Pride in Cheap Fly Fishing Gear

I can’t recall for certain how many pairs of $5.99 sunglasses I owned in the first years of my fishing life. But I am confident that it was far, far less than would total the price of the fancy pairs I wear these days. And, I think it bears mentioning, these cheap sunglasses were name brand. They were “Bill Dance” sunglasses. Plastic-framed aviators with oversized polarized lenses. Lightweight, functional, and affordable. Ironically fashionable for a teenager in the 1990’s, too.

Somewhere along the line I upgraded. That is consumerism lingo for “spent a lot more money for something a little bit nicer.” And I own that. It is what it is. Or, more accurately, it is what I justify it to be. Philosophy aside, there are some other cheap fly fishing things I clung to for years.

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Podcast Ep. 404: When You Don’t Have The “Right” Gear

I do talk about fly fishing gear a lot on Casting Across. But there is something that will trump equipment nine out of ten times: skill.

Within reason, your proficiency with equipment will overcome not having that rod, fly, or gadget that is designed specifically for a particular task. This is a good thing. Because with little expense and without filling up another closet, you can keep doing more on the water.

But there are also times when you are on the water and you don’t have that one thing that would make fishing a little easier. There are still things you can do. Today, I talk about three of them.

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

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VIDEO: The Definitive Word on a Premier River

On one hand, a fly fishing guidebook is a tool. The author gives you what you need to catch fish in a particular location.

But a good guidebook is much more. The writer shares his passion for a place he truly enjoys and in which he is personally invested. That excitement comes through in a way that adorns  your expectations for that next trip to the river.

In Fly Fishing Guide to the Farmington River, Steve Culton sufficiently provides the former and ably executes the latter. It is a readable resource. It is an engaging knowledge base. Tapping into his own expertise and that of other anglers, it is the definitive word on a premier New England fishery.

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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Fly Fishing Books, XIV

For over a year and a half, I’ve been putting reviews of fly fishing books on YouTube. It has been a lot of fun to talk about new titles and share some of my favorite books from the history of angling. This has been a great way to augment the dozens of articles posted about fly fishing books from the past decade on this site.

But not everyone who looks at Casting Across clicks over to YouTube.  So while some of the books I’m sharing below have been the subjects of full length videos, they are good enough to share again. I’ve enjoyed all four of these titles, and all of them are worth seeking out.

As I’ve done for all of the entries in my “Fly Fishing Books” series, I’ve spread the selections over three rough categories:

  • Guide (regional, site specific)
  • Technical (methods, locations, fly tying)
  • Literature (novels, biographies, history)

Check out one kind of each book, why I suggest it, and a bonus read below. And follow the links in the headings to get a copy for yourself.

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Podcast Ep. 403: Why Fish Downstream?

Let me start off by saying that fly fishing downstream is not my method of choice. It is harder. It is a lower probability approach. It is less than ideal.

But sometimes it is necessary.

Today I talk through three situations that might demand a downstream presentation. Even though all those caveats are probably still in play, fishing from an upstream position might be the only play at a particular fish. And all that said, there are better ways to do it if you must.

*Note* My dislike of fly fishing downstream is pragmatic, not wrapped up in ethics or tradition.

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

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VIDEO: The Longest Fly Fishing Book

Coming in at over 1,700 pages, Ernest Schwiebert’s Trout is a massive marvel of angling literature. But don’t let the page count make you nervous… there are a few pictures here and there.

Genuinely, Trout is a very readable work. Taking it all in  cover-to-cover might be a bit much, but the six “books” within the book are each digestible. Schwiebert expertly writes about everything from history to biology to technique.

Although first editions come at a high cost, the work is worth seeking out in any way you can get ahold of it for its content and position in the library of fly fishing.

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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Propellers & Light Angling Heresy

At first blush, it is a bit sacrilegious.  Nestled in between spoons and spinners in a brightly colored blister pack, it can’t be a fly. And it has propellers for goodness’ sake. Propellers! Rubber legs we can deal with. Gummy-bodied saltwater patterns produce fish. Mop flies have grown on us. But propellers? Are we not civilized? If you cut us, do we not bleed tweed?

Hi-Country Flies’ “Pistol Pete” forces fly fishers to contend with some of the arbitrariness of what separates a fly from a lure. And asking this question introduces a whole host of other queries regarding what is in and out of orthodoxy. But for most devotees of catching fish, pragmatism is a defining characteristic of their angling worldview.

Case in point: The first time I fished a fly it was  behind a clear plastic float.

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Podcast Ep. 402: The Tiniest Blue Lines

How small is too small? Well, there is certainly a line. But small almost always gets bigger.

When scouting for trout, that last sentiment is helpful to remember. Just because a blue line on your map doesn’t immediately yield fish, it isn’t automatic that you should abandon all hope. You might just need to go a little higher up. Or, to rule out a host of other potentially complicating factors it might be best to start at the top and work your way down.

I talk through this approach to tiny blue lines and more on this week’s episode.

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

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VIDEO: Fly Fishing Book Q&A

I like your questions so much, I decided to share them again. This time, I’m addressing what you’ve asked as it pertains to fly fishing books. And it is, like most of my fly fishing book content these days, on YouTube.

After 70+ fly fishing book review videos, I’ve collected quite a few questions from readers. Everything I touch on in this video has been topics that multiple viewers have asked about. That said, I hope it is relevant and helpful for you.

Now a question for you:

What is your favorite fly fishing book?

Let me know in the comments below. While my “to read” pile isn’t getting any shorter, there is no reason I can’t add to it for a rainy day.

Watch my answers to your questions below:

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Fly Rod FAQs: Rod Reviews, Price Tags, & Nose Grease

Humility is important when it comes to any kind of instruction. To that end, it is best to remember that none of us came into this world expert in anything good or worthwhile. We had to learn. And we often learned by asking questions.

I was fortunate to have a well-stocked angling section in a public library at my disposal when I started fly fishing. Later, I was able to build relationships with patient fly shop employees and fellow anglers. I asked a lot of questions. These queries ranged from cost to maintenance to “what is the absolute perfect rod for this specific scenario?” And I’m thankful to have received pretty good answers.

Below are five more questions I’ve answered (and asked) about fly rods. They’re also tacked onto the ever-expanding running list of frequently asked questions here on Casting Across, which is linked to at the end of the article.

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