The Drake Magazine

02/22/2024

Gotta ❤️ rural Oregon.

02/18/2024

Lily Wonka doing her part at the Belleview, WA.

02/07/2024

Aaand, we’re back. To all who’ve sent DMs since mid-Oct: The Drake IG acct was hacked on 10/17. So that’s why you haven’t heard back. (Well, that and college football. And steelheading. But mostly that.) We tried hard to recover it. Then realized we didn’t miss it much. Then tried some more. As is often the case in this industry, a friend knew a friend who knew a friend, etc. So here we are. Three months is a long time to be gone. The winter issue is out. Here’s everything else you missed: some peacock bass; a dog and some chickens in Brazil; with Lily at the Denver FF show; Beavs getting ass kicked by Notre Dame in Sun Bowl; Lily and a seal sculpture; baby goat calendar. That about covers it.

10/11/2023

Headed to your mailbox… (minus the yellow lab hair) Most photos of the Tetons feature “The Cathedral Group”—highlighting the majestic Grand and all its pointy neighbors. But for those who ever lived and worked in Grand Teton National Park, the mighty bulk of Mt. Moran carried a different sort of weight, especially when framed by fall colors at this oxbow of the Snake, as A.J. Swentosky captured here. Thanks, as always, go to the photographers, writers, and advertisers who make this magazine possible. .photo .lance.robbins

09/25/2023

Tomorrow Night! 7 o’clock. SLC peeps, hope to see you all there!

09/17/2023

Authenticity check on isle four…
Who doesn’t love the classic “Crazy Charlie Salmonfly pattern”?

09/09/2023

For the past 20 years, I have swung only orange-and-black flies on Saturdays, to honor my beloved Oregon State This guy with the sweet jacket knows the deal. And his buddy in the background knows what color to wear! 🏈

09/04/2023

A classic find from The Jackson Hole Guide, written by the legendary Paul Bruun in March 1976. “His name is Jimmy Buffet. Maybe you’ve heard him.”

09/02/2023

Had a great chat with my friend Jeff Mishler a few weeks back!

For 25 years The Drake Magazine has created a voice for the everyday fly angler. In this episode of Fin and Fire With Jeff Mishler, Tom tells the story of how The Drake evolved, his personal journey to this moment, and how young writers can create works destined for publication. Along the way, we al...

09/02/2023

Badass photo from ! The s**t you see on the water… Have a great weekend everyone!

08/17/2023

fans: The 16th Annual Flyfishing Video Awards (Tue, 9/26 in SLC) will be a little different this year. Chris Pandolfi and —banjo player and fiddle player, respectively, for the Grammy Award-winning will be joined by guitarist Tyler Grant (National Flatpicking Champ/the man behind ) and bassist Adrian “Ace” Engfer to play after the awards. Anyone who knows bluegrass knows that some of the best shows can occur when various compilations of these amazing musicians get together. This event is a fundraiser for — the conservation and advocacy arm of (American Fly Fishing Trade Association). While AFFTA members can come for free, we encourage all attending the AFFTA Confluence (Sept 26-28) to consider buying the $20 ticket in support of the flyfishing industry’s nonprofit. Link to tickets in bio.

08/12/2023

Huge thanks to and and Kada and Nukka and and the whole crew at for an incredible week in AK!

08/10/2023

More like this, please.

08/09/2023

Finally got up to to see the dream that friends and have built in King Salmon, AK. Such a killer lodge and fishery!

07/27/2023

A shout-out to all the cops and sheriffs who’ve been cool with Clyde’s often-suspect legality. The first shot is from a 2014 Idaho/Montana journey with writer Miles Nolte and photog Austin Trayser, when a patrolman helped change Clyde’s tire. The second is from a 2017 trip with former BTT President Harold Brewer and his wife, Mona Brewer, former prez of Bonefish Bonnies (the largest ladies fishing club in Florida). Clyde has had more undocumented run-ins with the law, but while some have led to tickets, Clyde likely qualified for more than he received.

07/27/2023

This sign was posted on the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River, in Colorado, into which the Colorado Division of Wildlife “has stocked more than 24,000 fingerlings and catchable trout in the last few years.” Swipe left for a corrected version.
From the Colorado Attorney General’s Opinion of 1983:
“Your inquiry raises two related questions. First, does Colorado law expose persons who float or boat on Colorado rivers and streams to criminal trespass prosecution if they float across private lands, provided they do not touch the River bank or river bed? Second, does that provision AUTHORIZE ADJOINING LANDOWNERS TO PROHIBIT OR OTHERWISE CONTROL SUCH FLOATING OR BOATING? [Emphasis added.] I conclude on both questions that it does not.”
Colorado Attorney General Duane Woodard, August 31, 1983

07/20/2023

In 2010, I wrote a profile of artist, fly-tyer, and passionate herpetologist
We went snake-hunting the night we met, and Tim told me that there were 20-foot pythons in the Everglades. I wasn’t sure if I should believe him. Last week, Stephen Gauta (left) and found this 19-footer, which weighed 125 pounds. In 2011-12, there was a thought that the cold winter of 2010–which had killed many snook and possibly bonefish—might have killed the huge as well. Apparently not. 📸:
Link to Borski story in profile.

07/17/2023

Summer issue is headed your way… Ireland and Idaho. Minnesota and Montana. Backcountry Yellowstone to backcountry Xcalak. Plus: Swifties and tarpon fishing. Cover: Inside: and many others! Thanks to: simmsfishing