Bugs, Bourbon & Broadleaf: Simple Things, Done Well
A Hare’s Ear Soft Hackle, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, and a Rocky Patel Emerald come together in a pairing built on tradition, balance, and quiet complexity. Three simple pleasures, each rewarding a little time and attention.
Five Items Every Angler Should Carry
Every angler has a few pieces of gear that can make a day on the water safer, easier, and more productive. From polarized sunglasses to simple tools that handle everyday problems, these five essentials deserve a permanent place in your fishing kit.
:::
Getting Started With Wildlife Photography: A Practical Guide for Beginners
Getting started in wildlife photography does not require expensive equipment or a trip into the wilderness. Learn the essential camera settings, field techniques, and ethical practices that can help you create better wildlife photographs—beginning with the camera you already own and the animals close to home.
Three Fishing Knots Every New Angler Should Know
New anglers do not need to memorize dozens of fishing knots. Learn three dependable connections—the Palomar, Trilene, and Double Uni—and you can handle most everyday fishing situations. Here’s how each knot works, when to use it, and how to make sure your connection is ready before you cast.
Beautyberry: More Than an Attractive Native Plant
American beautyberry is hard to miss when its brilliant purple berries appear in late summer, but its value goes far beyond looks. This native shrub provides food, browse, cover, and seasonal resources for birds, deer, small mammals, and pollinators—making it a small but important part of healthy wildlife habitat.
The First Fish Matters
Taking someone fishing for the first time isn’t about chasing the biggest fish—it’s about creating an experience that makes them want to come back. Simple tackle, cooperative fish, patient instruction, and the excitement of that first catch can turn a single afternoon on the water into the beginning of a lifelong connection to fishing.
Essential Tools for the Beginning Fly Tyer
Getting started in fly tying doesn’t require a bench full of gadgets. With a dependable vise, bobbin, scissors, bodkin, whip-finishing tool, and hackle pliers, a beginner can learn the core techniques needed to tie effective flies. Start simple with patterns like the San Juan Worm and Woolly Worm, then build your skills one technique—and one fly—at a time.
From Horsehair to High-Tech
The history of the fly line is a history of problem-solving. Every generation of anglers sought a line that would cast farther, float longer, sink more predictably, require less maintenance, or present a fly more naturally.
The materials have changed. The objective has not.
Bugs, Bourbon & Broadleaf: Built in America
Some traditions never go out of style. Tonight's Bugs, Bourbon & Broadleaf pairs three American classics—the Woolly Bugger, Buffalo Trace Bourbon, and the J.C. Newman America 250 Anniversary Cigar. Each reflects a legacy of craftsmanship, heritage, and the freedom to enjoy the outdoors. Read the full story and join the conversation at MARSHLIGHT Outdoors.
Before It Was Pechmann
Some photographs capture a moment. Others capture the beginning of a journey.
Just days after September 11, 2001, my young family attended a Cumberland County Ducks Unlimited Greenwings event at what was then an old fish hatchery serving as an equipment depot. I had no idea that this place would one day become the John E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center—or that I would have the privilege of leading it. Looking back, this photograph is more than a family memory; it's the first chapter of a story that would shape my life in conservation and outdoor education.
A Small Box, A Big Conservation Story
A few donated nest boxes along a local creek quickly became home to Eastern Bluebirds and Tree Swallows, offering a small but powerful reminder that simple habitat projects can support wildlife and contribute to real conservation success.
One September Sunrise on the Neuse
On a September morning, the Neuse River came alive under a blazing sunrise as we partnered with The Fly Rod Chronicles and Curtis Fleming for a memorable week on the water with two veterans from Project Healing Waters. Guided by Gary DuBiel and fishing pop-n-fly setups, both anglers landed giant redfish measuring more than 40 inches. It was more than a fishing trip—it was a powerful reminder of the healing found in fellowship, wild places, and the unforgettable pull of a bull red at first light.
The Story Behind a Photograph
A photograph captures more than what is in front of the lens. It holds the waiting, the silence, the instinct, and the moment when the wild world reveals itself. In this image, a hawk stands over its prey, wings spread and eyes fixed, reminding us that nature is not only beauty and calm. It is survival, balance, and truth. The field may appear peaceful, but within it, life is always moving. This is the story behind the photograph: not just a bird in the grass, but a glimpse into the raw and necessary rhythm of the natural world.
The Original Conservationists
Conservation isn't something that happens separate from hunting and fishing—it happens because of them.
For generations, hunters and anglers have invested their time, money, and passion into protecting wildlife, restoring habitat, and ensuring future generations can enjoy healthy fish and wildlife populations. Every license purchased, every box of ammunition, every fishing lure, and every conservation project supported by sportsmen helps fund the future of the outdoors.
The next time someone says hunting and fishing are just recreation, remind them of this simple truth: in America, hunting and fishing are conservation.