Articles written by Eric Halloran

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About me - Eric Halloran

Eric Halloran is an avid fly-fisherman, reader, and technology maven. He is also a guerilla commuter (200 miles per day). He lives in Western Massachusetts.

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Sports & Recreation > Fly Fishing Guide to getting started in fly-fishing: 1 of 8
The water speaks to you as it rushes by. It babbles, "Trout are in my midst!"An early morning mist rises in columns in the pool below you, just a few yards down river. The moisture in the air conveys a fecund smell to your chilled nose - is it an aromatic clue that your quarry is nearby, or is it just the fresh remains of a m... More..
Sports & Recreation > Fly Fishing What is the attraction of fly fishing: 1 of 7
Fly fishing is attractive along many dimensions. It's appeal can manifest in different ways with different people.For folks who enjoy nature, it is a great way to dig more deeply into the aquatic world. Selecting fly patterns in freshwater trout streams gives context for learning the life cycle of the many species of mayflies... More..
Arts & Humanities > Language Learning Tips The best way to learn a foreign language: 7 of 48
Learning a foreign language engages multiple areas of the brain and the senses. It is not for the faint of heart - it is very easy to get discouraged. But everyone experiences this, and I encourage you to keep trying.If you have attempted to learn a language, you may have experienced a kind of dull dread feeling accompanied b... More..
Sports & Recreation > Fly Fishing Fly fishing experiences: 2 of 13
My first fish on a fly came many, many years after my first attempts. Fly fishing is not an easy sport to break into and I certainly would have benefited from hiring a guide.Twenty years after picking up a fly rod as a boy (a Japanese five-piece rod that my uncle won at a carnival), I finally caught a trout! My friend Paul ha... More..
Sports & Recreation > Fly Fishing How to release a trout: 1 of 6
We who enjoy fly fishing for trout are privileged to get up close and personal with a fascinating, and beautiful but delicate predator. If you spend anytime at all studying trout and their habits and, due in some part to your investigations are able to insinuate yourself into their ecological niche and actually catch one, you... More..
Sports & Recreation > Fly Fishing Great places to fly fish: 3 of 12
There are great locations for fly fishing all around the world. And, with a little investment of time, you probably can fly fish successfully at a location convenient to you. Just check out the boards on the Internet (e.g. www.troutpredator.com if you are looking to fish freshwater in the Northeast U.S.) or inquire at fly sho... More..
Sports & Recreation > Fly Fishing Fly fishing tips: Tips for matching the hatch: 1 of 4
When the hatch is on, insects like mayflies and caddis flies are in transition from their aquatic phase to their adult flying phase. They are very vulnerable at this point either making their way to the surface, emerging from their immature exoskeleton just at the surface, or drying their wings on top of the surface.The fish ... More..
Sports & Recreation > Fly Fishing The proper gear for the thrifty fly fisherman: 1 of 4
Fly fishing collectors spend thousands of dollars on gear that never gets close to the river. But basic gear on the cheap can be had, and basic gear can be very effective. For trout fishing on rivers and streams here's what you need, how to acquire it and what to trade up first:1) Fishing rod and reel: You want a 5 or 6 weigh... More..
Sports & Recreation > Fly Fishing Strategies for fishing with the elk hair caddis: 1 of 3
The elk hair caddis is a simple fly to tie, uses inexpensive materials and is a great beginner dry fly to use. It floats well and unlike mayfly imitations can be skidded across the surface with positive results.You tie the fly using a standard dry fly hook, dubbing a cigar shaped abdomen, palmering a stiff dry fly hackle over... More..
Sports & Recreation > Fly Fishing Casting with a roll cast when fly fishing: 1 of 2
The roll cast is very versatile for fly fishing. It can serve many purposes, and is effective under many circumstances. But before we explore the utility of the cast, let me describe how to execute the roll cast.The roll cast uses the surface tension of the water to create drag and load the rod and for this reason, it can onl... More..