Fishing

The best fishing coverage on bass, panfish, trout, walleyes, salt water species, and more.

Latest in Fishing

A Connecticut angler holds up a big bluefish.
Fishing

Anglers Disqualified from Bluefish Tournament Lose $32K, Say Mandatory Polygraphs Are B.S.

By Dac Collins

The Best Speckled Trout Lures of 2024
Gear

The Best Speckled Trout Lures of 2024

By Ric Burnley

An old Outdoor Life cover framed for purchase in the OL cover shop.
Hunting

Classic Outdoor Life Covers Are Now Available as Prints and Posters

By Alex Robinson

ice fishing crappie
Fishing

Crappie Barotrauma Controversy: Are All Crappies Caught in Deep Water Destined to Die?

By Joe Cermele

The best baitcasting rods for bass allow you to present lures and set the hook
Gear

The Best Fishing Lines for Bass of 2024

By Pete Robbins

portrait of walleye angler Dick Grzywinski
Fishing

Lessons from the Griz, the Last Great Fishing Legend of the North

By Alex Robinson

An x-ray image of a crappie with ball bearings in its gut.
Fishing

Investigation Reveals Kansas Record Crappie Was Stuffed with Ball Bearings

By Dac Collins

A white crappie caught in Kansas.
Fishing

“I Caught That Fish Legally and Honestly.” Kansas Officials Seize State-Record Crappie, Strike It From Record Books

By Dac Collins

glide baits for bass
Fishing

Glide Baits for Bass: How to Catch a Giant on a Glider

By Joe Cermele

A fisherman holds up a fat rainbow trout caught from a creek in Maryland.
Fishing

Fat Rainbow Trout Caught from Historic Creek Shatters Maryland State Record

By Bob McNally

An ice fisherman rescues a fellow angler using a tent bag.
Survival

Watch: Nebraska Man Rescues an Ice Fisherman (and His Fish Finder) Using a Tent Bag, a Kayak, and Two Hammers

By Dac Collins

The Shimano Vanford is one of the best all-around fishing reels
Gear

The Best Fishing Reels of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

By Derek Horner

A pike caught on a soft plastic lure.
Fishing

How to Lose Fewer Soft Plastic Lures

By Joe Cermele

Testing the best heated gloves in the field
Gear

The Best Heated Gloves of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

By Ashley Thess

Testing Orvis Helios in Honduras
Gear

Orvis Helios Casting Test: Is This the Most Accurate Fly Rod on the Market?

By Scott Einsmann

A white crappie caught in Kansas.
Fishing

Kansas Angler Catches New State-Record Crappie

By Bob McNally

inline spinners
Fishing

Inline Spinners: How to Pick the Best Spinner for the Conditions

By Joe Cermele

Author fishing with the best saltwater fly reels.
Gear

The Best Saltwater Fly Reels of 2024

By Kevin Hughes

The best trout spinning reels help you fight these hard charging fish and present tiny lures.
Gear

The Best Trout Spinning Reels of 2024

By Kevin Hughes

A crew of guys stand on a deck holding and surrounded by yellowtail fish.
Fishing

Photos: Meet the Crews Who Power SoCal’s Offshore Tuna Scene

Photographs by Tom Fowlks, Story by Natalie Krebs

the best vacuum sealers on a counter
Gear

The Best Vacuum Sealers of 2024

By Scott Einsmann, Tyler Freel

fried catfish
Fishing

How to Cook Catfish

By Joe Cermele

angler using the best ice fishing lines to catch a walleye
Gear

The Best Ice Fishing Lines of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

By Nicole Stone

A woman catches a fish in one of the best ice fishing shelters.
Gear

The Best Ice Fishing Shelters of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

By Jim Edlund

what do catfish eat 1
Fishing

What Do Catfish Eat?

Words by Cameron Evans

A leech fly tied with rabbit hair.
Fishing

A Fur Ban in Washington Could Cripple Fly Tyers, Lure Makers, and the Larger Fishing Industry

By Dac Collins

terminal tackle
Fishing

Terminal Tackle: What You Need to Know for Better Rigs

By Joe Cermele

An angler gets bucked out of his boat and then pulls himself back into the unmanned boat as it drives around it circles.
Fishing

Watch: Angler Gets Bucked Out of His Boat, Makes Incredible Self-Rescue

By Dac Collins

Two anglers from Quebec pose with a giant Atlantic halibut they caught through the ice.
Fishing

Quebec Anglers Catch Giant Atlantic Halibut Through the Ice

By Dac Collins

The Best Wild Game Seasoning, Taste Tested
Hunting

The Best Wild Game Seasoning, Taste Tested

By Jack Hennessy

A kayak angler holds up a state-record crappie caught in Colorado.
Fishing

Kayak Fisherman Breaks Colorado Crappie Record Using Forward-Facing Sonar

By Bob McNally

A hand-tied Clouser Minnow in a vise.
Fishing

How to Tie the Clouser Minnow, Step by Step

By Joe Cermele

missouri record yellow perch throw line
Fishing

Fisherman Tells Wife He’s Going Out to Catch a Record, Then Catches State-Record Perch

By Bob McNally

smallmouth bass
Fishing

How Fish Create “Countries” in River Systems

By Joe Cermele

throwing a cast net
Fishing

How to Throw a Cast Net

By Bob McNally

A conservation officer kneels on a frozen lake to measure the thickness of the ice.
Survival

More Than 100 Ice Fishermen Rescued, 2 Dead, in Minnesota This Winter

By Dac Collins

forward facing sonar
Opinion

The Unwinnable Battle Over Forward-Facing Sonar

By Joe Cermele

west virginia blue cat record fourth consecutive year
Fishing

West Virginia Blue Catfish Record Broken for the Fourth Year in a Row

By Dac Collins

are fish record stories captivating
Opinion

Are Record Fish Stories as Captivating as They Used to Be?

By Joe Cermele

Two men walking on ice
Fishing

The Best Ice Fishing Bibs

By Outdoor Life Commerce Team

fisherman holding up a walleye
Fishing

The Best Walleye Ice Fishing Lures of 2024

By Ross Robertson

The author tested the best telescopic rods on his home lake.
Gear

The Best Telescopic Fishing Rods

By Pete Robbins

Best winter trout flies
Fishing

The 4 Best Winter Trout Flies

By Joe Cermele

big lake trout in water
Fishing

Winter Fishing: The 3 Hottest Bites When the Weather Gets Cold

By Joe Cermele

The best spinning rod and reel combos will do everything from win tournaments to catch your first fish
Gear

The Best Spinning Rod and Reel Combos

By Pete Robbins

stuck opener edited
Fishing

How to Use the “Trigger Method” to Unsnag Lures

By Joe Cermele

british boy world record worthy wels catfish
Catfish Fishing

British Boy Catches Monster Wels Catfish Nearly Twice His Size

By Katie Hill

pickerel fishing
Fishing

How to Catch Pickerel in Winter

By Joe Cermele

easy fishing gear
Baits, Lures, & Flies

Easy Fishing Gear Hacks

By Joe Cermele

snake river dams underwater salmon
Conservation

Breach or Die: It’s Time to Free the Lower Snake River and Save Idaho’s Wild Salmon

By Dac Collins

Ice Fisherman with a catch
Gear

The Best Ice Fishing Fish Finders of 2024

By Cory Schmidt

california swordfish record
Fishing

‘Stars Align’ to Help California Anglers Shatter State Record with 520-Pound Swordfish

By Dac Collins

A man in a greenshirt and waders fly fishes in a shady river.
Conservation

This Bill Would Digitize Mapping Data for America’s Waterways

By Andrew McKean

fishing line
Gear

Inventor Intends to Preserve the History of Mankind on Fishing Line

By Joe Cermele

Simms deal on waders
Gear

Deal Alert: Simms Freestone Waders for Under $200

By Scott Einsmann

walleye idaho
Fishing

Why Walleye Are a Problem in Idaho

By Joe Cermele

A woman holding a large fish
Gear

Best Ice Fishing Lures for Panfish of 2024

By Nicole Stone

keith pazour with south dakota record walleye
Fishing

South Dakota Walleye Record Broken for the Second Time in 3 Weeks

By Katie Hill

Two noodlers wrestle a giant flathead catfish.
Fishing

The Complete Guide to Noodling Catfish

By Natalie Krebs

how to avoid line tangles fishing
Fishing

How to Avoid Line Tangles When Fishing

By Joe Cermele

costa sunglasses
Gear

What Are Polarized Sunglasses?

By Pete Robbins

A USMC soldier trout fishing in Korea.
Fishing

Fishing for Trout and Taking Fire in Korea, From the Archives

By Elwayne Carter

An illustration of a deer heart and a fixed blade knife.
Hunting

6 Wild-Game Rituals That Are About Much More Than the Meat

By Gerry Bethge, Josh Dahlke, Tyler Freel, David Karczynski, Ben Long, Andrew McKean

details mysterious idaho bass record
Fishing

Details Behind a Mysterious Idaho Bass Record Finally Come to Light

By Dac Collins

Explore Fishing

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Virginia trap
Fishing

‘Godzilla’ Snapping Turtle Is So Huge Virginia Officials Established a New Record Category

By Bob McNally

A phone and the Garmin inReach Messenger Plus sit on a rock.
Adventure

The New Garmin inReach Messenger Plus Sends Photos, Voice Memos, and Group Chats

By Ashley Thess

A bunch of lionfish on a table.
Conservation

‘I Didn’t Even Try,’ Says Florida Diver Who Speared 915 Lionfish to Win Annual Tourney

By Katie Hill

Vargo MegaHex smokeless fire pit in low light with a roaring fire
Adventure

Vargo MegaHex Review: A Smokeless Fire Pit That Folds Flat

By Laura Lancaster