Ryan Chelius
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Articles by Ryan Chelius
All the Early Sitka Black Friday Deals Actually Worth Buying—From Jackets to Packs
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more If you’ve made your way to this story, then you most likely already know that Sitka makes some of the best hunting clothes in the space. You also probably know that their gear can be pretty expensive. And that’s why the Sitka Black Friday sale is the best time to shop the brand’s performance hunting gear.
The Top 20 Early Black Friday Shotgun Deals
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more There’s no better time to add another shotgun to your gun safe than this month. We rounded up the best early Black Friday shotgun deals on pumps, semi-autos, and break actions. You’ll find everything from great upland guns to excellent waterfowl options from brands like Henry, Mossberg, Benelli, and Browning on this list.
10 Bucket List Waterfowl Hunts
FIELD & STREAM NEWSLETTERS ALL F&S NEWSLETTERS The best bucket-list waterfowl hunts combine species variety, location, and tactics that go beyond high-volume shooting. Top experiences include Texas early teal along the Gulf Coast, dry-field mallards in western Canada, and international hunts available when North American seasons close. Many of these trips are achievable on an average budget with a passport, scouting time, and a willingness to travel.
Hardy Sovereign Fly Reel Review, Field Tested
FIELD & STREAM NEWSLETTERS ALL F&S NEWSLETTERS We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more For the most part, a trout reel just needs to hold your fly line. Still, you want a reel with a strong enough drag to put the brakes on a giant fish when needed. Beyond a good drag, a fly reel should look nice, too—at least in my opinion. That’s why I like Hardy’s Sovereign so much.
Gun Safes Are Already Up to $1,000 Off for Black Friday
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more Safely securing your firearms is one of the most important aspects of being a responsible gun owner. That means storing your guns in a durable and secure gun safe. And since gun safes are often expensive, there is no better time to buy one than Black Friday.
The Craziest Waterfowl Bands Ever Recovered
FIELD & STREAM NEWSLETTERS ALL F&S NEWSLETTERS Duck and goose bands are critical conservation tools. They’re also prized souvenirs for waterfowlers. And if the hunter takes the time to report a band, it can be the beginning of an incredible story. Most waterfowl leg bands feature an eight- or nine-digit sequence that is tied to the bird’s age, sex, and banding location.
I’ve Hunted Over Hundreds of Duck Decoys—These Are the Ones That Made the Cut
FIELD & STREAM NEWSLETTERS ALL F&S NEWSLETTERS We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more Half of my garage is solely dedicated to duck decoys. I have dozens upon dozens of mallards, black ducks, pintails, wood ducks, wigeon, and gadwall floaters. Then there are the full bodies, silhouettes, and motion decoys. Not to mention my family’s collection of vintage cork decoys. It’s safe to say I have a decoy addiction.
We’ve Hunted From a Lot of Kayaks—These Are Our Favorites
FIELD & STREAM NEWSLETTERS ALL F&S NEWSLETTERS We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more When I started looking at kayaks for duck hunting I knew I wanted something small, lightweight, and spacious. I needed a boat that could access small water, go over beaver dams, and have enough room to carry my excessive amount of gear. Those were my requirements.
We’ve Been Duck Hunting for Decades—These Are the Jackets We Trust
FIELD & STREAM NEWSLETTERS ALL F&S NEWSLETTERS We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more › I have too many duck hunting jackets. Most of them are for specific conditions, and I own the rest because I’m a duck-obsessed gear junkie. But the majority of waterfowl hunters (myself included) can get away with one or two jackets for an entire hunting season—September to January.
We Put Duck Hunting Waders to the Test in Every Condition—These Are the Best
FIELD & STREAM NEWSLETTERS ALL F&S NEWSLETTERS We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more Besides your shotgun, duck hunting waders are arguably the most important piece of equipment a waterfowl hunter will own. Waterfowl habitat is a nasty place for gear and your waders will take a beating. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t quality duck hunting waders that will last season after season.
The Upland Hunting Vests We Recommend This Season
FIELD & STREAM NEWSLETTERS ALL F&S NEWSLETTERS We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more Like everything else in the gear world, upland hunting vests continue to get lighter and more ergonomic. Many companies are also making classic-looking vests to keep up with the vintage trend in hunting apparel. In upland hunting, this means waxed canvas vests. But looks aren’t as important as comfort, fit, and performance.
The Fly Fishing Gifts We’d Give Any Angler
FIELD & STREAM NEWSLETTERS ALL F&S NEWSLETTERS We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more Fly fishing is a gear-intensive sport. Rods, reels, waders, packs, flies, and hundreds of other little gadgets help anglers find fish, cast to fish, and catch fish. But this long list of equipment can make shopping for fly fishers difficult, especially if you don’t fish yourself.
Sage Arrow Fly Rod Review—Field Tested
FIELD & STREAM NEWSLETTERS ALL F&S NEWSLETTERS We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more The new Sage Arrow replaces the popular mid-priced Sonic series with a modest technology upgrade. Sage markets the Arrow as an all-around trout rod, and after fishing it for four months, I’d go along with that.
The Best Spotting Scopes, According to Our Tests
FIELD & STREAM NEWSLETTERS ALL F&S NEWSLETTERS We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more Unlike compound bows, spotting scope manufacturers don’t release a new flagship model each year. In fact, many optic companies will go years between developing a new spotter. That’s why, as hunters, we aren’t looking for the newest spotting scope available. Instead, we’re looking for the best spotting scope available.
The Pond-Hopper’s Guide to Summer Bass Fishing
FIELD & STREAM NEWSLETTERS ALL F&S NEWSLETTERS During my senior year of college, three of my buddies and I decided to have a month-long bass fishing tournament. The rules were simple: Two vs. two, and the team with the heaviest bag of five fish after 30 days wins. But there was a kicker: Anglers were not allowed to venture farther than a 50-mile radius of our apartment. The goal was to push our fishing skills to the brink and think outside the box.
The Best Saltwater Fishing Rods for Every Type of Angler
FIELD & STREAM NEWSLETTERS ALL F&S NEWSLETTERS We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more The top saltwater rods are built not only to battle the larger fish present in the world’s oceans, but also to resist the highly corrosive effects of exposure to saltwater.
The Best Fly Fishing Waders, Tested and Reviewed
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more Outside the dog days of summer (and sometimes during), fly anglers almost always wear waders. Besides rods, reels, and flies, waders are arguably the most important piece of gear a fly angler will own. They keep you dry, protect you from brush when hiking to the water, and offer organization for gear. But what makes one pair of waders better than another?
The Best Shimano Reels for Freshwater and Saltwater, Tested
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more This winter, I set out to test some of the best Shimano reels available, from spinning reels to baitcasters. The test logistics included many moving parts like target species, reel size, and application. But the idea was to create a one-stop review that included Shimano reels for both freshwater and saltwater game fish.
The Best Wading Boots, Tested and Reviewed
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more My first pair of wading boots lasted me over five years. When I hung them up for good, the re-glued soles were falling off again. But I was a broke college grad who thought money could be better spent on more “practical” things like fly rods and fishing apparel. I was wrong.
I’ve Owned Dozens of Benchmade Knives—These Are the Best
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more Benchmade knives have long been a staple for hunters, anglers, and outdoorsmen. The Oregon-based company makes quality blades that are sharp, versatile, and durable. The number one gripe people have with it is the price—and understandably so. Most of their knives are expensive, and there is no way around it. So, are these knives worth the premium price tag? Yes.
The Best Fly Fishing Sling Packs of 2025
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more Fly fishing sling packs fall somewhere between fishing backpacks and fly fishing vests. Smaller packs offer enough space for day trips without being too bulky to carry around all day. While larger sling packs give anglers the ability to hold plenty of boxes, rigging material, and even a rain jacket. Regardless of size, all sling packs keep your gear ready to go and in one place.
The Best Benchmade Knives of 2026
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more Benchmade knives have long been a staple for hunters, anglers, and outdoorsmen. The Oregon-based company makes quality blades that are sharp, versatile, and durable. The number one gripe people have with it is the price—and understandably so. Most of their knives are expensive, and there is no way around it. So, are these knives worth the premium price tag? Yes.
The Best Wading Boots of 2026, Tested and Reviewed
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more My first pair of wading boots lasted me over five years. When I hung them up for good, the re-glued soles were falling off again. But I was a broke college grad who thought money could be better spent on more “practical” things like fly rods and fishing apparel. I was wrong.
The Best Rain Gear for Fishing of 2025, Tested
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more The best rain gear for fishing needs to keep you dry. Period. Snow, rain, or sleet—the fish wait for nobody. This means dedicated anglers are out there in the worst of conditions. If you don’t have the proper equipment, you won’t last long, and you might even put yourself in a dangerous situation. You need your rain jacket, bibs, and even your shoes to be watertight.
The Best Spotting Scopes of 2026, According to Our Tests
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more Unlike compound bows, spotting scope manufacturers don’t release a new flagship model each year. In fact, many optic companies will go years between developing a new spotter. That’s why, as hunters, we aren’t looking for the newest spotting scope available. Instead, we’re looking for the best spotting scope available.
MKC Freezout Waterfowl Knife Review
Introduced a little over a year ago, the Freezout is Montana Knife Company's waterfowl-specific blade. While not the first knife to be designed for duck and goose hunters, the Freezout is a tad longer than other popular waterfowl knives on the market. It also has a slim design, a Magnacut stainless steel blade, and a full-tang handle. Everything about the Freezout is high quality, and it falls into the premium category, with a pricetag to match.
MKC Freezout Waterfowl Knife, Tested and Reviewed
Introduced a little over a year ago, the Freezout is Montana Knife Company's waterfowl-specific blade. While not the first knife to be designed for duck and goose hunters, the Freezout is a tad longer than other popular waterfowl knives on the market. It also has a slim design, a Magnacut stainless steel blade, and a full-tang handle. Everything about the Freezout is high quality, and it falls into the premium category, with a pricetag to match.
The Best Hunting Gifts for Any Kind of Hunter 2025
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more Finding the best gifts for hunters is no easy task. In fact, most dedicated hunters probably already have all the equipment they need. But that doesn’t mean they don’t want more gear, because hunters always want more gear. You just need to know what to buy. If you don’t hunt yourself, it can be difficult to know what gear is useful for hunters.
The Best Duck Hunting Waders, Expert Tested
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more › Besides your shotgun, duck hunting waders are arguably the most important piece of equipment a waterfowl hunter will own. Wetlands are nasty places for gear and your waders take a beating. When they eventually start to leak (and they will), warranties and repair options are important for wader longevity.
Best Duck Decoys of 2025, Expert Tested
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more Half of my garage is solely dedicated to duck decoys. I have dozens upon dozens of mallards, black ducks, pintails, wood ducks, wigeon, and gadwall floaters. Then there are the full bodies, silhouettes, and motion decoys. Not to mention my family’s collection of vintage cork decoys. It’s safe to say I have a decoy addiction.
The Best Upland Hunting Vests of 2025
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more › Like everything else in the gear world, upland hunting vests continue to get lighter and more ergonomic. Many companies are also making classic-looking vests to keep up with the vintage trend in hunting apparel. In upland hunting, this means waxed canvas vests. But looks aren't as important as comfort, fit, and performance. And a great upland vest should check all three of those boxes.
My Fall Chasing Trespassers, Counterfeiters, and Chromers
MY FELLOW PATROLMEN and I gather around for the morning briefing in late October before heading down to start our shift on the river. At the front of …
Best Gifts for Duck Hunters in 2024
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more › Duck hunting requires gear. Mountains of it. Sheds full of it. Trailers full of it. Hunters have to hide from ducks, call them, trick them, shoot them, clean them, and cook them. If you’re buying gifts for a duck hunter and you aren’t a duck hunter yourself, you probably don't know where to start. Don't worry, we’re here to help.
The 25 Best Black Friday Shotgun Deals of 2024
The 25 Best Black Friday Shotgun Deals of 2024 We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more There’s no better time to add another shotgun to your gun safe than this month. We rounded up the best Black Friday shotgun deals on pumps, semi-autos, and break actions. You’ll find everything from great upland guns to excellent waterfowl options from brands like Remington, Mossberg, Benelli, and Browning on this list.
Black Friday Gun Safe Deals
Gun Safes Are Up to $600 Off for Black Friday Right Now We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more Safely securing your firearms is one of the most important aspects of being a responsible gun owner. That means storing your guns in a durable and secure gun safe. And since gun safes are often expensive, there is no better time to buy one than Black Friday.
Best Black Friday Fly Fishing Deals
An angler holds a brown trout before releasing it back into the stream. (Photo/Marcelo Dufflocq) Early Black Friday Fly Fishing Deals We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more Fall is one of the best times of the year to catch giant trout. And when it's too cold to weather icy rivers and snowy banks, many fly anglers head south for saltwater species.
The Best Shimano Reels of 2026, Tested and Reviewed
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more This winter, I set out to test some of the best Shimano reels available, from spinning reels to baitcasters. The test logistics included many moving parts like target species, reel size, and application. But the idea was to create a one-stop review that included Shimano reels for both freshwater and saltwater game fish.
Bass Pro Shops Labor Day Sale 2025
Save up to 40% Off This Labor Day at Bass Pro Shops Get new rods, reels, fishing sunglasses, and more at a great discount this holiday weekend at Bass Pro Shops By Ryan CheliusAug 29, 2025
Save up to 40% Off This Labor Day at Bass Pro Shops
Fall fishing is right around the corner and anglers can save big on new gear at the Bass Pro Shops Labor Day sale. There are tons of great deals on fishing rods, reels, line, and more. Anglers can save $40 off the Johnny Morris Platinum Signature Spinning Reel and $70 off the Redington Crosswater/TOPO Complete Fly Outfit. There are also plenty of great deals on apparel and terminal tackle. Plus, you can get free shipping on orders over $50.
Save 40% at the Cabela’s Labor Day Sale
Hunting season is here and you can save big on new gear at the Cabela's Labor Day sale. There are hundreds of discounts on everything from optics and trail cams to archery targets and crossbows. Hunters can save $100 off the Winchester XPR Hunter bolt-action rifle and $30 off the Moultrie Mobile Edge 3 trail camera. Bowhunters can also get $20 off the Big Shooter Buck 3D Deer Archery Target and $100 off the Savage Arms Model 555 Silver Over/Under Shotgun.
Save up to 40% Off This Labor Day at Cabela’s
Hunting season is here and you can save big on new gear at the Cabela’s Labor Day sale. There are hundreds of discounts on everything from optics and trail cams to archery targets and crossbows. Hunters can save $100 off the Winchester XPR Hunter bolt-action rifle and $30 off the Moultrie Mobile Edge 3 trail camera. Bowhunters can also get $20 off the Big Shooter Buck 3D Deer Archery Target and $100 off the Savage Arms Model 555 Silver Over/Under Shotgun.
How a Custom Fly Rod Is Made
Hot Rods: How Maine Fly Co. Builds Small-Batch Fly Rods BACK IN MAY, I drove to Yarmouth, Maine, to visit the Maine Fly Co. I was there to pick up a custom fly rod they’d made for me and to go fishing with owner and founder Jeff Davis. I expected to find a warehouse with heavy machinery and assembly lines, but instead I found Davis’ small workshop in an old brick building overlooking the Royal River.
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Building My Ultimate Hunting and Fishing Truck
Toyota's Mid-Engine GR Yaris Concept Won't Hit the Race Track Just Yet The automaker said "there are difficulties" unique to its mid-engined layout, so the company is working to "refine it further." Toyota has worked hard to earn back its enthusiast credibility in the last decade or so. From launching the Scion FR-S and recreating the GR Supra to developing a …
The Best New Lures at ICAST 2025
Similar to years past, glide baits were once again a trend at this year's ICAST show. There are several big bait options for the freshwater crowd, including a three-in-one mega glide bait from SPRO as well as a more affordable option from Strike King. Other than that, there was a good mix of hardbaits, soft plastics, topwater, and finesse-style lures. The saltwater side of things also saw the introduction of a few realistic soft-plastic shrimp and some topwater poppers.
The Best New Reels at ICAST 2025
Over the last two days, we've had the chance to either cast or hold most of the new reels released at ICAST 2025. We've even fished with a few of the models leading up to their release here in Orlando. The freshwater side saw a good mix of new baitcasting and spinning reels, while the saltwater category leaned heavily towards lightweight, low-profile inshore reels. Either way, there is something new for every type of angler.
The Best New Reels at ICAST 2025
Over the last two days, we've had the chance to either cast or hold most of the new reels released at ICAST 2025. We've even fished with a few of the models leading up to their release here in Orlando. The freshwater side saw a good mix of new baitcasting and spinning reels, while the saltwater category leaned heavily towards lightweight, low-profile inshore reels. Either way, there is something new for every type of angler.
The Best New Rods From ICAST 2025
It’s Fishing Rodeo time. Here are tried and true recipes, whether you catch or not. If you are a true sports fan and you happen to live in Alabama, there are three events that you need to put on your bucket list. Two speak for …
The Best New Rods From ICAST 2025
We are combing the floor at ICAST 2025 for the best new gear in fresh and saltwater fishing. As far as rods go, the theme is new lightweight, inshore rods for saltwater anglers. But there are still plenty of new options—spinning casting—for the freshwater crowd. There are even a couple of great new fly rods available, including one 8-weight that really impressed us leading up to the show.
The Best New Rods From ICAST 2025
We are combing the floor at ICAST 2025 for the best new gear in fresh and saltwater fishing. As far as rods go, the theme is new lightweight, inshore rods for saltwater anglers. But there are still plenty of new options—spinning and casting—for the freshwater crowd. There are even a couple of great new fly rods available, including one 8-weight that really impressed us leading up to the show.
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