Musky are curious critters. If you follow this column, you know that I spend what probably amounts to an unhealthy amount of time considering what makes them tick. They’re a mysterious fish with a swagger that doesn’t always match their predatory physiology. They’ll br...

Fish enough, and keep track of the weather and conditions, and certain patterns begin to emerge. Like, for example, when it’s worth going fishing, and when it’s not.

When the South Fork gets a bit of rain in the winter and the clouds hang on for a few days after, and wh...

For the better part of February, we've been battling high water in southwest Virginia, keeping us off the big river and prepping for spring and the great smallmouth and wild trout fishing that comes with it. Despite snow and frigid temps coming this weekend, in just th...

As of this writing, we are on the back end of some very wet and very cold weather. January fishing has been good, but not without its challenges--high and dirty water, frigid water temperatures, and successive cold fronts. However, the best fishing of the winter will s...

I can’t remember my first hunt. The first time my dad took me, gun-toting, afield in the pursuit of real game. But I know that it was a heavy experience—one that I had looked forward to, and that fueled my love for the outdoors, and, likely, one that he had to sacrific...

The older I grow, the less I care about material things. Sure, as an angler, material things—such as boats, gear, etc.—can facilitate experiences, but it is the memories that are treasured. They are all gifts. Time is a gift, and so it is during the pause taken at Chri...

Fall is halfway gone, and it's safe to say that conditions have been a total contradiction to last fall. Low, clear water and warmer temps have been the rule. At this point, temps have turned seasonal and downright cold on some mornings, but low, clear water is still s...

It is generally unwise to state rules in fishing, without qualifiers. I’ve learned so quickly in answering questions from clients on the river. Words like “never” and “always” simply invite instances of “sometimes.” Add a lady to the mix, particularly one with the temp...

As wild as it seems, it's nearly September--my favorite month of the year, and the month when the most giant smallmouth seem to grace the boat, year after year. Water temps are on their way back down, overnight temps are dipping pretty low, and the dog days cicadas are...

For the smallmouth bass angler, the summertime represents one of the most exciting times of the year, when fish, big and small, will readily eat a topwater bug, creating a very visual and memorable experience. That time is upon us, now, and, until October, we'll be tak...