The Conditions-First Revolution: How 2026 Fly Fishing Gear Is Being Engineered for the Cold
Across fly lines, terminal tackle, weighting systems, and even floatants, this year's gear landscape reflects a deliberate shift toward what might be called "conditions-first" engineering: formulations, materials, and designs built not just for the river in general but for the specific, unforgiving demands of cold water, tiny flies, and the subtle presentations they require.
Gear
Yellowstone National Park Opens Fishing Season Early on Three Rivers
In a significant policy shift for the 2026 fishing season, Yellowstone National Park has announced that the Firehole, Gibbon, and Madison rivers will open to anglers on May 1—weeks ahead of the traditional Memorial Day weekend opener. The decision, announced January 27 by park officials, represents a strategic adaptation to changing climate conditions that have increasingly disrupted summer fishing on these thermally influenced waterways.
News
Industry Legend Jim Murphy Passes Away
Jim Murphy, a true fly-fishing Renaissance man and leader of an astonishing number of angling brands over the years, passed away on January 21 after a long illness. At the time of his death, Murphy was the Director of Fly Fishing for Pure Fishing—which owns iconic brands such as Hardy, Greys, Pfleuger, and Fenwick—but his history in the business goes all the way back to 1989, when he went to work for Thomas & Thomas.
People
Pebble Mine Update: Federal Court Deadline Looms as Alaska Legislature Debates Permanent Protections
While the Environmental Protection Agency's 2023 veto of the proposed Pebble Mine remains in effect, legal and legislative skirmishes have intensified, with the next two weeks bringing a major deadline that could shape the project's future.
News
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Meet the New MidCurrent Editor-in-Chief
I’ve spent the last few weeks working in the background on a few special projects, while Johnny Carrol Sain has continued doing his usual brilliant job overseeing the website and newsletters. This week, he’s handing the reins to me.
People
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Tying Tuesday: Midges, Beetles, and Deceivers
This week's Tying Tuesday has quite a bit of variety to it, with flies that'll work for trout, bass, and even saltwater species.
Videos
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How George Daniel Achieved His Fly-Fishing Dreams
Over the past couple of decades, Pennsylvania angler George Daniel has built a remarkable life in fly fishing--as a guide, a member of Fly Fishing Team USA, an author and speaker, and as the latest instructor in charge of Penn State's legendary fly-fishing program. Writing on Onward State, an independent Penn State news site, CJ Doebler . . .
News
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Nautilus Announces New GTS Reels
Nautilus Reels has announced the release of their new GTS 5/6 reels. This new size joins the previously-announced GTS reels in Nautilus' much-loved lineup.
Gear
Striped Bass Management: Status Quo for 2026 as a Recruitment Crisis Looms
Maryland DNR Director of Fishing and Boating Services Lynn Fegley acknowledged the tension in the agency's October statement accompanying the survey results: "Management actions taken over the last decade have resulted in a healthy population of spawning-age striped bass. However, continued low numbers of striped bass entering the population is a threat to this progress as there are fewer juveniles growing into spawning adults."
Conservation
Guadalupe River Earns “Top 100” Trout Stream Nod
The Guadalupe's "Top 100" status is a reminder—especially for anglers outside the region—that Texas trout fishing is not a once-a-year stocking-day curiosity.
Uncategorized
The Free Federal Tool That Can Tell You When Early-Season Warmwater Fish Are Ready
Every spring, the same question nags warmwater fly anglers from Oklahoma to Ohio: Is it happening yet? Are the largemouth moving shallow? Have the pike pushed into the backwaters? Is it worth burning a vacation day, or will you spend six hours casting into dead water?
Skills
Tying Tuesday: Variety is the Spice of Life
This week's Tying Tuesday brings together four patterns that couldn't be more different from one another—proof that a little variety at the bench can keep things interesting when the water isn't cooperating.
Uncategorized
