Big news in the fly fishing world this summer—if you haven’t heard, the USA Fly Fishing Team just snagged their second bronze medal in a row at the 2025 World Fly Fishing Championships in the Czech Republic. These folks went toe-to-toe with the best anglers from across the globe for five days, landing not just the team bronze but also an individual bronze thanks to Michael Bradley of Cherokee, North Carolina. He edged out some serious international competition. There’s always a bit of talk around whether competitive fly fishing is really fly fishing, but after a finish like that, you’ve got to tip your hat. The camaraderie and sheer skill level on display is something that even casual fishers would appreciate, and it shows the USA is stepping up its game on the world stage according to MidCurrent.

Switching coasts, if you’re fishing the American West, especially California, heads up—the California Department of Fish and Wildlife has rolled out the new 2025 regulations and there are some changes you’ll want to know before you hit the water. For one, the latest sport fishing regs are out as of July 15th, and there are still free fishing days on the books: July 5th and August 30th. On those days, you can cast a line without a license, but all other rules still apply, so don’t toss your report card or ignore bag limits. Plus, starting next year, those old supplemental reg booklets are being phased out for good, so the main booklet and the website will be your go-to for the latest updates.

Let’s talk trout season, because the opener in California this past April was a treat. Near-perfect conditions brought fly fishers in droves to spots like Burney, Bridgeport, and Bishop. Lakes and streams were stocked and accessible, giving both old-timers and newbies a heck of a time. According to California’s own Fish and Wildlife, Fishmas (yep, that’s what the locals call the opening day) delivered big this year, and the word is, if we get another spring like this, 2026 should be even better.

If you’re more Midwestern, there are some new fishing rules in Nebraska to keep things fresh. Starting January 2025, slots and daily limits are shuffling for black bass at several lakes. At Frye Lake, you can now keep any size, but only one over 18 inches in your daily bag. And Trout Lake at the Two Rivers State Recreation Area is now catch-and-release friendly—no more mandatory kill unless you’ve got a trout tag in early season. These changes, straight from Nebraska Game and Parks, should help both conserve fisheries and give anglers a bit more flexibility, especially for those who love practicing catch and release with a fly rod in hand.

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s tour of fly fishing headlines. Don’t forget, come back next week for more updates on fisheries, gear, and stories from the water. This has been a Quiet Please production, and for more, check out QuietPlease dot A I.

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