Few fish are as iconic to such a vast group of fishermen as the simple Bluegill. Young and old alike can relate to a common bond, which at one point in their life, created a feeling of excitement that fishing creates course through their veins. And most often than not the first source of that excitement was in pursuit of a Bluegill. They are the beginner's fish, as well as the veteran's fish. They are the quarry of bait fishermen as well as fly fishermen. They can be caught most any time of the day, with any type of gear, and seldom ever leave us wanting. They are all of these things, rolled up into a palm-sized fish with a blue-tipped gill plate that brings far more smiles than any other.

Many items are more controversial than fly fishing justifies. It's a hobby and it should be fun, not provoke arguments. That's a nice sentiment, but not always true. Consider the question of whether the equipment or the lure designates fly fishing. What side you take determines your position on Czech nymphing and Tenkara. Is attractant a boon or a sin? How evil is a three fly rig? Should there be private waters? If you chased down all the issues, it would eventually bring you to Catch and Release.

There is a pond that I have fished for several years but has been unavailable to me the past few years. A different person is renting the land and called me to say that I could fish the pond again. He would like the bass left in it, and he also wanted to see any fish that I might catch in this pond. I grabbed two rods to go in the truck. I already dad the canoe and everything else loaded. I headed out early in the morning, but the temperature was already 78 degrees at 5:30 am. I wanted to hit it early to try to beat the worst of the heat.

July 4th, today is the birthday of our nation, the United States of America, as I arrived on the spring creek I stop along the high bank on the upper end, this allows me a great view of the spring creek and the mountain that rise to the east. I stop and pause remembering that freedom is not free and offer a prayer for all those men and women who are serving in far off places to maintain the freedom and security of this nation. I think that many often take for granted the freedoms and enjoyment offered by this nation with little thought of the cost of freedom. After two tours in Vietnam I for one will never forget!

A number of years ago while fishing several streams on Kodiak Island for Dolly Varden we had trouble getting them to take anything. The bottom was literally black with them and they could be seen flashing in the pools as they fed, yet they would not take anything. An ordinary Pheasant Tail Nymph was the only thing that occasionally worked. A few were kept for dinner one night and the stomach contents were amazing; there were sea lice in the stomachs, only sea lice, and lots of them.

First off let me clarify something in my defense, meager though it may be. The creek was in flood, really high, quite menacing actually. There was talk of it overflowing its banks causing flooding in its lower reaches near where it flows into the lake. This is what caused us to eschew our regular camping spot situated down in the steep valley where the little creek has carved its way through solid rock over the millennia. Instead, we settled for a higher, less desirable but safer location far from its raging fury.

Catching fish with a rod and line is basically quite a simple task, but one must first secure the basic equipment, which is really quite rudimentary. A shaft 8 to 10 feet should be adequate for most angling, but longer shafts may be necessary when angling on larger streams. The shaft should not be too supple or too stiff. The base should fit comfortably in the hand being neither too thick nor too thin. The angler may wish to make his own shaft or one may be purchased from a seller of angling paraphernalia.

Fly fishing lost another old friend with the death of Alfred Carl Troth, better known to most anglers simply as Al Troth. Al died at the age of 82 on August 3, 2012.

"40 years of Trout Fishing in Europe & North America"
The quote is part of the cover description of Dick Pobst's latest book, which really does cover his life as a fly angler – and much more. You have heard people tell stories of their lives which all add up to they were groomed to do a particular job. Or some tell you how they 'fell' into a situation they couldn't imagine (and for the most part we can't believe it either). Our fellow fly fisher was raised in a family of educators during the Depression and had first-hand experience working on Ohio farms during his youth. The early exposure probably was responsible for his life-long love for the outdoors.

An invite to fish a new river and maybe a chance to hook a really large trout was just too tempting to turn down. My friend had photos to back up the possibility that even a stranger to the area might get lucky and land a citation fish. The e-mail contained a description of the area and the conditions that one might encounter, along with instructions to bring some footwear suitable for navigating slippery rocks and muddy banks. It also advised the use of at least a seven weight unless I wanted to take home a four piece rod when the original was just a three.