Rusty Flybox: Opening Day

Whether you are a dogmatic Opening Day devotee or simply someone who appreciates the subtle changes in the weather, the shift from March to April is significant for trout anglers.

I’m a nostalgic aficionado of certain fly fishing rituals. Like cheap bamboo rods, there is no practical reason to pick up what many anglers did in the middle of the 20th century. But fly fishing isn’t particularly practical. Thus,  we can go through the motions or we can even just wax eloquently about the good old days that we didn’t ever live through.

Today I’m sharing three posts from the archives. Two are all about the tradition of opening day. One focuses on the adventure of the drive. I like them, and I think you will too.

Read a preview of each piece, and find a link to the articles, below:

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Podcast Ep. 333: 5 Ways to Fish in a Busy Life

We’re all busy. Some are busier than others, but everyone has their own busy. And one consistent thing is that any kind of busy usually interferes with fly fishing.

Once people find out about my kind of busy (having 5 kids, serving as a pastor,  etc.), I get asked “how do you go fly fishing?” They’re not asking about technique or fly selection. They want to know how I fit it in.

Today I share five things that are helpful in fitting fly fishing into your busy life. They might not all work for you and your situation, but I’ve found all to be helpful in one way or another.

Listen to the episode below, or on your favorite podcast app.

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VIDEO: Ranking the Fly Fishing Works of James Prosek

Twenty years ago, it was virtually impossible to come across a fly fishing book section and not see a few titles from James Prosek. Quality writing and exceptional painting led his work to be instantly embraced by the angling community.

And while he has over a dozen publications, there are a half dozen that are specifically focused on trout and fishing for them. One of them, in my humble opinion, ought to be on every trout fisher’s shelf.

In this quick video, I share a few things about what makes each of those books worth reading. In doing so, I also rank them on nothing but my own subjective criteria.  That said, they’re all worth reading and making a part of your fly fishing library.

Watch what else I have to say about the books, and find out where you can pick them (and more!) up, below:

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Fly Rod FAQs for the Backcountry

With small stream fly fishing getting a lot of attention on Casting Across, it makes complete sense that I get a lot of questions about  the kinds of rods used in these applications.

Below are five questions that are pertinent to small streams and the rods commonly used to fish them. It is not an exhaustive treatment of the subject, but each has been asked multiple times in recent memory. Added to the growing “Fly Rod FAQs” page, they augment an already helpful resource that can help guide you as you think through your gear.

Read the five questions (and answers), and then see the entire list below:

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Podcast Ep. 332: Behind *that* Fly Fishing Article

Well, I know that people like finding and catching wild trout… but I was still quite surprised when this article blew up as much as it did.

Casting Across was glowing red hot from all the online traffic a post generated this week. I’m not sure what I did right (or wrong), and I don’t think I’m going to ask too many questions. Regardless, there is a good chance you’re new to the site and the podcast because of it: so welcome!

Today I explore the three pieces of research that go into my wild trout pioneering. They’re not radical or complicated, but they’re effective. As I talk about them and share a handful of anecdotes, I hope you’re encouraged to go out and find some wild fish where “there’s no fish there.”

Listen to the episode below, or on your favorite podcast app.

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VIDEO: Dozens of Fly Tying Experts, One Book

A good fly tying demonstration doesn’t just give you the how. It also throws the what and why in to really help you understand what you’re doing. The best ones? They add high-quality photographs, throw in some anecdotes, and reference the top voices in fishing today.

Sound like a high standard? Well, Tim Cammisa of Trout & Feather pulled it off with Tying Euro Nymphs.

While Tim certainly brings a lot to the tying table himself, the book really shines because he leans on the wealth of information that dozens of truly serious anglers and tiers are sharing.

And don’t be scared by “Euro” and “Competition.”  The lessons are helpful regardless of your fly fishing preferences and intensity level!

Watch what else I have to say about the book, and find out where you can pick it up, below:

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There’s No Trout There

“Ain’t no fish in there.”

I’m confident that by fish he meant trout. Because there was, without a doubt, fish in this creek. Suckers finned in the clear pools. Dace chased little olives and midges. Suckers and dace are certainly fish. But few people with full vests and fancy fly rods are actively looking for suckers. Few folks with worm buckets and cane poles are looking for suckers, for that matter.

“Well, that may be,” I said. “But I’m going to give it a whirl and see if I can find anything swimming around.”

He eyed me suspiciously. I imagine he was considering what kind of nefarious or seedy deeds I was actually planning such that I’d put together such an intricate ruse of fly fishing for trout in a stream that he knew held no trout. For all he knew I was going to go and get high. Or worse, that I was a fed.

“Why don’t you try Spring Creek?” (actually, “crick”) he asked with equal parts benevolence and apprehension. “They’ve got that whole fly fishing only section. You’ve got to throw them back and everything.”

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Podcast Ep. 331: One Reel, More Fishing

How should you think about fly reel acquisition? Should you buy the best? Should you buy the least expensive thing that will hold line? Should you skip the headache of such questions and aim towards the center?

While I don’t begrudge anyone who wants a premium, machined reel or the angler who is content with gear made of plastic, I do have a recommendation for an option that will give you more for less money. More what? More fishing. More fishing options, specifically.

Figure out what I’m talking about, and hear my rationale, in this week’s podcast.

Listen to the episode below, or on your favorite podcast app.

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VIDEO: Messing with Fly Fishing in Texas? Start Here

Texas is a big place. And contrary to many stereotypes non-Texans may have from watching westerns, there is a lot of water across the state.

If there is water, there are likely fish. And if there are fish, you can cast a fly to them. Even in some of the biggest cites in the country.

That is the point of The Local Angler series, with Dallas being the most recent entry. I’ve been quite pleased with the quality of the information and presentation in these books. So whether you’re  a native Texan or one of the many transplants, whether you travel there for business or for pleasure; these books are certainly worth flipping through to get excited for some real fish in real interesting places.

And yes… I know that one of the books was upside-down in the video. 

Watch what else I have to say about the books, and find out where you can pick them up, below:

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Feature-Rich Fly Line from Sunray

Virtually all fly fishing situations can be approached with basic gear. A medium fast, 8’6″, 5-weight loaded with weight forward line will give you what you need to catch trout. But modifying one of those components to better match your skill or your circumstances can make a real difference. For example, a higher quality line will usually reduce friction and allow for a longer cast. A more specialized line will be constructed with a taper that can turn over large flies, load at shorter distances, or sink at a specified rate. If your fishing would benefit from such features, it is worth considering adding a new spool or simply swapping out your core line.

Sunray ‘s Kevlar NoKnot EZ Back Cast fly line is a specialized line that is loaded with features and could serve anglers in a variety of fishing conditions.

Many of those features are  highlighted in that voluminous product name:

  • The line is built off of a Kevlar core. This means that the line, unlike the majority of fly lines, won’t stretch. While this eliminates any shock absorption in the line (your rod tip and leader still provide this), it allows for quick connections on hook sets. Subjectively, it feels like long lengths of line pick up off the water with less effort.
  • “NoKnot”  has a few implications. Like many lines these days, there is a welded loop that allows for a loop-to-loop leader connection. Sunray does add some reinforcement, so the weld won’t give out before the line itself. More unique is the integrated backing. What is actually going on is that the braided Kevlar under the PVC coating extends for another 150 feet. There is a seamless transition between the two. While this isn’t a reason to buy the line, it is a nice perk.
  • The real star of the show is the taper of the line, hence: EZ Back Cast. And that is a feature that deserves a little more attention.

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