Boise’s warming up a little this week, and despite the forecasted rain, I’m itching to get back on the water tomorrow. Now I just need to figure out where. Got any recommendations? Always down to trade notes on good spots. 😉
It’s also officially been one month of building Tight Fly Lines! A few highlights:
8 newsletters published
All content for The Drift scheduled through March
Instagram from 0 to 520 followers (organically)
48 Instagram posts, nearly 20K views
Earned my first $20 from a kind supporter and great friend (you know who you are—thank you!)
Most importantly? I’ve fished every Friday
What’s next? February is all about growing this newsletter. I’m working on some solid lead magnets to make that happen, starting with an Ultimate Winter Fly Fishing Guide—the first of a seasonal series I’ll be releasing quarterly. Spring’s around the corner, so that edition is coming next.
That said, I’m learning a lot—and having a blast in the process. Thanks for reading and being part of this. I hope Fishy Fridays and The Drift have brought you some value. Let me know if you have any feedback—I’m all ears.
Alright, enough about me. Let’s get into the good stuff.
How far would you push yourself for a fish? Hardman Fishing Adventures takes on brutal winter conditions—freezing temps, howling winds, iced-over gear—all in pursuit of his first Erie steelhead. A masterclass in persistence, problem-solving, and sheer grit. And the payoff? Worth it.
Amy had the perfect shot lined up—steelhead in hand, camera ready—until gravity had other plans. One stuck bootlace, one bad shift in momentum, and she was committed. The kind of fall you feel in slow motion… and then in freezing water.
I’ve caught a lot of trout, but never quite like this. This fish swam right up to me, took my fly without effort, and left me wondering—was it at the end of its life? Should I have just watched instead of caught it?
But the real lesson came later. After posting a photo, Jonathan Farmer (@midnightsuncustomflies) reached out with thoughtful feedback on fish handling. He pointed out that lifting fish too high for photos increases stress and mortality rates more than I realized. That led me to @keep.fish.wet, where I learned three simple ways to be better on the water:
Minimize Air Exposure – Keep fish in the water, even for photos. If you’re taking a picture, do it in under 10 seconds.
Eliminate Contact with Dry Surfaces – Always wet your hands and use a rubber net.
Reduce Handling Time – The quicker the release, the better for the fish.
I already use barbless hooks and try to be quick, but I could’ve done better—keeping its head submerged and supporting it properly. Small changes, big impact.
If we want these fisheries to thrive for years to come, we’ve got to hold ourselves to a higher standard.
👉 See the catch and the lesson learned:Watch Here
P.S. Have a fishy friend? Tell them they should subscribe to Tight Fly Lines. You can forward them this email or send them here. Thanks for the support!