The "Free River", an exercise in etiquette
By Troy Basso*

Photo by Matt Smith

The alarm bellowed like an ocean liner, arriving in port after six months at sea, at exactly four in the morning. My initial reaction was to throw it out the window and go back to sleep, and I tried but the thought of missing a day on the water brought me to my senses. After a quick breakfast and the ceremonial pre-trip boat checks I was on the road... again.

After the two and a half hour ride to Celina I finally made it to the ramp. While backing the boat down I couldn't help but note the very dark sky in the distance, but heck there was zero wind so I should be in good shape. I put the boat in and was finally ready to fish. I tied on my go-to fly, a purple zebra midge and promptly caught five fish within sight of the ramp. At this point it not only looked like a good day to be on the water but a solitary day also since there was not another angler in sight. Read the story.

Finding a bargain; A beginner's guide to using eBay
By Keith Dewars*

Part One | Registration

Getting the most out of your money. That's the quandary. If you are like me you're always searching for new ways to squeeze a little more value out of each dollar you spend. One way to save money on your fishing tackle is to use eBay to find the items you need. Use this simple guide to make your eBay experience a good one.

The first thing to do before using eBay is to register as an eBay user. Registering is simple and free. Ebay will ask for your contact information and e-mail address and you will create a User ID and password for yourself. Read more.

Catch and release is more than just catch and release
By Troy Basso*

Generally the fly anglers I meet are for the most part catch and release fisherman, but few understand there is much more to catching and releasing than just the words. It's more about handling a stressed fish than just releasing it back into the water. Ever hear someone say that they always see a bunch of dead fish after a tournament weigh-in? Well, most of the time those comments are heard during the summer, that's no mere coincidence. Fish mortality is highest during the summer for a reason. It takes more energy from a fish when you fight them in 90-plus degree water than it does in 60 degree water. If you don't believe me let your kids swim in a hundred yards in a 80 degree pool then have them try it in a 90 degree pool. The heat literally leaches the energy from their muscles. Read more here.