Fly Fishing Questions You’re Asking Robots

I am not anti-AI.

I also grew up with the Terminator series and, therefore, have a healthy fear of giving robots too much autonomy.

One of my favorite ways to interact with large language models is to ask them what other people are asking them. Or, I see what kinds of questions are on people’s minds.

Recently I engaged a chatbot on popular fly fishing inquiries. I wasn’t surprised at the overall responses.

  • What is fly fishing and how is it different from spin fishing?
  • What basic gear do I need to start fly fishing?
  • What rod, reel, and line should a beginner buy?
  • Is fly fishing hard to learn?
  • How much does it cost to get into fly fishing?

But then I probed a little deeper. What was trending as follow-up questions. Or, outside of those basic beginner questions, what were fly fishers asking? Here are the three of the top questions anglers have been asking AI… along with my non-robotic responses.

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Podcast Ep. 390: Fly Fishing Accusations, XXXIX

Today’s feedback is pretty interesting.  The second segment is about tying flies and and approaching trout in a way that will yield many more fish.

But the first and the third? Those are all about the fly fishing community. But that whose conversation is a major part of Casting Across: the quarry and the culture of fly fishing.

As always, I am thankful for every read, listen, and watch you give me. And I’m also appreciative of all the feedback I receive. Thanks for being such an important part of Casting Across. And enjoy the  episode!

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

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VIDEO: Fill Up Your Fly Fishing Library (& an Unboxing)

Used bookstores are treasure troves for readers of fly fishing content. I don’t think I’ve ever been in an establishment that deals in previously owned books where there hasn’t been at least a row devoted to fly fishing. It is great for discovering hidden gems or taking a chance on a random title.

But if you have a particular book in mind, the internet gives you access to countless resellers. Today, I received a package in the mail. This is not unusual. In fact, enough book-shaped parcels come to my front step that I frequently am unsure as to what the contents of any given delivery might be.

Consequently, today’s video is an unboxing. I don’t know if these are “in” anymore online, but I figured I’d talk about how I find books in general and used books in particular.

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

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A Bunch of Trout Behind the WalMart

The text came in late Saturday.

“They put a bunch of trout in behind the WalMart.”

Now, I can appreciate how this string of words may trigger a good number of fly fishers reading this article. And I could certainly up my word count by marking each and every syntactical landmine. But for those with a more sensitive conscience: Just pass on this one and click on any of the hundreds of posts in which I wax poetically about native brook trout. Because today I’m talking about fishing for stocked trout behind a WalMart.

So while the lede might have some of you sputtering and frantically searching for the comments section, some may be excited at this prospective topic. It is awfully convenient if you want to get some shopping done and land a few fish, after all. But the true intended audience is that middle group who may be on the fence. You feel the tension. You are a little torn. This, then, is for you.

Because I want to talk about three reasons why I had a good afternoon catching a bunch of trout that they just put in behind the WalMart.

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Podcast Ep. 389: [Cast1] Fly Fishing with Technology

This is not a podcast about using AI to find fish. Nor is this a podcast about building a social media presence.

I like to think of these four fundamental pieces of advice as the 21st century version of what was commonly practiced by anglers only a few generations ago. With the overwhelming quantity of information we have in our hands, sometimes it is hard to wade through that which is quality or not. On top of that, what data is useful for the angler?

Again: four quick tech tips that will inevitably help you fly fish – whether you’re new or have been doing it for generations.

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

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VIDEO: 3 Fly Fishing Gadgets to Take Everywhere

If you’ve been fly fishing for over a decade, you’ve probably accumulated more than a couple gadgets and tools. They all work. Some work better than others. A few fit you and your fishing so well that they go with you everywhere you go fishing.

Today  I share three pieces of gear that I’ve come to rely on for nearly all of my freshwater fly fishing.

Although we’re all different, the ergonomics, versatility, and prices of each of these items are probably in the range of what you’re looking for. So Check out my quick “show and tell,” click on the links below if you want more information, and fish with what helps you fish well.

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Bait & Switch

Angling ethics are subjective.  Yes, there are laws on the books. But those statutes are applied based upon a consensus. At times, appeals to empirical data might even enter the picture. All of that to say, fishing regulations aren’t  natural law. But  common sense does factor in when making moral judgments.

For example: I’ve walked the line with using bait  with my fly rod at a few memorable moments.

Now, there is a difference between the ethics of using bait and laws prohibiting it. I believe that in all of the following anecdotes I was well within my legal rights. My actions may not stand up to your personal scrutiny, however. Consequently, I only ask that you read these accounts with some grace. After all, I was fishing. You know how that goes.

The Lizard  Hopper

My small university campus had two ponds. The smaller of the two was surrounded by cattails and contained some sizeable largemouth bass. Being in South Carolina, there were all manner of creatures in and around the water. Lizards were the most exotic. They also were prone to leaping into the water from the vegetation when a person parted the tall plants in order to cast. The result was one of the most tantalizing topwater displays imaginable. The serpentine wiggle and the pulsing waves from the frantic swimming was something no lure, let alone no fly, could replicate. And the bass loved it.

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Podcast Ep. 388: Best in Show 2026

Whether I’m in the market for new gear or not, I like to keep my finger on the pulse of what is new and noteworthy in fly fishing. For a few years The Fly Fishing Show has held the Consumers Choice Awards. While not exhaustive, it does feature that which is often new and that which is somewhat noteworthy. And   that alone warrants a few minutes of my time.

And I’d wager, based upon your interest in this podcast, my talking about it warrants a few minutes of your time.

Today I discuss a handful of the Consumer Choice Awards selections that I think are interesting. It may or may not surprise you that the one I find most intriguing is also the least expensive.

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

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VIDEO: Guide Stories

Stories of the hunt have been told as long as we’ve been eating meat. Whether it be woolly mammoth or rainbow trout, everyone loves a good story.

Because they’re on the water so much, guides usually have a pretty robust back catalog of tales to tell. In Reelly and Reel Salty, Ryan Johnston compiles more stories than you could get through a weeks’ worth of nights around the camp fire. They’re both quick, fun reads that celebrate the love of the outdoors and the joy that comes with being outside with others.

Also, definitely check out the kids’ program that Johnston co-founded: Cast Hope.

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

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Rusty Flybox: Pretentious

Recently I released  a podcast episode in which I comment on the new breed of fly fishing elitists. Spoiler alert: they don’t wear tweed or try to dazzle you with Latin terms.

If you give it a listen (which you can do from here or anywhere you listen to podcasts), hopefully it doesn’t come across as a rebuke. It is meant to be more of an admonishment; an encouraging word to pull back before cultural collision, if you will.

That said, I did want to address it head on. Passive-aggressive isn’t my thing. In fact, passive-aggressive is a thing I have no problem rebuking. But I do have no qualms about poking a little fun at pretentiousness with  a wink and a nod.

With all that said, these three posts from the Casting Across archive are meant to prod the new generation of serious fly fishers a little bit. And, it might be added, I think we all can see areas in which the commentary hits a little close to home.

Click on the image or the title of the three posts below to read the entire article.

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