Skwala Lounge
Aug 6, 2025
The Life of Brian Vol 3: Chile's Evolving Fishery
In Volume Three of The Life of Brian, Brian O’Keefe explores the changing trout fishery in Chile—from jet boat access to escaped salmon and unexpected bass bug eats.
Aug 6, 2025
The Life of Brian Vol 1: DIY New Zealand Lake Fishing
In Volume One of The Life of Brian, fly fishing legend Brian O’Keefe shares stories and photos from a gritty, DIY adventure chasing lake-run rainbows in New Zealand.
Jul 24, 2025
Cast (Almost) Every Day
Veteran guide Mark Raisler shares a simple, effective fly casting routine: 2–10 minutes a day focused on precision, mechanics, and consistency. His method builds muscle memory and casting accuracy through short, daily practice—no lawn or pond required.
Jul 9, 2025
What makes a fishing trip great?
A return trip to Beaver Island serves as a reminder: great fishing trips aren’t always about the numbers. They’re about the struggle, the ritual, the companions—and the willingness to show up again, no matter the forecast.
Jun 23, 2025
Built-in Bug Defense, Powered by Flowers
This article explores how the Sol Defense Hoody offers dual protection from the sun and insect bites. The key is permethrin—a synthetic insecticide modeled after a natural compound found in chrysanthemum flowers. The piece explains the origins, science, and effectiveness of permethrin, including how it works by incapacitating insects on contact. It also details how long the treatment lasts and why the hoody is a smart choice for anglers and outdoor enthusiasts looking for all-day protection and comfort.
May 22, 2025
Don't Mess with Flats Guides: The Belizean flats protection story you might have missed
When a beloved Belizean permit flat was quietly greenlit for resort development, local fishing guides didn’t just get mad—they got organized. What followed was a masterclass in grassroots conservation, culminating in the government seizing the land for public use. This is the story of Will Bauer Flat, a fight for fish that proves even a 2-acre flat can spark big change.
May 14, 2025
The Boat Is the Bar: Five Days Afloat in Southeast Alaska
What happens when five longtime friends chase wild steelhead across remote Alaskan rivers? You get a trip defined not just by the fish, but by the people, the effort, and the boat that held it all together. This wasn’t about luxury—it was about movement, mischief, camaraderie, and the kind of fishing that demands your full presence.
Apr 28, 2025
Spring: The Best Season for Trout Fishing
Most people seem to fetishize summer: warm, languid days dripping sweat and su...
Mar 28, 2025
Nine Things NOT to Do in a Fly Shop
Fly shops give us information and inspiration, they console and cajole, mark our passage from timid neophytes to confident regulars. But we don’t always treat our beloved fly shops as well as we should. Intentionally or not, some of us perpetrate faux pas that range from mildly annoying to downright obnoxious.
Feb 26, 2025
The Deadpool of Fly Fishing Films
Silent Spotter offers something for everybody. If you want to get all cinematic/literary, it's a self-referential commentary on the fly fishing film genre and fly fishing media more generally. If you just want an entertaining fishing movie, sit back and enjoy 17 minutes of piscatorial escapism: Beautiful shots, meticulously edited, transport you to Carribean flats for all the close-up, slow Mo action you could want. It invites you to interrogate the construct of fly fishing films while simultaneously giving you everything you love about fly fishing films.
Feb 11, 2025
My Life, In Waders
by Miles Nolte
Over the past 35 years, I’ve spent a lot of time in waders. These days, I love wearing my wader...
Feb 3, 2025
Living in the Liminal Space
The Hard Way, the newest production from Off the Grid Studios, offers an alternative to dub-step fish fetish mash-ups. It’s a celebration of the Deschutes River told from the perspective of Matt Mendes, a guide and Warm Springs tribal member who credits the river with saving his life.
