• COVER • Lesson of the day in the Bahamas’ Berry Islands: Always keep your rod at the ready. Returning to the skiff from wading the flats out of Soul Fly Lodge, a permit decided to take its turn stalking an unarmed Anthony Miaoulis. With the rod rigged up and about to climb into the boat, he never stood a chance. Photo: Dylan Schmitz • RISES • • 01 • “During the peak of spring runoff, a small western Montana stream fills to its banks with ice-cold water and grayling come in droves to spawn. Hiding in the undercut banks, cutthroat also come to spawn and probably snag some grayling eggs. It has the feeling of a salmon river, teeming with life. I find carcasses of fish in the forest nearby as black bears, mink, raccoons and more come to partake in the grayling gathering.” Photo: Steven Gnam • 02 • Evan Slater enjoys the fruits of his labor during a warm late-spring carp cruise along the banks of the Columbia River in eastern Washington. Photo: Copi Vojta • 03 • Jonathan Messinger nymphed this Wyoming run in a place where minding your footing is paramount. Anglers here are better off coming prepared with Vibram soles and a rock climber’s grip. Photo: Jakob Burleson • 04 • “Bekah Herndon enjoys the fat drops of a brief summer squall in southwestern Montana. The cutthroat were less pleased—or just tired of our poor presentations.” Photo: Ben Herndon • 05 • “Sometimes your home water falls short when measured against a horizon of big fish in exotic locations. But we should always take pride in our home waters, and celebrate and advocate for native species living in our own backyards, regardless of size. Kate Sherin releases a Nova Scotian striped bass from a knotless rubber hug.” Photo: Scotty Sherin • 06 • Corey Klotz enjoys the post-COVID rise in used car values in eastern Oregon. Photo: Ben Herndon • 07 • “As much as I love fishing with friends, sometimes schedules don’t align and I find myself on a solo ramble, multitasking with a bent rod and heavy carp, and a camera smushed against my face.” Photo: Copi Vojta • 08 • “Kyle Lerch makes a little drop in a little boat on some coveted roadless miles of Idaho river. The industrial storage tub was present because of the need for a full-size Dutch oven and pounds of pancake batter for the trip. Surprisingly, only one rod tip was broken in the making of this adventure.” Photo: Ben Herndon THE FLYFISH JOURNAL 015
The Flyfish Journal The Flyfish Journal 15.3: Page 15
