The Phonaesthetic Fly

October Caddis.

Say it with me. There is something about the syllabic rhythm; something in the way the vowels and consonants cycle about your mouth. It sounds perfect. It is a joy to say and a pleasure to hear. This two-word phrase may be in the running for fly fishing’s “cellar door.”

Now, euphony won’t catch you any fish. But imitations of the genus Dicosmoecus will. It is that insect coupled with the time of year it is most prevalent that adds the real harmony to the common name October Caddis.

The October Caddis combines some of the best parts of fly fishing. It is a big, bushy dry that floats high and is easy to see. Trout voraciously chase them, even as the weather gets colder as the hatch goes on. This dance occurs as the trees’ colors change and the crisp air of fall comes on in earnest. These flies flitting about fill anglers with favorable feelings.

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Back to Costa’s Grand Catalina (For the First Time)

Nostalgia and aesthetics aren’t the only reason you should buy fly fishing gear. But those two aspects do count for something. And in the history-rich, artistically inclined world of fly fishing nostalgia and aesthetics  are often embraced willingly. Bamboo rods and waxed cotton packs are still   made and used because they work. They are examples of equipment that tethers today to yesterday.

For anyone aware of fly fishing in the late 80s and the 90s, Costa Del Mar‘s reintroduced Grand Catalina sunglasses will immediately reel you back to yesterday. Their marketing is unashamedly capitalizing on that. And it works.

As a teenager hungry for all things fly fishing in the mid-90s, I tuned in with countless others across the nation to ESPN on Saturday mornings. Trout-centered shows were opportunities to take notes and improve on something the next time out. Bass tournaments scratched both competitive and infomercial itches. But  Walker’s Cay Chronicles stood alone among  programs. Flip Pallot’s exploration of Florida’s coastline was about as adventurous to a suburban teenager as  summiting Everest. For thirty minutes, with commercial breaks, I was able to  ride the ragged edge where the fish were big and wild.

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Podcast Ep. 309: John Gierach & Fly Fishing Voices

With the passing of a great author, something much more significant is lost than a new title every few years. First and foremost a man is gone. Beyond that, the fly fishing world has lost a voice.

Today I reflect a bit on Gierach’s impact on the fly fishing world. From adding popular phrases to spurring on countless imitators, he moved generations of anglers in many ways.

At the heart of it all is the fact that he was a consistent voice for anglers across five decades. Consistency, especially today, matters.

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

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Firsts

Today is opening day for waterfowl in New Hampshire. Opening days aren’t something I’m used to, since I’ve generally fished special regulation water that is open year-round. So for the last handful of years I’ve enjoyed the anticipation and gentle pomp of getting out early for the first day of ducks.

Although a payoff is sweet, there are many more “firsts” that come with the date in October circled on my calendar.

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I’ve Never Reviewed a John Gierach Book

I never met the man either. But from those interviews of him that I’ve read or heard, I’m confident that he’d have a  few sardonic quips about some of the superlatives I’m about to assign to him.

I’ve never reviewed a John Gierach book because they’re the best.

His books are the best in the premiere subgenre of fly fishing books. The quantity of paperbacks comprised of personal anecdotes and reflections is innumerable. They are the natural overflow of the contemplative angler’s experience. And while many do it, most don’t  do it well. For run of the mill authors, chapters have the tendency to be  tired variations on themes. For those who break through, a second book is still a rarity. But Gierach had over twenty follow-up books on fly fishing anecdotes and reflections. That is a telling statistic.

Any used book store bears witness to his position among angling memoirs. Each random assortment of volumes features some of the popular and some of the obscure. But Standing in a River Waving a Stick and Even Brook Trout Get the Blues will inevitably be there. In fact if a secondhand bookseller’s shelf doesn’t have a Gierach book or two, it is safe to assume there is another fly fishing section somewhere.

A more poignant  testimony to the man is his ubiquity. Fly fishers who don’t read have read John Gierach books. His bibliography has the same footprint among anglers as the Gideons do in hotels.

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Podcast Ep. 308: In Appalachia

This episode is an overflow of this week. On the website I’ve focused on the region that has been most impacted by Hurricane Helene, and I’m going to continue to do so on the podcast.

Even though southern Appalachia is remote and wild, it is incredibly close to so the vast majority of those who live along the eastern seaboard. That happens to be a large number of this country’s people. This is why the mountains and hollows are accessible and loved by so many. This is also why the relative silence about their present plight is confusing.

This podcast isn’t going to change anything. But people can.

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

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The Science of the Flood

photo: TU

Even since Monday’s article (which you can read here), more information has come to light regarding the terrible destruction of Hurricane Helene. First and foremost, the cost of human lives ought to be our concern. The death toll is increasing. Surprisingly, the state of human suffering is not being given the attention that one might expect.

We should pray for relief, for peace, and for purpose in the midst of this tragedy.

With all that said, I do want to turn to something I brought up on Monday’s post. It is a legitimate question that I have been asked as I’ve taught fly fishing and environmental programs:

Where do the fish go when it floods?

The short answer is that they find refuge. But there is much more to it than that. And since the internet is a very valuable resource, I figured I would share a few different articles that provide some very helpful information on the subject.

Here are three articles worth reading if you’re curious how small creeks, and their residents, survive significant storms:

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The Trout Will Come Back

photo ABC News

The trout will come back. But that is little consolation to the families of the hundreds who have died in the path and wake of Hurricane Helene.

Ripping through Florida and  Georgia before pounding the Carolinas, the storm did immense damage to the southern Appalachians.  The usual coastal and flatland issues associated with wind and rain were altered significantly by the terrain. The mountains and valleys supercharged the danger of water.

Consider what anglers enjoy about regions like this: small creeks begin high up on the ridge; they gather volume as tributaries enter during their descent; eventually they join larger rivers. Pragmatically, it means tiny brook trout then larger salmonids then bass. But historic rainfall in a short period of time turns every one of these flows into torrents that accelerate in scope and force. If the problems in the flatland come like a shotgun blast, the damage in the valleys are more akin to a large caliber round.

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Podcast Ep. 307: Cast & Blast

Not all of you are hunters. That is fine. But within the first five minutes of the podcast I have some real, practical advice for how anglers who don’t hunt have a legitimate opportunity for better fishing if they are aware of the hunting seasons.

That, and a piece of advice on how to not get shot.

In this week’s episode, I discuss the wonderful dilemma of “to hunt or to fish or to do both” that we encounter in the autumn. There are a few anecdotes, some gear recommendations, and a handful of questions I pose for you to answer for yourself.

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

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Time for a Good Book: A Fly Fishing Library

I love reading. I love fly fishing. It goes without saying that I truly enjoy a good fly fishing book.

For nearly nine years, I’ve been sharing books with those reading and listening to Casting Across. From guidebooks to technical volumes to famous pieces of literature, there have been recommendations of all shapes and sizes. Some of these articles have been the most read and commented upon posts.

Today I’m sharing the updated “Fly Fishing Books” page, now titled A Fly Fishing Library.

Here’s what has changed, and what is in store for you if you check it out:

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