The Weekly Five - 42

Summer twilight's a beauty to fish

Nov 17, 2025

EXPLORATION ANGLING — TWF:42
Welcome to the forty-second issue of The Weekly Five. How many of you whipped up the delicious 25-spice venison curry we shared in last week’s edition?

The Southern Hemisphere angling season is now well underway, with spring rain keeping river levels topped up in New Zealand. The South Island received 150% more rainfall than normal in October. However in Northern Patagonia, despite there is no evidence that rainfall was above average, things bode well for an excellent summer from San Martin de los Andes down to Esquel and further south.
Image: Rio Collón Curá in Neuquén Province, Argentina
Back in Episode 34 of The Weekly Five (Sept 24, 2025), we announced that the Scott Fly Rod Company will be releasing a ‘GT’ range — the latest iteration of their popular ‘G’ series moderate action fly rods. Well, this weekend they finally confirmed it too. Early reports describe a faster-action rod, which is somewhat surprising, as it moves the range into an already crowded segment.
American Rivers has just received its largest grant in history — US$10M from the James M. Cox Foundation, the philanthropic organization of Cox Enterprises, which acquired Loop Tackle in late 2024.
Image Credit: American Rivers
Down in New Zealand, we’re dusting off the dry flies as the days lengthen and temperatures climb. Does anyone know the history and evolution of the Twilight Beauty, from English wet, to the indispensable New Zealand dry fly pattern?
Looking for a Christmas present for the wannabe fly angler in your life?
Phil Monahan’s new book, The Orvis Quick-Start Guide to Fly-Fishing: Everything You Need to Know to Catch Fish Your First Time Out, goes on sale early December. Phil reckons that if you buy this book on a Wednesday, you could be out catching fish on Saturday morning!