FIELD NOTES June 15, 2026 New Patagonia Fly Fishing Program for 2026-2027 Good morning folks. Exciting news today. I've secured a lodge space on some of the best waters in Patagonia - Chile. This was a prized lodge operation that sold and went fully private. With a partner (previous manager), we are opening the program to a few groups. I will work in a guide + host capacity here. I've traveled, fished and guided the area extensively and this is a really special location, with a home river and...

FIELD NOTES Oct 21, 2026 Good morning folks. Rifle season opens in Montana this weekend. I have two deer hides from last year in the freezer. I had grand plans to tan and cut them into tying materials. Now, my freezers just need the space back for meat. I might flesh them with the pressure washer and throw on a pile of salt to cure for the long haul. I imagine the whitetail and mule deer combined would last a few decades at the vise anyhow. It's a mad rush to organize Chile while putting a...

FIELD NOTES Oct 14, 2026 Good morning folks. I just landed back in Montana after a summer in Alaska. It takes a minute to adjust. Traffic, people and the pace of everything feels rushed after being in a wilderness for so long. It's fall in Montana however and the weather is beautiful. I'll be jumping into hunting seasons and fall fishing here while prepping for the winter season in Chile. Tight Lines, Zach Lazzari September at Katmai Sky Lodge The jump from a larger lodge operation to a more...

FIELD NOTES Sept 23, 2026 Summer 2026 Gear Edition Good morning folks. Pushing hard for 100 days straight is a great way to test some gear. This isn't a brand guide or anything of that nature. More of a what worked and what didn't in Alaska. July was cold, wet and windy. It was the perfect testing environment. August and September saw a mix of conditions. Running boats, bushwhacking and hiking in waders was the perfect test for waterproof gear. A few items excelled, others failed. Hopefully...

FIELD NOTES Sept 5, 2026 Good morning folks. The last two Wednesday issues were a bust. It's been an all day, everyday grind and I opted for a beer night with the crew over a writing session. The season at Katmai Lodge just wrapped and I'm packed and ready for September at Katmai Sky Lodge. Hoping to harvest an elk in Montana after the season and turn right around for a short season in Patagonia. Life is good on the road. Tight Lines, Zach Lazzari Alagnak River Rundown My favorite thing about...

FIELD NOTES Aug 5, 2026 The Mystery Behind Mystic Fly Rods Together With Good morning folks. Today is about fly rods. I'm in the market for a few new sticks so I'm looking to current favorites for inspiration. What are you all fishing these days? I'd love a new super light Trout spey for swinging winter bugs. Some new saltwater sticks would also be fun. I'm looking at Guideline, Scott, Echo, TFO and a few others. Shoot over your favorites if you're loving anything new. Tight Lines, Zach...

FIELD NOTES July 29, 2026 Alaska Mid-Season Updates Good morning folks. It's full send in Alaska at the moment. One month in and I've run the filet knife through more than enough Sockeye Salmon for a while. Learning a new river and working with a great crew has been an absolute blast. Photos and updates below. Also, the Patagonia program is moving forward and I'll be filling spots in September/October. Make sure to shoot me a note if you're interested. Tight Lines, Zach Lazzari SPONSOR Global...

FIELD NOTES July 22, 2026 A Better Leader System for Toothy Critters Together With Good morning folks. I'm still in the bush, hopefully targeting big Pike at some point. Although the fishing is largely salmon, trout and grayling focused, the idea of finding a giant pike in some unfished backwater is just exciting. I always take along a few pre-rigged steel leaders with clips just in case. Here's how that system works. Tight Lines, Zach Lazzari SPONSOR Global Rescue - Leave Nothing to Chance...

FIELD NOTES July 22, 2026 A Better Leader System for Toothy Critters Together With Good morning folks. I'm still in the bush, hopefully targeting big Pike at some point. Although the fishing is largely salmon, trout and grayling focused, the idea of finding a giant pike in some unfished backwater is just exciting. I always take along a few pre-rigged steel leaders with clips just in case. Here's how that system works. Tight Lines, Zach Lazzari SPONSOR Global Rescue - Leave Nothing to Chance...

FIELD NOTES July 15, 2026 Orvis Pro & Pro LT Wader Report Together With Good morning folks. It's mid-July and I should be grinding away in the Alaskan Bush (this is pre-scheduled). Alaska is one of the best testing grounds for waders. Moving between boats, rivers, hikes and busting through brush quickly reveals weak points in seams and materials. I'm doing a quick rundown on the waders I'm currently using and why they have worked out. What are you all using out there? I'm certainly interested...

FIELD NOTES July 8, 2026 Does the Perfect Boat Exist? Together With Good morning folks. Tis the season for watercraft. The rivers are full of water in my neck of the woods and peak summer is on the way. I'm running my cataraft hard right now and am ready to start pushing jet boats up Alaskan rivers here soon. I'd love to hear about your boat setups, especially for folks living in different regions. The range of watercraft being run out of the southern states is especially interesting. A...