Category: Alans Articles

“To pinpoint reasons for the tremendous appeal of striped bass angling is nearly impossible. There are other fish that grow bigger, fight harder, and are more difficult to catch, yet…

This article appeared in American Angler Magazine in 2011 “Keep your tip down, get your slack out, and stay tight to your fly or you’ll miss the strike.” We all…

NOTE: This article previously appeared in issue no. 58 of tail Fly Fishing Magazine          In contrast to most opportunities saltwater anglers anticipate each season, cinder worm events remain somewhat cloaked…

The ability to understand a question from all sides meant one was totally unfit for action. Fanatical enthusiasm was the mark of the real man. – Thucydides on the Athenian…

Many saltwater anglers fish leaders that are based on legacy tapering concepts originally conceived to overcome fresh water fly casting problems associated with trout, salmon and other traditional branches of…

Whether you’re a bluewater afficionado, a Northeast surfman, or a hardcore flats junkie, the ability to consistently find fish is unquestionably your most important fishing skill. For flats anglers who…

After decades of fascination with tarpon I finally headed to the Florida Keys in 1996 to take a swing at them. Captain Michael Bednar, a top guide there at that…

I’ve chatted with a lot of folks about fishing over the last three decades. This became part of life when I began writing about the sport and making appearances at…

(This article previously appeared in American Angler magazine in 2012) 1 – Know your quarry and observe its behavior closely Flats fishing is arguably the toughest saltwater fly fishing there…

I have fished for a long time. As with many of us, it began with outings with my dad and brother – pumpkinseeds were what we were after. This drill…