It's clear what readers are looking forward to fly fishing for this spring.

As of this post, 70 percent of readers are going after trout or steelhead this spring when conditions become fishable in their neck of the woods.

If you haven't vote in the poll below yet, let us know what you're fishing for this spring. It will help us pick what species we focus on in coming months.

Also, be sure to check out our breakdowns of the different types of trout, bass, etc.,  in our Species Section, along with our tips on where trout feed in a typical trout stream.

Don't worry, spring will be here before you know it (March 20). Good luck on the water!

As a former newspaper guy and regular outdoors magazine contributor, I was bummed by the news this past weekend that Fly Fisherman magazine is making cuts to its staff.

According to a press release, the magazine is parting ways with Associate Publisher Linda Wood and Managing Editor Geoff Mueller.

I worked with Geoff and Fly Fisherman for the first time in December, writing a Forum piece in the Jan./Feb. issue about President Obama's fly fishing trip on the East Gallatin River in Montana.

As a poor scribe who has written for too many magazines and newspapers, I can honestly say Geoff and Ross Purnell, who I'm happy to hear will remain on staff and continue working with their talented writers and photographers, were as professional a pair of editors as I've encountered in this business.

In fact, they went with the Obama article even though they knew it could cost them a few subscriptions because of some readers' political views (another major outdoors magazine I won't name turned it down for just that reason). But like myself, they felt the President's fly fishing trip was a newsworthy event, no matter what party you're registered with. The Article not only showed a glimpse of what the President's views on conservation are, but offered a rare insight into what it was like to be THE fly fisherman who guided the President's first and only fly fishing trip.

No other magazine had the story ... and those are the kinds of editorial decisions that have made Fly Fisherman such a great read the past 40+ years.

But if there's something else I know about Geoff, it's that he's a great fly fisherman, and I hope he uses the opportunity to get away from it all and enjoy some time on the water this spring.

There's nothing more therapeutic than the push and the pull of that fly line on the stream.

I can attest to that, as fly fishing helped me get through a decade in the newspaper business.

Here's hoping Geoff, and Linda, land on their feet ... and land some beautiful trout in the process.

A look at some of Geoff's work with Fly Fisherman.

Add Washington Redskins tight end Chris Cooley to the list of pro athletes who enjoy fly fishing.

In a recent ESPN piece that followed Cooley and Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington striper fishing on Lake Mead outside of Las Vegas, Kyle Carter notes that Cooley has been addicted to fishing ever since he was 11 living in Wyoming -- when his mother signed him up for a fly fishing class.

"I've always enjoyed being outside," Cooley said. "I could go to pretty much any river and match the hatch."

Cooley and the QB should have stuck to fly fishing on this day, because they got skunked while bass fishing on The Mead.

But unlike many pro athletes who claim to be avid fly fishers, it sounds like Cooley can hold his own with a fly rod and even ties his own flies.

The article also notes a pretty funny story about a boat he had that always seemed to take on water.

Good to hear I'm not the only one with a water-logged boat.

And like me, Cooley also enjoys writing about fishing on his personal blog, even going as far as to note ESPN sideline anchor Rachel Nichols "casted like a seven year old girl with an arm full of barbies."

Classic.

Other fly fishing sports stars: Danny Ferry, Ken Griffey Jr., Nnamdi Asomugha, Bob Knight, Ryan Newman and, in a class of his own, the legendary Ted Williams, one of the greatest sportsmen of all-time.

Cooley trout photo courtesy The Cooley Zone.

When I look at Redington fly rods, I think new school fly fishing.

Founded in 1992, Redington is a relative newcomer when it comes to the fly rod makers on our top 10 list.

But Redington also better understands the new generation of angler better than many rod makers, and gears its fly rods to that audience, which is why it's helped so many anglers set world records in recent years.

Redington's Ready to Fish Outfits, for example, are becoming hugely popular to newcomers to the sport because all you need is a fly to start fishing with these made-to-fish rods.

Powered with a Rio Mainstream fly lines, these combos are ready to fish right out of the box. Redington has also added the following fly rods to its lineup in 2010.