Compleat Journal

The Fly Fishing Show

January 10, 2017 1 min read

While not as big as the Denver or Somerset show, Marlborough is New England's marquee fly fishing show. It features a few days of booths, the fly fishing film festival, talks, casting demos, and more. It's always a fun opportunity to catch up with people, try out some new gear, and look at some beautiful flies.

Howard Films “Running the Coast”

January 09, 2017 2 min read

The migration of striped bass is an epic journey that fly fishermen up and down the East Coast look forward to with great anticipation each year.

Six New Years Resolutions for Fly Fishermen

January 04, 2017 2 min read

Eat less. Drink less. Spend less. Another year, another set of New Years resolutions you may -- or may not -- keep. Instead of a set of fun-numbing resolutions to do less, why don't you commit to a set of resolutions to do more? And to do more fly fishing?

Gear Review: Rail Riders Clothing

September 09, 2016 3 min read

Have you heard of Rail Riders before? No? My bet: you will be hearing about them in the coming years. And not just because you're reading this. Rail Riders is a great outdoor clothing company, founded and based right here in New England (they're in Belmont). Their products are rugged and time tested, comfortable, look good, and at a great price point? The only problem is that they're a well-kept secret.

Gear Review: Simms Intruder Waderless Wading Boot

September 01, 2016 3 min read

Two things are true, for me and for New England. First, this summer in New England has been hot -- record breaking hot. With climate change, the long-term forecast only looks hotter. Second, I already sweat like a pig in waders in the summer. When I hit a river, or even rock jettied and beaches, I know that at the end of the day, when I open up my waders, there’s going to be some serious funk, not to mention discomfort throughout the day.

Gear Review: Fishpond Thunderhead Sling Pack

August 18, 2016 4 min read

There’s an irony to fly fishing: we seek out beautiful waterways only to spend so much time, not to mention money, preventing ourselves and our things from getting wet. It’s understandable: whose wife (or husband) would believe the ‘I’m home late and I didn’t call you because my phone dunked in the river” excuse? It’s the fly fisherman’s dog and homework, except, in most cases much more expensive, and a much bigger hassle, especially when you’re on a trip, deep in the woods.

One Opening Left for 2017 South Andros Bonefishing Trip!

August 13, 2016 1 min read

There's only one spot left to experience some great bonefishing in South Andros, Bahamas! Compleat Anglers 2017 trip will go from March 1st to March 7th, 2017 at the Pleasant Bay Bone Fishing Lodge. Included in the rate: Transportation from Congotown Airport to the lodge (round trip), single occfupancy rooms, tax, all meals, all beverages and guided fishing.

Gear Reviews: Costa 580P Polarized Glasses

July 23, 2016 3 min read

So much about fly fishing is filtered through your eye: sight fishing for rising trout or daisy chaining tarpon, identifying the bait, locating the fish, and, occasionally, setting the hook. Even the aesthetics -- the mountain background to a freestone stream, the color of Caribbean water -- are a large part of why we go to the places we do to chase fish, with some urban carp being a notable exception.

Stripers Forever Release A Breeder Club

July 09, 2016 1 min read

Stripers Forever, a non-profit conservation organization, seeks game fish status for wild Striped Bass on the Atlantic Coast in order to significantly reduce Striper mortality, to provide sustainable public fishing opportunities, to secure the greatest socio-economic value possible from the fishery and to advocate for the conservation and responsible stewardship of wild Striped Bass from Maine to North Carolina.