While most of us spend our free time outdoors, we all need to recharge once in a while. The Internet has a site for just about every interest under the sun—and that includes multiple sites for the modern fly angler. Below are a few of the best in no particular order. So grab your smartphone, tablet, or laptop, and get ready to log on to the ten or so of best fly fishing blogs out there. Take your time, though, as they’re meant to be thoroughly enjoyed.
Gink and Gasoline
Look past the cheesy, Hot Wheels-inspired logo and you’ll find an informative, well-written fly fishing blog. Gink and Gasoline embodies the argument, written by Kirk Deeter, that fly fishing needs more three-knot anglers. Gink and Gasoline provides fly fishing neophytes with plenty of information to transform them into three-knot anglers— and much more. The blog also features great photography, and there’s usually at least one new post per day. Once you start reading Gink and Gasoline, you’ll have plenty to catch up on, with more coming your way.
https://www.ginkandgasoline.com/
Midcurrent
Featuring a clean, professional layout, Midcurrent is one of the best-known fly fishing blogs out there, and for good reason. Everything there is to know about fly fishing is covered on this site, from gear reviews (not unlike our own Gear Guides) to technical pieces to stories and essays to instructional videos to interviews with the biggest names in the game—there’s something for every fly angler on Midcurrent. If you need to add to your fly fishing collection, the site also hosts a shop.
The Fiberglass Manifesto
According to blogger Cam Mortenson, glass is not dead. In fact, it’s alive and well, thanks to the entertaining, honest work done at the Fiberglass Manifesto. Mortenson is one of the most outspoken fly fishing bloggers out there, and not just for his support of fiberglass. The layout can look a bit busy with all of the ads on each side of the page, but that’s understandable considering this a one-man show. And what a show it is, considering the fresh, original voice of Mortenson and the unique topic. Even if you don’t own a glass rod, check it out. The Fiberglass Manifesto just may change your mind.
http://thefiberglassmanifesto.blogspot.com/
Le Mouching
Like Vagabond Fly Mag, Le Mouching is another foreign export—this time from France. Don’t worry, though—the site is written in English. It’s also very attractive, with a thoughtfully organized layout and stories that cover angling across the globe—from Brittany, France, to Iceland and Cuba. That makes this site particularly good for the most adventurous of fly anglers, but anyone with a love of fly fishing will find Le Mouching interesting, fun, and educational. And if you really like it, you can show your loyalty by buying a hat from their store.
Fly Fish Food
Talk about a site with focus: Fly Fish Food is about flies, and that’s pretty much it. You can find information, dressings, instructional tying videos here on just about any fly under the sun. And if you don’t tie, you can buy them from the site’s online store.
Hatch Magazine
Hatch Magazine has just about everything you could want from an online fly fishing magazine: clear, concise layout; articles on a variety of subjects, including tips and reviews, conservation, and travel; and plentiful content updated regularly. A special shoutout goes to Hatch’s photography, which is often downright beautiful. It’s hard to beat Hatch Magazine when it comes to variety, professionalism, and being just a plain good site. The name is particularly apt, as sitting down and reading Hatch Magazine on your laptop, tablet, or smartphone will give you the same satisfying feeling as reading a newsstand magazine.
Moldy Chum
Moldy Chum is perhaps this list’s site with the greatest staying power. Since 2006, Moldy Chum has been providing fly anglers with the latest news on the sport and other quality content, and it doesn’t look like they’ll be slowing down anytime soon. From travel, conservation, tips and reviews, to unique features such as Book of the Week Wednesday, Moldy Chum has survived this long for a reason: It’s simply a well-constructed site that shares its readers’ passion for fly fishing.
FlyTalk
Kirk Deeter, whom we mentioned earlier, and Tim Romano are the show-runners behind Field & Stream’s FlyTalk, and they run one good show. Considering there’s only the two of them, it’s amazing how much content Deeter and Romano are able to produce, as well as how they’re able to fill that content with smart tips and sly humor. Though Fly Talk is a small part of Field & Stream’s bigger site, it’s not small on information, variety, or fun. It counts as a blog on its own, in our eyes. Check it out—we think you’ll agree.
https://www.fieldandstream.com/tags/fly-talk/
Orvis Fly Fishing Blog
Along with hunting and other outdoor lifestyle topics, Orvis covers fly fishing on its own Fly Fishing Blog, and it earns its place on the website by being filled with great content and photography. Seriously, some of these photos are gorgeously clear and detailed— especially the close-ups of flies. The articles themselves are no slouch, either, and often there are multiple posts in a single day.
https://news.orvis.com/fly-fishing
The Venturing Angler
This is very well organized and easy to navigate. While the focus is primarily travel (hence the name and compass logo), they quietly have covered all of the other bases. TVA shares a great photography section and they even have a menu option for saltwater that is quite a bit more substantial than other sites that post an occasional tarpon or bonefish short every few months. As far a being thorough, this one is fairly complete with plenty of quality content. Theres even a guide section and a podcast which we’ll talk about in another post.
Tail Fly Fishing Magazine
Of course our blog is the only one dedicated saltwater fly fishing. It features not only past articles from our print magazine but new and unique fly tying and gear reviews as well as contributions from our readers. You’re reading it now.
https://www.tailflyfishing.com/blog/
by Sophia Ogden
