Blue Line Fly Fisher
Fly Fishing the Adirondacks
Blue Line Fly Fisher
BLFF is a collaboration between two northeastern fly anglers with the goal of elevating the Adirondacks as a fly fishing destination. Located in the northeastern United States within a few hours drive from major population centers including New York City, Boston, Buffalo, and the Canadian cities of Montreal and Ottawa, the Adirondacks is a great backyard fly fishing destination to explore.
BLFF is an ongoing and evolving project, with the hope to connect with others and showcase the region as a fly fishing destination. More pages and information will be added to the site over time as we continue to explore fly fishing within the Blue Line.
The Blue Line and Adirondacks
To the fly angler, “a blue line” refers to the tiny blue lines that represent streams on topographic maps, and “blue lining” is the act of exploring and fishing small streams in search of the wild or native fish they often hold.
In the context of the Adirondacks, “the blue line” refers to the color of the ink on the map of the original proposed park boundaries. Today, this term has also come to refer to the actual boundaries of both the Adirondack and Catskill Parks. Blue Line has become synonymous with the Adirondacks, as seen in the names of several notable businesses in the region:
- Blue Line Coffee House – Inlet & Old Forge, NY
- Blue Line Sports – Saranac Lake, NY
- Blue Line Brewery – Saranac Lake, NY
Why the Adirondacks?
The heritage of fly fishing in the Adirondacks has received relatively little attention compared to that of the Catskills. Countless books have been written about fly fishing in New York’s southern mountain region. The Catskills are the namesake of an entire style of dry fly. Blue Line Fly Fisher was conceived out of an interest to learn more about the history and context of fly fishing in the Adirondacks. With the goal of elevating the Adirondacks as a fly fishing destination, BLFF seeks to highlight the region’s fly fishing heritage and present day opportunities for fly anglers.