsides, meet a few notable skaters who fly-fish, and identify the big areas the sports have in common, built around getting into the flow state.

Meditations

Nirvana on the Deschutes: The salmonfly hatch with no hookups

Deciding to fish the salmonfly hatch on the Deschutes with hookless flies

Meditations

Fish around and find out

Ten ways to make fly fishing a bigger part of your life

Meditations

Take your time: Ten ways to make fly fishing a bigger part of your life

We have a motto around here: "Make fly fishing a bigger part of your life." Here are ten ways to work in more time on the water, and time spent feeling fishy.

An adult and child stand by a pond where wispy clouds and far-off trees are reflected in the surface

Meditations

No drag, just drift

Striving to get even with the flow

Weekly Update

Stand up and tell 'em! 📣

A gentle nudge to find your voice in conservation and activism.

Meditations

A tale for the turn of the year

Wish 2025 an angler's welcome with some intention setting, saying goodbye to Jimmy Carter, summer meetup dates, and the anatomy of a fly-fishing rig

Industry

Fly fishing fashion: Streetwear goes streamside

Are kook fits in? Honestly, the only drip I know is when you're wading deep and you dunk your hat.

Meditations

A time to mend

If you can manage your line, you can manage your life.

Weekly Update

So long summer, come winter's hope.

If you start summer steelheading earlier than October, does it get less bittersweet?

How To

Invest in your angling, and your community: Join a fly fishing club

There's a great new documentary out about the wonderful benefits of joining a club. Guess what? Joining a fly-fishing club is even better, and will make you a better angler.

Meditations

What we give up fly fishing

On Adam Phillips, and finding, and re-finding our identities as anglers

Weekly Update

How to not look like an idiot when you first start learning to fly fish

Three ways to conquer the self-consciousness that comes with beginning fly fishing and start building your fly fishing practice

Meditations

Fly fishing and problem solving

Moving beyond the engineering mindset, and trying to embrace frustration as a key function of learning

Meditations

The Five Permissions: How to be a great fishing friend

Take me fishing. A simple request, a schmaltzy commercial, a pivotal role. Here are five permissions you can give yourself and your fishing friend to create space for connection.

The Deschutes River in Oregon flows along a rocky shoreline with tufts of grass.

Dispatches

Fools rush in: on finding, hooking, and losing a trophy trout

Reflections on an epic face-plant, remembering Bill Walton

Meditations

Finding your Home Waters with the Big Here Quiz

Start your journey to find your home waters by grounding yourself on your home planet.

Meditations

Setting your fly fishing intentions: The CFS Check In

Check in with your goals and set new fly fishing intentions as spring starts creeping up

How To

What is fly fishing? Why do we fish? A very short introduction

For as long as humans have lived near rivers and oceans, we’ve fished. And I’d argue that fly fishing is the closest to how our ancestors did it. Read on for a broad introduction to the sport, the differences between fly and bait fishing, and more.

Meditations

My life story as told by water

Who I am, and how that's shaped my fishing life

How To

Five reasons to start fly fishing

Nobody fly fishes because it’s easy. So why do they do it? Here are five reasons why I fly fish, along with two anti-reasons.

A device GPS UI overlaid on river indicates the direction is just upstream

Meditations

River time: A manifesto

For me, a river is a sacred place. Any old river will do. It's a nice bonus if trout live there. For when you step into a river, you step away from false time, and surround yourself in what's real.