Outdoor Academy

Truly wild experiences distance us from technology, but getting outside shouldn’t be difficult.

Saltwater environments present unique challenges and demands, requiring strong and secure connections between fishing lines, leaders, hooks, lures, and other terminal tackle. Saltwater fishing knots play a crucial role in ensuring that every component of your tackle setup remains intact and can withstand the power and aggression of saltwater game fish. Saltwater fishing knots are specifically designed to handle the harsh conditions, abrasive elements, and the immense strength of saltwater species. This is a comprehensive guide to provide anglers with knowledge and practical techniques for a variety of saltwater fishing knots; loop knots, basic fishing knots and line-to-line connection knots. Whether you're offshore fishing, nearshore fishing, or backcountry fishing this will cover a range of knots suited for different scenarios and fishing techniques. By understanding and confidently tying these knots, you'll be equipped to handle the rigors of saltwater fishing, maintain strong connections, and increase your chances of success on every saltwater fishing adventure.

With profound knowledge comes profound respect. Sam Scott of Blue Ridge Musky guide service grew up fishing the rivers of Virginia — catching fish that he, unknowingly, would help tag and research years down the line. Learn more about musky and the citizen science tracking their movements in this article.

The fly rod, though seemingly straightforward in its design, boasts a complex origin story. Its development spans continents and centuries, reflecting a blend of cultural exchange and technological advancement. This article will explore the path of the fly rod’s development, tracing its roots from ancient fishing practices to the sophisticated equipment used by anglers today.

“I just think outdoor recreation defines who I am.” Dr. Mike Brasher is a conservationist and avid hunter who has spent his life at the intersection of waterfowling and science. Growing up in North Central Mississippi, he developed a deep appreciation for the outdoors and the wild world of waterfowl. Now, as Senior Waterfowl Scientist at Ducks Unlimited, Dr. Brasher helps untangle the complex web of waterfowl and wetlands data to inform environmental policy across North America.

If you’re looking to book a guided fishing trip for a large group of people, you’ve come to the right place. With hundreds of experienced guides across the country, AnyCreek specializes in connecting you directly to the perfect guide for your group outing. In this article, we’ll navigate through AnyCreek to give you a step by step demonstration on how to find and book a guided fishing trip.

Avid outdoorsman and fine artist Derek DeYoung draws inspiration from nature to create vibrant, captivating pieces that celebrate the pursuit of fish and wildlife. This article explores DeYoung’s roots, his profound connection to the natural world, and his ability to bridge his experiences with his creative vision.

This Ultimate Guide is designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge necessary for a successful and memorable redfishing experience. Get ready to explore the behavior, strategies, and best fishing spots in Florida for targeting redfish. This is also your one stop shop to find and book the best inshore redfish fishing guides in Florida to help ensure a fun and successful day on the water.

It’s amazing the degree to which the stories of fish landed and fish lost affect us as human beings. Each time we leave the dock, we unveil the next chapters of our own fishing anthologies — forging memories in company of fellow anglers or in complete solitude. While some of these stories embody life’s most carefree moments, Monte Burke’s Lords of the Fly tells a fisherman’s tale of much higher stakes. Burke’s writing transports the reader to the storied flats of Homosassa, Florida, during an era of fierce competition among world-class fishermen in the hunt for angling history. We sat down with Monte to dive deeper into his life, writing, and research in covering the race to catch record-breaking tarpon on a fly rod.

While bonefish and permit are widely touted as world-class targets for those on the hunt for tailing fish, a different species reigns king for anglers in the shallow estuaries and salt marshes of the North Florida Lowcountry. Redfish — also known as red drum, or spot tail — frequent these intracoastal habitats from the Mid Atlantic all the way to South Texas. Redfish thrive among the intricate tidal latticework of mud-banked creeks, snaking through dense clusters of spartina and other marsh grasses in search of fiddler crabs, mud minnows, and other unwary crustaceans seeking refuge within the dense intertidal vegetation.