Ken Baldwin

1 week ago | si.com | Ken Baldwin

You want to learn how to fly fish, or maybe you are just a little bit curious about what fly fishing is. You want to see if it's a fit but are unsure where to start. The internet is a good beginning, but a better beginning is a free class with hands-on instructions. What I'm talking about here are old-school, in-person lessons, where you show up to a class and are taught by an instructor who answers questions and gives examples in real time.

2 weeks ago | si.com | Ken Baldwin

The realities of fly fishing Alaska, whether you are a guide or doing a DIY trip, are that you need to equip yourself with bear protection. What that bear protection is is personal and up to the individual's comfort level. The two popular choices for protection are a firearm and bear spray. There is an ongoing debate about which is better. In my years of guiding, I've seen bear spray fail and people I wouldn't trust with a firearm in their hands. This article is not about which is better.

2 weeks ago | si.com | Ken Baldwin

I run into this problem all the time. I fly fish, my wife doesn't. That by itself is not a problem, but when it comes time to pick a destination for a vacation, it becomes a problem. Where can we go where I can get some quality fly fishing and have her enjoy what she enjoys—shopping, cafes, museums, spas, and working out? It is a dilemma; most of the time, the two don't go hand in hand. If you aren't familiar with Beaufort, it is a coastal southern town just South of Charleston, SC.

2 weeks ago | si.com | Ken Baldwin

In 2024, Ross Reels and Coors knocked it out of the park with their collaboration on the Ross Animas fly reel and Coors Banquet Beer. The reel sold out quickly, and the two companies were able to raise money from the sales for Trout Unlimited. Because of the success and demand, Ross and Coors have picked another reel and are doing it again. For this new collaboration, the Ross Cimarron fly reel merges with the colors and logo of the Coors Banquet beer.

3 weeks ago | si.com | Ken Baldwin

Learning to cast a fly rod well involves a lot of moving pieces. Putting them all together is no easy feat; it takes time and effort. I've been casting a fly rod for over thirty years. During the off-season, I try and practice three times a week. I'm not an exceptional caster by any stretch of the imagination, but I'm not bad, only because I practice. It's like basketball or golf, if you don't practice your shot (swing) you will lose it.