Brad is in training for the bi-annual MOP (Montana Otter People) competition to be held this August on the Smith River outside of White Sulfur Springs.  While Brad holds the sucker to the grassy bank and strips its carcass with his teeth, he answers a few of my questions.

The Southern California bight is a nursery for the juvenile makos (10 – 250 lbs), and the waters off San Diego provide a unique opportunity to fly fish for these incredible game fish.

With the summer stream season ready to kick into gear and wanting to shake out the dust, we invited Ed Megill of Cascades Flyfishing to come over for an afternoon casting clinic and BBQ. Doesn't matter whether you are picking up a rod for the first outing, or if you have been running tight loops since Dick Cheney was just another drunk driver from Texas, a good casting clinic is helpful for anyone. With three racks of ribs (smoked over applewood the night before), potato salad, barley pops, sm0ked salmon and cherry tarts, this was a casting clinic for the books.

Kirk Deeter of Field&Stream's FlyTalk claims there's no such thing as "EXTREME FLY FISHING..."

Sure, the Baetis are popping, but Copi spotted a Golden last week on the Fork and EVERYTHING is moving on the Colorado. I spent the better part of a month throwing mayfly nymphs beneath what I thought was a new piece of structure, until I saw some hooves.

With the abundance of online fly pics of dudes hoisting leviathans of every species, FFJ feels the time is right to give due respect to the little things in life. In partnership with our friends at Cloudveil, we are proud to present the initial installment of our Smolt of the Month online photo contest. This first month's winner will recieve a men's or women's Run Don't Walk Polartech pullovers.

Photo: Another Whatcom County river monster; photo by Robert Arzoo.

Vintage Alaskan video from Katmai National Park and the Brooks River Camp.