I’ve had a lot of fishing journal false starts. For a month at a time, maybe two, between the ages of 16 and 25, I’d diligently log every detail about each trip to the striper surf or trout stream. Weather, wind, and water temperature data all neatly recorded. Most of the time, I did this in a cheap marble notebook, but there were a few rounds of rekindled journaling enthusiasm inspired by the purchase of a sexier hardbound book. By the time I...

Throughout most of the 1990s, Kevin VanDam, the greatest tournament angler who’s ever lived, glued a spinnerbait rod to his hand and commenced taking other anglers’ lunch money. It didn’t matter if it was smallmouths in New York or Michigan, or largemouths on the tidal Potomac or in the buck brush of Buggs Island; he was flinging blades and whipping ass.
He never stopped winning, but in the last 10 years a strange thing happened—the spinnerbait...

“We was feeling pretty good after breakfast, and took my canoe and went over the river a fishing, with a lunch, and had a good time…,” Mark Twain, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” 1884
As Americans we have access to more water than any one of us could float in a hundred lifetimes. The United States is home to 3.6 million miles of rivers and streams; countless lakes, 250 of which have a surface area of 10 square miles or more; and a coastline...

Hogs. Toads. Donkeys. Pigs. Whatever name you prefer, these are the fish you really want to catch. Quantity fills the freezer, but trophies earn the bragging rights. This series is dedicated to the pursuit of the true heavyweights across all species. The meat eaters. So, pull out the sink tips, 7-weights, and Sex Dungeons and rethink your approach if you want to see giant trout most anglers don’t even realize exist in their home waters.
Ugly Stik...

There’s a difference between book smart and bar smart. You may not be book smart, but this series can make you seem educated and interesting from a barstool. So, belly up, pour yourself a glass of something good, and get lost in a dark world of fishing superstition, alternate realities, and tighty whities.
It’s a long-standing superstition among anglers that bananas are bad luck on boats. What’s also long-standing is the debate about how the...

Every outdoorsman has a story of mishap, mess-up, or hilarious blunder. “Fish, Hunt, Fail” is your opportunity to share a memorable tale of stupidity with the world. Trust us, this is a safe place. We (probably) won’t pass judgement. Share your stories with us at meateater@themeateater.com for a chance to be featured in our new weekly column. Be sure to include relevant imagery if available, and do your best to make us laugh...