Skwala Lounge

Jul 31, 2023

Carp Fly Fishing vs. Pop-Punk

You can’t buy a helicopter ride to a magical pond of big, dumb carp. If you’ve got a bicycle, some old Chuck Taylors, a 6-weight, and a fist full of flies, you can probably go carp fishing, but that doesn’t mean you can catch them. Have you got your local carp pond dialed?

Jul 10, 2023

Bone Tired and Unreasonably Happy: A love letter to Alaska

When I arrived in Alaska—oozing that brand new guide smell, dry bags overflowing with ignorance—I was unprepared for much of what I would soon encounter. I’d never driven a jet-boat before, hadn’t laid eyes on a live salmon or brown bear, thought a 20-inch trout was huge, and still thought the term “flossing” only applied to dental hygiene.

Jun 14, 2023

Salmonflies are Overrated

Just find the salmonflies, they say. You’ll be transported to piscatorial Valhalla where the trout are all giant and stupid and eat surface flies that even an octogenarian with severe cataracts can see. The thing is, they’re either lying or don’t actually know what they’re talking about.

Apr 21, 2023

Tarpon Are Even Cooler Than You Think

Bet you don't know as much about tarpon as you think you do. Sure, they're massive, hard-mouthed, voracious, frequent fliers that snap rods and wills—but they're also fascinating fish that have survived on this planet fifty times as long as humans. Learn a little bit more about silver kings.