The Fly Fishing Hall of Fame, located in Livingston Manor, New York, proudly reveals its 2023 class of inductees, consisting of five distinguished anglers. This year’s honorees are John Atherton, Arnold Gingrich, Will Godfrey, Frank Mele, and Samuel Phillippe & Son. Each of these individuals has left an indelible mark on the world of fly fishing, whether through their craftsmanship in bamboo fly rod construction or their artistic expressions that beautifully capture the essence of angling.
If you are interesting in learning more about each inductee, head over to the Hall of Fame website by clicking here. Header photo of Joe Humphreys, inducted in 2013.Â
Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Sackett v. EPA on May 25, 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency has revised its 2023 “waters of the United States” definition to align with the court’s decision. This revision is intended to enhance clarity and facilitate the EPA’s pursuit of its objectives, ensuring compliance with the court’s ruling.
In an effort to address the uncertainty arising from the earlier ruling this year, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is recommencing the issuance of all jurisdictional determinations. Furthermore, both the EPA and the Corps will collaborate with state, Tribal, and local partners to ensure the protection of waters in accordance with the decision made in May.
“While I am disappointed by the Supreme Court’s decision in the Sackett case, EPA and Army have an obligation to apply this decision alongside our state co-regulators, Tribes, and partners,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan, in a news release. “We’ve moved quickly to finalize amendments to the definition of ‘waters of the United States’ to provide a clear path forward that adheres to the Supreme Court’s ruling. EPA will never waver from our responsibility to ensure clean water for all. Moving forward, we will do everything we can with our existing authorities and resources to help communities, states, and Tribes protect the clean water upon which we all depend.â€Â
The decision rendered in May established that waters lacking continuous connectivity to perennial streams and permanent lakes will no longer receive specific federal protections. The responsibility for safeguarding such waters will now rest with individual states.
Check out the full release from the EPA by clicking here, and the publication from Fly Fisherman Magazine, OSG Senior Digital Editor Lynn Burkhead. Header photo courtesy of Dylan Brown.
Charlie Craven, an avid fly tier, fly shop owner, and author takes us on a journey through his fly tying desk. Fly tying for Charlie started when he was 8 years old, and his fly tying passion continued when opening Charlie’s Fly Box, selling retail, and putting fly tying clinics together.
Known for his famous Jujubaetis, Fat Angie, and Two-Bit-Hooker, Craven is one of the most influential fly tyers within the industry. Craven also has in-depth fly tying tutorials you can find on YouTube if you’re just getting into fly tying. Check out his YouTube channel by clicking here.
Check out this video showcasing his fly-tying workstation; you might discover valuable additions for your own tying setup! Follow @charliesflybox on Instagram, or go visit the shop in Arvada, Colorado.
In this Video of the Week, we catch up with our close friends over at Costa Sunglasses in their newest short film “The Costa Marlin Fly Project“. Costa’s Marlin Fly Project is the first multi-partner program of its kind to better understand one of the most incredible Striped Marlin fisheries in the world – by tagging billfish on the fly in Magdalena Bay, Mexico. Costa has spent the past forty years carrying out its ‘higher calling’ to conserve the watery world and the people that call it home. The Marlin Fly Project is an extension of that ongoing commitment. In addition to an unforgettable angling and field science mission, the goal of the Marlin Fly Project was to engage with the local community and leave a lasting impact.
Southwestern Baja, Mexico is full of authentic culture and community, built alongside an untamed ecosystem that, for 3-4 months a year, features one of the most incredible striped marlin populations on the planet. Striped marlin has a brief history of minimal scientific research – making them one of the least understood billfish species – especially in this region of the globe, where they are the star of the show for ecotourism. Together with the help of Costa Pros, conservation partners, leading fisheries scientists, the Los Locos Mag Bay staff, local captains, and the community of San Carlos, Mexico, the inaugural Marlin Fly Project made history.
Cederström Warchalowski: Sure thing, Nelson. I had a pretty sporty upbringing over in Europe. My dad made the jump from Poland to Sweden, and that’s where I spent my childhood. I practically had a go at every sport under the sun, especially with a ski slope right nearby. I started skiing at a super young age. I’ve got two brothers, one older and one younger, and we were out exploring and fishing from a very early age. That was awesome. As my teenage years rolled around, I got hooked on fly fishing, and I’ve been sticking with it ever since. The cool thing is, my job has let me mix business with pleasure, taking the sales teams and participating in various fishing events all over the place.
Skiing and fishing are my passions, but it’s more about soaking up the great outdoors. I’ve hopped around Europe, holding different roles in various industries. First, I was with Procter & Gamble, and then I made the leap to Red Bull. While at Red Bull, I had the chance to live in the U.S., starting at the global headquarters in Austria and then shifting to the U.S. headquarters in Los Angeles. Back then, my kids were still little tots, aged five and seven, when we made the move stateside. Now, they’ve all grown up, and are back in Sweden!
Oxley: It seems you’ve worked in a lot of different industries, can you expand on that?
Cederström Warchalowski: Well, I have only been here a couple weeks. I was fortunate enough, it was an all in company week, so we had the full U.S. team here in the headquarters when I started, so we got to do bits of everything. It was so personal, warm, and welcoming I have to say. I feel that we are in a great place. We’re in the fishing mecca of the world, and we have many great fishing companies around us or driving distance from our headquarters.
Our approach moving forward will be a seamless extension of our ongoing commitment to safeguard, nurture, and strengthen our position in the commercial fishing sector. This, in turn, will serve as a robust platform for further investment in new product categories. We’ve ventured into sports fishing footwear and fly fishing with a well-thought-out long-term strategy in place. I’m delighted to report that, having attended recent product meetings, I’m highly impressed with what’s in our development pipeline; it’s incredibly compelling.
Our focus now is on collaborating with our talented product developers to put the finishing touches on these innovations. Additionally, working closely with Ashley’s team, we’ll ensure a successful market introduction, maintaining the same level of credibility we’ve consistently delivered. Our commitment to continued investment and, most importantly, capturing the hearts of dedicated anglers is unwavering. We will uphold our promises, attentively listen to feedback, and continually refine our products, striving for continuous improvement. With each iteration, we aim to drive enthusiasm and passion. In doing so, we are poised to succeed over time, and maintaining our current growth trajectory would be nothing short of remarkable.
Oxley: Do you think you’ll focus more on the fly fishing line, or have an equal balance between commercial fishing and fly fishing product?
Cederström Warchalowski: It’s essential for these two segments to coexist harmoniously, particularly given that they represent a significant portion of our company’s operations. As you rightly pointed out, having a robust and stable foundation allows us the luxury of not rushing product launches, avoiding shortcuts, and steering clear of an overly competitive mindset. Our approach is to prioritize consumer insights and maintain our commitment to research and development.
In our recent product meetings over the last two weeks, one of the most prudent decisions we made was to put a hold on a couple of product releases. These will be deferred for a season or two to allow more time and to gather extensive feedback from both fishermen and our trusted partners. This way, we ensure that when these products do hit the market, they will be perfected to meet the exacting standards of our customers. I think Ashley would like to elaborate on this as well.
For instance, we’ve drawn learnings from the commercial fishing world to address similar challenges in sport fishing, like efficiently channeling water away from the body should it penetrate a zipper. This solution, involving storm flaps and water channeling, has its roots in the commercial fishing industry. Similarly, our design ethos emphasizes clean lines. By eliminating unnecessary pockets, we ensure that they won’t hinder fisherman by catching on nets, a valuable lesson we’ve integrated into fly fishing where extensive lines are often in play when you’re casting or stripping fly line in.
Oxley: Nicolas, you mention when it comes to product design less is more. Can you elaborate on what that means? Is it zippers, is that snag points?
Williams: Thanks Nicolas. Absolutely, you’ve captured it perfectly. To expand on that point, what truly sets us apart is our steadfast commitment to delivering products that meet the needs of all anglers. We’re dedicated to making products that anglers can trust, 100% of the time, no exceptions. Our DNA is rooted in the development of products for the uncompromising demands of the commercial fishing industry. Out on the Bering Sea, there’s simply no room for compromise. If a zipper fails, there’s no quick trip to the store for a replacement jacket. Whether you’re on a crabbing boat or engaged in any other fishing pursuit, we adhere to the highest possible standards in every product we create, and for-sure it’s a demanding process, but it’s fun!
The annual fundraiser initiated by Keep Fish Wet is now underway, featuring an assortment of raffles and auctions running until November 12th. All proceeds generated from this event will be allocated to support Keep Fish Wet’s initiatives aimed at educating anglers and establishing outreach programs centered on their science-backed catch-and-release fishing methods.
If you decide to participate in the auction or purchase raffle tickets, you’ll have a chance to win exciting prizes, including the coveted Sage R8 Core, Winston Pure, and Thomas & Thomas Sextant rods, along with other enticing rewards. Furthermore, for those who contribute over $75, Keep Fish Wet will graciously dispatch a complimentary toolkit outlining their catch-and-release principles to a guide, lodge, or outfitter of your choosing.
You can view the auction items, as well as the raffle prize packages by clicking here.
Welcome to the test kitchen, aka the jet boat. My name is Eric Hurst, and I’m a full-time fly fishing guide and fly tyer. If I’m not running a trip, you can find me cooking up some meaty fly patterns. There’s something really special about creating flies and getting them dialed in to mimic real baitfish or matching bugs. The Sage R8 Core has been an awesome catering utensil for serving up the meals.
I became a guide primarily because of my passion for the sport and my deep-seated desire to share my enthusiasm for the things I love with others. I’m always trying to grow and learn; guiding has shown me a lot about myself and others. It’s really great how you can hang out with a 90-year-old one day and an 8-year-old the next day with the stoke levels just about the same. We have great fisheries in the south, which means every day I guide is an opportunity to educate others on how we can take care of the fisheries for future generations.
This sport will only continue to grow, so I constantly ask myself, “How can we, as anglers, continue to help and keep these places special?” My solution is to all work together and help this river and other rivers continue to be better than they already are. I guide a lot on multiple tailwaters in the south, and they all have something special about them, but I always keep finding myself back on the tailwater closest to home. I get asked a lot when guiding what my favorite river is or where I would fish if I had to choose. The Hooch always pops to the top of my list. Throughout my years of fishing, the Hooch has been my greatest teacher. It has pushed me to my limits, and there have been moments when I swore I’d never cast a line there again because of the sheer difficulty. Yet, on other days, it reveals its most rewarding side. I think everyone has that special place that you keep coming back to. This is one of mine.
One of my favorite ways to approach fly fishing is throwing the big stuff. I’m a streamer dreamer. I’ve been using the Sage R8 Core 7wt for serving the meat on the tailwaters, and it has lived up to the demand of the heavy flies. Being able to make a lot of casts while streamer fishing is key. The Sage R8 Core impresses not only with its precision but also with its ability to handle the weight of flies more effortlessly, preserving your arm strength and ensuring you can keep the grind going.Â
Having the right tools for the job really helps when you’re on the water daily. Me and my friend Baker Davenport have been working hard together to figure out this river. We’ve put a lot of time and effort into fishing the Hooch and other rivers in the South East. While I love the fishing to be good, It’s the tougher days that really teach you the most. The problem-solving of this sport only makes you stronger. If it was easy, would it be as fun? I like to think not… at least that helps me sleep at night.
I currently guide River through Atlanta on the Chattahoochee, and Baker and I are currently working on starting our own company for guiding and hopefully a fly shop down the road called Overflow Outfitters. Be on the lookout for that…we’re really excited about it. We look forward to growing and educating more clients about the water we love. I’ve gathered a lot of great information on the trout populations and bug life from Chris Scalley, owner of River Through Atlanta. I love surrounding myself with others who continue pushing me, so I never stop growing and learning.
Let’s Talk Science and Conservation
2005 was the last year that DNR stocked brown trout on the upper section of the Hooch between Buford Dam and Morgan Falls. The biologist at the time was Chris Martin, and he concluded with his electro-fishing surveys that there was a robust wild population of browns established on this expansive stretch with spawning habitat on sprawling gravel beds throughout. A self-sustaining wild brown trout population is living proof of high water quality on the Hooch, meaning these fish are the “canaries in the coal mine!”
We have an 11-year data set from 1998-2011 with six sampling sites throughout the tailwater to help monitor water quality and prove there are good food sources for the fish population. We have restarted the invertebrate sampling in the summer of 2023 and plan to continue quarterly samples for the next decade. The Army Corps of Engineers has partnered with The Nature Conservancy with a national water quality program in the spring of 2023 called the SRP “Sustainable Rivers Project,†where the Corps is looking at improving water quality with more suitable flows and dissolved oxygen levels for the benefit of the sport fishery where it is practical. This program has initiated our invertebrate work to help illustrate these improvements.
This information is just a little on why anglers need to keep pushing to help this river. We all talk about the brown trout naturally reproducing, but at the same time, we could be doing more to keep them thriving. It’s unique to have a naturally reproducing brown trout fishery this far south; this drives me and others to get more attention on the conservation needs in this fishery.
A few things I think could be beneficial for the future of the fishery:
Lowering the fish limit one can take, along with a standard on size limits.
A closed spawning section during certain times of the year.
There are a couple of other tailwaters that close spawning sections, and it has a noticeable impact on the populations.
A catch-and-release-only section of the river could also help fish reproduce and revive the populations.
Consider how this river would be in five to ten years if some of these steps were implemented. Let’s all keep fishing and having fun while at the same time being mindful of the special places that allow us to do what we love. We wouldn’t have this sport without the fish, so when you’re out there, leave it better than you found it. Without them growing and thriving, it would be really hard to catch the beast we’re always hunting for. Come book a trip with us at Overflow Outfitters, and we can show you how special this river is.
Thank you to Sage Fly Fishing for supporting this Angler Story. If you are looking for your next streamer setup. Look no further than the Sage R8 Core 9ft 7wt. That is Eric’s rod of choice for throwing his homemade streamers.
“A casual walk down to the beach can turn into unforgettable sights as nature takes it turn. The mullet run can also be very elusive so every time you get to see it happening it’s worth putting in the time to soak it in. Natures food chain at its finest!”
Reel of the Week from Nathaniel Harrington, be sure to follow him on Instagram @natehphoto.
Striped bass are one of the most popular recreational species for saltwater anglers. Yet, the species faces many challenges. Stripers were declared overfished in 2019 and remain in that condition. Recruitment–spawning success, how many new stripers enter the population–is now a major challenge towards rebuilding; 2023 marks the fifth consecutive year of poor spawns out of the Chesapeake Bay, which is the most important producer area.
On October 12, 2023, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced the results of its annual Young-of-Year Striped Bass Survey. “The 2023 young-of-year index is 1.0, well below the long-term average of 11.1,” according to the press release. Generally speaking, striped bass need cold, wet springs to produce a good spawn. The Mid-Atlantic region has not had that, and several major Chesapeake tributaries had terribly low flows this past spring. While good spawns are largely driven by environmental conditions out of human control, there needs to be fish dispersed across the spawning systems and diverse age structure to take advantage of those good environmental conditions. Many in the Bay have been sounding the alarm that the Bay’s population of stripers is reaching alarmingly low levels and may be a contributing factor to this string of poor spawns.
The Virginia survey also found a poor spawn in the state’s portion of the Chesapeake: “The 2023 value is significantly lower than the historic average of 7.77 fish per seine haul and is a notable decrease in annual recruitment compared with recent years in which catches of striped bass were rated average or above average.”
The American Saltwater Guides Association has been at the forefront of striped bass management and is working to ensure that the management body (The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission) rebuilds this fishery ahead of the 2029 deadline and that, once again, the entire coast can benefit from and enjoy an abundant striped bass population in the near-term and long into the future. The ASMFC just released for public comment a management action to bring fishing mortality back down to acceptable levels, and the ASGA will need your support to help get this iconic fishery back on track!
This sport will only continue to grow, so I constantly ask myself, “How can we, as anglers, continue to help and keep these places special?” My solution is to all work together and help this river and other rivers continue to be better than they already are. 
