What fly fishing magazines offer and where to find them

Fly fishing magazines are the main way anglers stay current on technique, new gear, and where fish are biting. Most combine instructional articles written by experienced guides and fly tiers with regional reports, gear reviews, and photography. Some are printed monthlies you subscribe to; others are digital-only or web-based. A few offer both. The best ones for your situation depend on whether you want deep technique instruction, regional fishing reports for your area, or gear information — most magazines focus on one or two of these rather than all three equally.

The magazines worth your time fall into three rough groups: the long-established print titles that have been around for decades, newer digital publications that update more frequently, and regional or specialty magazines focused on a particular water or method. Print magazines arrive monthly or six times a year and sit on a shelf; digital subscriptions let you read on a phone or tablet and often include video content. Some readers subscribe to one print magazine for the ritual of it and follow a free website or newsletter for current reports.

Key Takeaways

  • The major print magazines — Fly Fisherman, Fly Rod & Reel, and Gray's Sporting Journal — each have a distinct voice and audience, so read a sample issue before committing to a year's subscription.
  • Digital subscriptions and free newsletters update more frequently than print and often include video tutorials, but they require a device and internet connection to read.
  • Regional magazines and local fly shops' websites often carry better information about current conditions and what's hatching than national publications do.
  • Many magazines offer a single issue or trial subscription at a reduced price, so you can test whether the writing style and content match what you're looking for before paying for a full year.

The established print magazines and what sets them apart

Fly Fisherman is the oldest continuously published fly fishing magazine in North America, founded in 1975. It arrives 10 times a year and covers freshwater and saltwater equally. The magazine leans toward technique instruction and gear reviews, with regular columns on fly tying, casting, and reading water. Most articles assume you have some experience already — they are not beginner primers, but they do not assume you fish at a competitive level either. The photography is strong, and the regional reports cover major fisheries across the continent.

Fly Rod & Reel publishes six times a year and has a more literary bent than Fly Fisherman. Articles often read like essays about a particular place or angler rather than how-to pieces. The magazine covers both freshwater and saltwater, with a particular emphasis on travel and destination fishing. If you want to read about fishing in Iceland or the Bahamas, or a long profile of a legendary guide, this is where you find it. The gear reviews are thorough, but they are not the main draw.

Gray's Sporting Journal publishes four times a year and is the most expensive of the three. It is also the most selective about what it covers — fewer articles per issue, but each one is longer and more deeply reported. The writing is consistently excellent, and the photography is museum-quality. This magazine is for readers who value prose and image over breadth of coverage. It skews toward saltwater and Atlantic salmon, though freshwater articles appear regularly.

Trout is published by Trout Unlimited and arrives four times a year. It focuses exclusively on trout and salmon in freshwater. Articles cover conservation, habitat, technique, and regional fishing. If you fish for trout and want to support a conservation organization at the same time, this is a natural fit. The writing is solid and the regional reports are detailed.

Digital magazines and newsletters that update frequently

MidCurrent is a digital-only publication that updates several times a week with articles, videos, and fishing reports. It covers both freshwater and saltwater. The video content is a major draw — casting instruction, fly-tying tutorials, and destination profiles are all filmed and edited to a professional standard. You can read articles on the website free, but a paid subscription removes ads and gives you access to the full video library. The pace is faster than print magazines, so if you want to know what's happening on the water right now rather than what happened last month, this is the better choice.

The Fly Fishing Podcast and similar audio programs are not magazines, but they serve a similar function — they keep you learning and connected to the community. Many fly fishing websites and shops also publish free newsletters that arrive weekly or monthly with local reports, technique tips, and gear news. These are often more current and more specific to your region than national magazines are. A newsletter from your local fly shop or a guide service in your area will tell you what's hatching this week and which flies are working, information that a national magazine cannot match because it goes to print weeks in advance.

Regional and specialty magazines

Most regions have at least one magazine or journal focused on local waters. Salmon Trout Steelheader covers the Pacific Northwest. Saltwater Fly Fishing focuses on coastal and offshore species. Eastern Fly Fishing serves the Northeast. These publications often have better current information about what's hatching and where fish are feeding than national magazines do, because their writers fish the same waters regularly and report on conditions week to week. A regional magazine is especially useful if you fish the same water repeatedly and want to understand the seasonal patterns and hatch timing for that specific river or bay.

Specialty magazines also exist for particular methods — nymph fishing, dry fly, saltwater sight-casting — though these are less common and often come from smaller publishers. Some are published annually or semi-annually rather than on a regular schedule. A fly shop in your region can point you toward the ones that cover your local water and the techniques you want to improve.

How to choose which magazine to read

Start by reading a sample issue. Most magazines sell single copies at fly shops or allow you to view sample articles on their websites. Spend 20 minutes with one and ask yourself: Is the writing clear and useful to me? Are the articles about places I fish or want to fish? Is the balance of technique, travel, and gear what I'm looking for? Do I prefer print or digital? This step takes very little time and saves you from paying for a year of something that does not match what you actually want to read.

If you are new to fly fishing, Fly Fisherman is the safest choice because it covers the widest range of skill levels and topics. If you are interested in travel and destination fishing, Fly Rod & Reel will appeal to you more. If you fish for trout primarily, Trout or a regional magazine focused on your area will be more useful than a magazine that splits its pages between trout and saltwater. Many readers subscribe to one print magazine for the ritual and the shelf presence, and follow a free website or newsletter for current reports. This is a reasonable approach — you get the depth and photography of print without paying for information that may be outdated by the time it arrives in your mailbox.

Magazine subscriptions: cost and where to buy

Print magazine subscriptions range from about $20 to $50 per year depending on the publication and how many issues it publishes. Fly Fisherman at 10 issues per year costs less per issue than Gray's Sporting Journal at four issues per year, but Gray's is printed on heavier paper and the production quality is higher. Digital subscriptions typically cost $5 to $15 per month or $40 to $100 per year. The exact price varies by publication, so check the magazine's website for current rates.

You can buy subscriptions directly from the magazine's website, through a subscription service like MagazinesDirect or Magazines.com, or at a fly shop. Fly shops often offer discounts on subscriptions, and buying through them supports a local business. Many magazines also offer a discounted first-year rate or a trial subscription at a lower price, so you can test whether it's worth the full cost before committing to a longer term.

Free resources that work alongside magazines

You do not need to pay for everything. Many fly shops publish free weekly or monthly newsletters with local fishing reports and technique tips. Fly fishing websites like Orvis, Patagonia, and regional guides publish free articles and videos. YouTube has thousands of fly-tying and casting tutorials, many from experienced instructors. A magazine subscription works best when combined with these free resources — the magazine gives you depth and the ritual of sitting down to read, while free newsletters and websites keep you current on what's happening on the water right now.

The combination of one print subscription and a few free newsletters is often the most practical approach for most anglers. You get the photography and long-form writing from the magazine, the current reports and technique tips from the newsletters, and video tutorials from YouTube or the magazine's website. This mix covers all the ways people learn without requiring you to pay for multiple subscriptions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a magazine subscription worth it if I can find most of the information free online?

It depends on how you learn. If you prefer reading long-form articles and looking at high-quality photography, a magazine subscription is worth it. If you learn better from video or quick updates, free websites and newsletters may serve you better. Many readers find that a single print subscription plus free newsletters is the right balance.

Which magazine is best for a beginner?

Fly Fisherman is the best starting point because it covers the widest range of skill levels and topics. Articles on casting, fly selection, and reading water are written for people with some experience, but not for experts. If you fish for trout specifically, Trout magazine is also beginner-friendly and focuses on one species.

Can I read magazines on my phone or tablet?

Yes. Digital subscriptions to MidCurrent and other online publications work on any device with internet access. Some print magazines also offer digital editions as part of a subscription. Check the magazine's website to see what formats are available before you subscribe.

Do fly shops carry back issues of magazines?

Some do, but not all. Call ahead if you are looking for a specific issue. Many magazines also archive articles on their websites, so you can search for a topic and read it free or with a subscription.

What if I want to cancel my subscription?

Most magazines allow you to cancel anytime, though some require you to contact customer service rather than doing it online. Check the subscription terms before you sign up. If you bought through a subscription service like MagazinesDirect, you may need to cancel through that service rather than the magazine itself.