Remote Alaska has a certain allure to fishermen worldwide that’s hard to put into words. It’s more than simply a place to catch trophy fish, avoid the crowds, and bring home some salmon for friends and family. Thousands of fly-fishermen, sightseers, and guides (like me!) return to this magical place year after year for the feeling of belonging, of connectedness with nature in untouched landscapes; an emotion that’s increasingly difficult to experience in the busy world we inhabit.  Fly-out, overnight raft trips in Bristol Bay are the best way many have found to combine this feeling with the joy of fly-fishing.

As I reflect on the 2024 fishing season, one word comes to mind: exceptional. This year, we landed an incredible 406 salmon on the Mýrarkvísl, making it one of the most successful seasons in the river's history. For those of us who have fished and guided here for years, this was not just a season—it was a celebration of what makes this river so special.

As a full time guide for multiple species in multiple states throughout the year and a world traveling angler, I find it to the utmost importance that when you’re booking your fishing trip of a lifetime that you want to be prepared. Lack of preparation or unrealistic expectations can lead to dissatisfaction. The last thing you want to spend your time and hard-earned money on is the wrong experience, so I’m here with offer tips to help you find the one that fits your needs and gives you the experience you’re looking for. 

Podcasts are special, especially those about fly fishing. Is it because we yearn for knowledge, and so many give us tips, insights, and expert advice to help us catch more fish? Maybe it’s because fly fishing podcasts are the perfect companion when driving to the river, or even a roadtrip to a new destination. Some provide incredible stories that resonate deep within us, whereas others appeal because they closely resemble a group of friends sitting around and talking shop, making us feel like we’re part of the group. There are lots of options for fly fishing podcasts today, and each one brings its own flair to the party.

Fly tying can be an intricate and rewarding craft that allows anglers to create their own flies, mimicking the natural food sources of fish. While the art of fly tying can be as simple or complex as you wish, having the right tools is essential for creating effective and quality flies. After years of experience at the vise, I’ve narrowed down my top five fly tying tools that every fly tier should have in their arsenal. I have listed them in no particular order. It is worth noting at this point that tying your own flies will not save you money, no! It will take you down the rabbit hole one which is as deep as that of fly fishing itself.

As many of you know, I live in Pennsylvania…so how are there steelhead? In my neck of the woods, huge rainbow trout are stocked in the tributaries of Lake Erie and spend most of their life in the lake. This time of year, they run upstream in tributaries, and are an amazing species to target with a fly rod. Are they steelhead? They are a migratory fish, though don’t spend any of their life in saltwater. Are they fun? Absolutely! More importantly, many of the flies and techniques we use are effective not only for these steelhead, but also for trout.

During my journeys around the world fly fishing, I am constantly tweaking my travel bags. No matter in the airport, at the lodge, or on the water, these packs are an important part of the experience. The wrong ones can drive me crazy, as they’re difficult to lug around the airport and don’t always hold the right gear for the trip. Yet some rise to the top, disappearing into the background and making the experience not only easier, but more enjoyable. Those are the travel bags I discuss in-depth.

What type of fly fisher are you? Maybe your motto is “Dry Fly or Die” and the Parachute Adams is a go-to during a hatch. Perhaps Kelly Galloup is your idol, and there’s always a streamer fly on the end of your line. Love fly fishing emergers? There’s no question it’s a favorite of mine, as it’s my most popular presentation for Trout Unlimited clubs and fishing groups. For those trout fly fishers that love to catch fish on a consistent basis, though, look no further than nymphing.

Anglers agree that trout eat most of their diet subsurface, concentrating on nymphs, bait fish, and other food sources that get delivered to them by moving water. Successful fly fishers maximize their catch rate by focusing on these food sources, especially when there is no hatch present. Nymphs are especially important, as they form a significant portion of their diet. Fly fishers have been imitating them for decades with patterns like the Hare’s Ear and Pheasant Tail. So where do Euro nymphs fit in, what exactly are they, and why are they so darn effective?

Poetry in motion for fly fishers is watching a trout rise to a dry fly. This visual aspect of fly fishing is a style many prefer, especially apparent by the number of anglers that chase epic bug emergences like blanket caddisfly hatches on Montana’s Missouri River, the Hex mayfly in Michigan, and Penn Creek’s Green Drake hatch in central Pennsylvania. The simple approach is to show up and fish, yet the following pieces of gear will increase the number of fish you catch, plus make for a more enjoyable experience.