FIRST CAST MUSKY
I got to the put-in earlier than I needed to. Christmas brought with it a blast of arctic air that nearly had the river on its knees....
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Matt Reilly
Nov 4, 20203 min read
THE CAST & BLAST--RULES OF THE RIVER
If October is a month of transition, November is the month when we embrace the new season. Squirrels have been legal game for two months....
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Matt Reilly
Oct 7, 20202 min read
FAREWELL TO SUMMER
The world is changing. The leaves are turning. Consecutive cold fronts are cooling the rivers, and the smallmouth and musky are in...
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Matt Reilly
Jun 4, 20203 min read
TRUCKIN' ON TOWARDS SUMMER
We've fallen out of the habit of publishing regular fishing reports because our guiding operations were halted for a spell during the...
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Matt Reilly
Mar 12, 20203 min read
A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY
Musky are curious critters. If you follow this column, you know that I spend what probably amounts to an unhealthy amount of time...
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Matt Reilly
Feb 25, 20203 min read
"BAD CONDITIONS"
Fish enough, and keep track of the weather and conditions, and certain patterns begin to emerge. Like, for example, when it’s worth going...
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Matt Reilly
Feb 25, 20202 min read
SPRING IS COMING!
For the better part of February, we've been battling high water in southwest Virginia, keeping us off the big river and prepping for...
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Matt Reilly
Jan 26, 20203 min read
FROM THE TRENCHES OF ICY RIVERS--THE BEST IS SOON TO COME
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...
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Matt Reilly
Jan 3, 20203 min read
2019 IN REVIEW
The older I grow, the less I care about material things. Sure, as an angler, material things—such as boats, gear, etc.—can facilitate...
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Matt Reilly
Nov 25, 20192 min read
FALL FISHING IN FULL SWING
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...
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Matt Reilly
Aug 25, 20192 min read
THE GOLDEN HOUR OF SMALLMOUTH SEASON
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...
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Matt Reilly
Mar 28, 20192 min read
CHANGING SEASONS
Though the first day of spring was officially over a week ago, it's now that I'm feeling the seasons change. Water temps on the bigger...
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Matt Reilly
Feb 10, 20191 min read
THE FIRST SIGNS OF SPRING
For the last several weeks, my weekends have been tied up with attending fly fishing shows around the country. Thankfully, last weekend's...
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Matt Reilly
Dec 14, 20182 min read
WINTER TIME AND THE FISHING IS GREAT
In just one short week, it'll once again be winter by the calendar, but by the weather report, winter is already upon us. Southwest...
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Matt Reilly
Nov 16, 20182 min read
FALL TROUT, MUSKY SEASON OFF TO A STRONG START
Before the few days of rain we had this week, the New River was settling into a steady winter level. The water was clear, and the morning...
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Matt Reilly
Nov 4, 20182 min read
FALL FISHING IS UPON US
A few weeks ago I woke up to see the field outside of my window coated in an even coat of frost for the first time this year. The season...
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Matt Reilly
Oct 25, 20182 min read
SUMMER FISHING RECAP
Late summer proved a difficult time in southwest Virginia. The rain was heavy and the rivers were full more often than they weren't. With...
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Matt Reilly
Feb 7, 20183 min read
STILL THE SAME
The rapid was still in sight. Its white symphony took first chair to the wind, and the cold followed third—silent and subtle, but heard....
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