The DrakeCast #68: A Dam Removed, A River Changed

Contest, DrakeCast Fly Fishing Podcast, Homepage Content, Salmon/SteelheadLeave a comment

In 2021, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources completed the removal of a derelict dam from the Dowagiac River. For the first time in over 120 years, the bottom four miles of the Dowagiac were reconnected with the 150+ miles of water in the main stem and its many tributaries upstream, making this possibly the most dramatically changed river in the Midwest. But whether or not that change has been for the better is still up for discussion. This episode is about how the people, the water way, and the fish have adapted.

The DrakeCast #66: Mulberry Christmas w/ Freshwater Flats

Carp, Contest, Destination travel, DrakeCast Fly Fishing Podcast, Freshwater Fly Fishing, Homepage ContentLeave a comment

On the morning of June 25th, my friend and guide Luke Annear swung by in his truck with his Towee in tow. When Luke isn’t pursuing his third post-graduate degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, you can usually find him chasing carp on the rivers of southern Wisconsin. Luke’s guide service, Freshwater Flats, specializes in site fishing opportunities for carp. But that day, we were trying something a little bit different.

Scanning Sudan's legendary flats for triggerfish, permit, bones, barracuda, GTs and whatever else decides to show up.

The DrakeCast #65: A Flyfishing Trip Derailed by War

Contest, Destination travel, DrakeCast Fly Fishing Podcast, Homepage Content, Saltwater Fly FishingLeave a comment

Alex Gonsiewski is a flyfishing guide in Oregon, where he targets trout and summer steelhead on the Deschutes River, summer steelhead on the John Day, and winter steelhead on the North Oregon coast. Between rainbow runs, Alex hosts angling trips around the world. He’s taken clients to Mexico, Belize, Bolivia, Alaska, Christmas Island, and Puerto Rico.

In 2023, Alex and a group of clients flew to Sudan for nine days of fishing on the Red Sea’s Nubian Flats. Unfortunately, while Alex and company were on the water, the country fell into a vicious civil war that has since claimed the lives of 150,000 people and displaced more than thirteen million.

Big Year contest sponsors

The Big Year Contest

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Since the 1930s, the world of birding has held an informal contest to find out who can see or hear the largest number of species of birds within a calendar year. They call this contest The Big Year, and we thought it was time flyfishing had its own Big Year. Our contest will be run…

Question #1

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Orvis Helios 2 Hunt: Question #1 From The Drake, Fall 2012— After a whirlwind trip along the Oregon Trail, where Clyde and Tom collided with some Lake Billy Chinook smallies, the keys have now been passed to RA Beattie in Bend. How many gallons of Mirror Pond Ale would it take to fill up Clyde’s…

Drake Magazine Photo Contest

Drake Magazine Photo Contest

Photo Contest: Tested On Animals

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Theme: Tested on Animals Closing Date: June 30th, 2011 Post Submission: Message Board Sponsored by: Nautilus Reels 1st Place Prize: FWx Reel (your choice of size) Honorable Mentions: Fish with Cojones T-Shirt Rules: There are no rules, fool. But the good folks at Nautilus have provided select guidelines for those in pursuit of the prize.…