Excellence by accident. Whether the fly fisher knows or acknowledges it or not, this little quip may very well characterize some of the best experiences we have in angling. A perfect example is one of the very first memorable trout I caught on a fly rod. Learning to fly fish, it was drilled into me …
Month: April 2018
Rusty Flybox: Cumberland Valley
Next week I’ll be spending a few days in Pennsylvania in pursuit of trout. Although the bulk of my time will be spent on some of the larger rivers in the central part of the state, my schedule allows for a detour to the Cumberland Valley. Basically, this part of South Central Pennsylvania includes all …
Secret Spots for Fly Fishing (Books)
Sorry for spot burning, folks. I know it is the biggest angling crime of the internet age. It is painful to divulge this secret because it means more crowds and more competition. All of that has a cost associated with it. But this is about the greater good. And that greater good is literacy. Fly …
Trout Quixote. six.
A year and a half ago I came face to face with the possibility of living very, very close to wild trout. While out on a run, getting a little lost, a glimpse of a fish in a stream captivated me. I knew the water was cool and clean. The species of the fish was …
Photo Contest: #myvedavoo
Hey… that’s my stuff! And why is a handful of my fly fishing gear laid out in a photogenic and organized manner? Vedavoo’s #myvedavoo photo contest, of course. The whole point of the contest is to show how different people use their gear. If you’re anything like me, you are into the stuff of fly …
Dear Fly Fishers: Be Nice to Buddy the Elf
The last thing any fly fisher wants to think about in the early spring is Christmas and the weather that generally accompanies it. But really, is there any time where Will Ferrell, dressed up like an elf, isn’t funny? I’d say “no.” More than his trademark humor, I think there is something that the fly …
Of Banjos & Buggers
I have some valuable fly fishing writing to share with you. But first, let me begin by blowing your mind: THERE IS NO ENTRY FOR THE BANJO MINNOW ON WIKIPEDIA!!! Shock, I know. Anyway, growing up I was a fan of the Banjo Minnow. Not only did I use them (and with great success, I …
Last Cast of the Week, 4/13/2018
Most Fridays on Casting Across are devoted to other people’s contributions in the fly fishing community. Articles, pictures, social media accounts, videos, podcasts, products, and more will be featured on The Last Cast of the Week. Today, I’m sharing items from Tenkara USA, Trident Fly Fishing, & RepYourWater/Hank Patterson. If you’d like to be featured …
Shame & My Favorite Fly Fishing Photo
This is one of my favorite trout pictures. I caught this brown trout in the highest reaches of a Pennsylvania limestone stream. This fish was remarkable for its color. This fish was exciting due to its relatively large size. But this fish was most special because it was caught in a place where most trout …
Finest Fly Tying Benches: Everything In Its Place
For most fly tiers, tools and materials are limited to what can be purchased commercially. And with more products than the rest of the fly fishing industry combined, there are a lot of options for tiers. But what if something isn’t just right? You’d need to be able to dye your own bucktails, breed your …