On the Water

WNC Trout Stocking 2026: What the Setzer Hatchery Renovation Means for Opening Day and Beyond

WNC Trout Stocking 2026: What the Setzer Hatche...

April 4 is circled on every WNC angler's calendar. But this year, the math changes. The Bobby N. Setzer State Fish Hatchery in Brevard — the facility behind roughly 60...

WNC Trout Stocking 2026: What the Setzer Hatche...

April 4 is circled on every WNC angler's calendar. But this year, the math changes. The Bobby N. Setzer State Fish Hatchery in Brevard — the facility behind roughly 60...

Blue Winged Olive Hatch Guide for WNC Trout Streams

Blue Winged Olive Hatch Guide for WNC Trout Str...

Blue Winged Olives are the first major dry fly hatch of the WNC spring — and they start earlier than most anglers expect. This guide covers water temps, hatch timing,...

Blue Winged Olive Hatch Guide for WNC Trout Str...

Blue Winged Olives are the first major dry fly hatch of the WNC spring — and they start earlier than most anglers expect. This guide covers water temps, hatch timing,...

Underwater shot of Apache trout swimming in clear river.

Apache Trout Recovery: The First Trout Species ...

For the first time in the history of the Endangered Species Act, a trout species has been removed from federal protection — not because it went extinct, but because it...

Apache Trout Recovery: The First Trout Species ...

For the first time in the history of the Endangered Species Act, a trout species has been removed from federal protection — not because it went extinct, but because it...

Trout vs. Char: How to Spot the Difference Instantly

Trout vs. Char: How to Spot the Difference Inst...

Master the art of fish identification with our comprehensive guide to Trout vs. Char. From spot patterns and tail shapes to the essential gear you need, find out exactly what...

Trout vs. Char: How to Spot the Difference Inst...

Master the art of fish identification with our comprehensive guide to Trout vs. Char. From spot patterns and tail shapes to the essential gear you need, find out exactly what...

POV of an angler holding a large wild steelhead trout in clear river water for a quick release, illustrating the cold water fly fishing obsession described in Reelly.

Reelly by Ryan Johnston Review: The Raw Truth o...

"Guiding isn’t fishing… it’s watching other people do something you love." We dive into Ryan Johnston’s new book, Reelly, to explore the raw truth of steelhead obsession, the comedy of client...

Reelly by Ryan Johnston Review: The Raw Truth o...

"Guiding isn’t fishing… it’s watching other people do something you love." We dive into Ryan Johnston’s new book, Reelly, to explore the raw truth of steelhead obsession, the comedy of client...

Macro close-up of a black and silver zebra midge fly resting on an icy rock, showing the tiny scale required for winter trout.

Winter Midge Trout Fishing Guide: Best Patterns...

"Winter fishing isn't about luck; it's about going small." Master the art of the midge with our complete guide to cold-water success. We cover the essential patterns (Zebra Midge, RS2),...

Winter Midge Trout Fishing Guide: Best Patterns...

"Winter fishing isn't about luck; it's about going small." Master the art of the midge with our complete guide to cold-water success. We cover the essential patterns (Zebra Midge, RS2),...