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The Scientific Fly Angler

Naturally Curious

Welcome to The Scientific Fly Angler

Naturally Curious

About The Scientific Fly Angler

Jason G. Freund

Welcome to my COVID project.

This page explores fly fishing and fly tying from an mostly - but not entirely - scientific point of view. Expect a random collection of fly tying, fish and stream ecology for the fly angler, and well, whatever I feel like posting at the time. From time to time, I will branch out from fly fishing into fisheries management and science.

This website and blog is for fun - not profit. I'm coming at you from Wisconsin's Driftless area but am hoping to interact with anglers from around the world. It is not necessarily a blog about Wisconsin but we are shaped by our experiences.

Send me an e-mail if you have question, comments, ideas for posts, etc.

STAY IN THE KNOW

More Fun with AI: Fly Fishing the Badger State edition

More Fun with AI: Fly Fishing the Badger State edition

More Fun with AI: Fly Fishing the Badger State edition

I play around with AI - lots of fly fishing images - some are quite "unique" - like the pink squirrel flies.

Artificial Intelligence

Jason G. Freund

Jul 7, 202410 min read

264 views

1 comment

Have We Reached "Peak Fly Fishing"? (Or at least peak fly rod)

Have We Reached "Peak Fly Fishing"? (Or at least peak fly rod)

Have We Reached "Peak Fly Fishing"? (Or at least peak fly rod)

This topic comes from a friend's post on the Wisconsin Fly Fishing Board's Facebook page. Quite some time ago now, Brian Stewart wrote -...

Jason G. Freund

May 19, 20246 min read

404 views

2 comments

If I were the trout czar...

If I were the trout czar...

If I were the trout czar...

This is the kind of thing I think about during the mindless times when I am avoiding work or just day dreaming.

Fisheries Management

Jason G. Freund

May 5, 20249 min read

356 views

3 comments

Trout Unlimited Chapters and Dealing with Climate Change

Trout Unlimited Chapters and Dealing with Climate Change

Trout Unlimited Chapters and Dealing with Climate Change

This post is based on a recent talk I gave about climate change, flooding, and stream manipulations. Where do TU chapters go from here?

Jason G. Freund

Nov 12, 20237 min read

192 views

0 comments

The Good Old Days - Were They Really THAT Good?

The Good Old Days - Were They Really THAT Good?

The Good Old Days - Were They Really THAT Good?

We all tend to think that things were better "in the good old days" - but for the trout anglers, these are the good old days.

Fisheries Management

Jason G. Freund

Jun 11, 20237 min read

444 views

1 comment

Can Smartphones Kill Trout? (Research Article)

Can Smartphones Kill Trout? (Research Article)

Can Smartphones Kill Trout? (Research Article)

The article was pretty eye opening in how we can can an effect on larger trout and is, at the very least, worthy of some thought.

Catch and Release

Jason G. Freund

May 7, 20237 min read

493 views

2 comments

Fly Fishing is a Blood Sport

Fly Fishing is a Blood Sport

Fly Fishing is a Blood Sport

Many fly anglers have - or think they have - removed themselves from the blood part of the sport but fly fishing is a blood sport.

Catch and Release

Jason G. Freund

Apr 30, 20235 min read

658 views

1 comment

Soulful Flies

Soulful Flies

Soulful Flies

What exactly "flies with soul" are, I don't know, but much like pornography, what I know them when I see it/them.

Jason G. Freund

Apr 9, 20234 min read

250 views

0 comments

Personal Best "PB" Trout

Personal Best "PB" Trout

Personal Best "PB" Trout

"personal best" trout or other fish are, apparently, all the rage today - as you might imagine, the idea doesn't do much for me.

Unpopular Opinions

Jason G. Freund

Mar 26, 20237 min read

405 views

1 comment

Ridiculous Prices for Fancy Chicken Feathers (Cree)

Ridiculous Prices for Fancy Chicken Feathers (Cree)

Ridiculous Prices for Fancy Chicken Feathers (Cree)

I would never pay those crazy prices - but so long as others do, the prices will continue to be crazy - capitalism at its finest (and worst)

Jason G. Freund

Feb 6, 20234 min read

1,165 views

3 comments

Fly Fishing Fads - in praise of old flies and ways of fishing

Fly Fishing Fads - in praise of old flies and ways of fishing

Fly Fishing Fads - in praise of old flies and ways of fishing

This in NOT an anti-technology or anti-progress rant but more of a reminder that the old stuff still works.

Jason G. Freund

Jan 9, 20235 min read

640 views

5 comments

TroutRoutes - Is it worth it?

TroutRoutes - Is it worth it?

TroutRoutes - Is it worth it?

TroutRoutes seems to have a very loyal following; I am a bit more on the fence myself. The mobile app shines but is it worth it for you?

Jason G. Freund

Dec 19, 202210 min read

11,266 views

4 comments

Strike Indicators, sure it is marginally fly fishing, but here's what works...

Strike Indicators, sure it is marginally fly fishing, but here's what works...

Strike Indicators, sure it is marginally fly fishing, but here's what works...

I don't love fishing nymphs - nobody does - but it's a necessary evil so you might was well get (somewhat) proficient at it.

Jason G. Freund

Sep 26, 20228 min read

3,613 views

2 comments

Nobody got into fly fishing to fish nymphs

Nobody got into fly fishing to fish nymphs

Nobody got into fly fishing to fish nymphs

To paraphrase the great Hank Patterson, any idiot can nymph.

Unpopular Opinions

Jason G. Freund

Sep 19, 20225 min read

967 views

4 comments

Fish Counting and Journal Keeping

Fish Counting and Journal Keeping

Fish Counting and Journal Keeping

If fishing becomes just about a number, where's the joy in that?

Responsible Recreation

Jason G. Freund

Sep 5, 20226 min read

225 views

1 comment

Some Advanced Casts for the Driftless Area (and elsewhere)

Some Advanced Casts for the Driftless Area (and elsewhere)

Some Advanced Casts for the Driftless Area (and elsewhere)

You do not have to be a great distance caster to be an effective angler but you do need to be able to make short, accurate casts.

Jason G. Freund

Aug 26, 20227 min read

323 views

3 comments

Reflecting on Two Years of The Scientific Fly Angler

Reflecting on Two Years of The Scientific Fly Angler

Reflecting on Two Years of The Scientific Fly Angler

It has been two years, more or less. For a bit of a confession - two years in, I am still figuring this thing out...

Jason G. Freund

Aug 8, 20227 min read

104 views

4 comments

Fishing Vehicles

Fishing Vehicles

Fishing Vehicles

I am NOT a car or truck guy. There are great stories with remembrances of great vehicles, this will not be one of them.

Fishing Vehicle

Jason G. Freund

Jul 18, 20229 min read

4,805 views

3 comments

Fly Tying to Save Money

Fly Tying to Save Money

Fly Tying to Save Money

Can you save money by tying your own flies instead of buying them? Absolutely! But what is the fun in that?

Jason G. Freund

May 16, 202212 min read

2,654 views

1 comment

How to get the most out of a guided trip

How to get the most out of a guided trip

How to get the most out of a guided trip

Earlier, I wrote a bit about whether or not to hire a guide, this post is digs a bit deeper into how to make the best of a guided trip.

fly fishing guide

Jason G. Freund

Feb 28, 20228 min read

170 views

2 comments

Fishing Rod

Contact

Thanks for your interest in The Scientific Fly Angler. For more information, feel free to get in touch and I will get back to you soon!

Driftless Area, WI

jason.freund4@gmail.com

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