When his Little Brother through Big Brothers Big Sisters didn’t understand why anyone would want to go into the woods to just walk around, an idea began to form in Alec Griswold’s mind. He had the opportunity to share the outdoors with a young person. More than that, it was a young person who had …
Month: April 2019
Podcast Ep. 24: You Never Go Fly Fishing Alone
Although fly fishing is an escape, we’re incapable of detaching completely. Our thoughts rightly meander from fly presentation to work, family, whats next. Our present fishing is profoundly linked to how we have fished – and who has fished with us in the past. And chances are the trails we are walking, the flies we …
All the Fish You Can’t Catch
There are more fish out there that you can’t catch than you can catch. Let that sink in for a minute. The statement, although hardly profound, is true at a number of levels. Firstly, you’re not going to catch all the fish in any given river. Perhaps in a small creek you’d be able to …
It’s Just Something – It’s Fly Fishing Gear
“Yeah, but it’s just…” Surf around on fly fishing message boards, scroll through social media, or hang out at angling events and you’ll hear this sentiment about any number of fly fishing products. “That material is just something you can get at the craft store.” “That hat is just a hat with a fishing patch …
Podcast Ep. 23: Banjo Minnows & Fly Fishing
On its face, fly fishing elitism is silly. It is okay to prefer the fly rod. And it has it advantages. But there is no reason to look down upon conventional tackle. In fact, there are plenty of reasons why a spinning rod should be part of your overall angling arsenal. In this episode, I …
Shiny Happy Fly People
If anything about fly fishing gets you down – and I mean really gets you down – maybe it isn’t for you. Maybe you should try wing shooting or surfing or sneaker collecting or curling. But I am virtually certain that the same kind of things that can get you flustered in fly fishing are …
New Page: Small Stream Fly Rods
Generally on Casting Across, I write what I want to write about. But I still look to see what takes; what catches people’s eyes. In the last year I’ve noticed that one subject has received a lot of attention. Last April I wrote a post on the perfect small stream fly rod. In December, I …
Podcast Ep. 22: Get Organized… Now!
If you have been stuck indoors, you might want to just grab your sling or vest and hit the water as quickly as possible. But it is helpful to take some deliberate time to clean up. Also, comprehensively organizing your fly fishing pack ahead of time will ensure that you are ready to fish. Once …
Reveille at Camp Fly Fish
I’m sure there are plenty of summer camps that feature a sunrise wake-up call. But I can’t imagine many of them are attended joyfully by teenagers. Instead of grueling runs or study sessions in the a.m., students at the Pennsylvania Rivers Conservation & Fly Fishing Youth Camp are up, dressed, and waist-deep in the water. …
0-Weight: The Sage DART
Like many fly fishers, I started chasing trout with a 5-weight. This versatile size worked well enough for most circumstances. As I fished more, and found myself spending a lot of my time on smaller streams, I learned how shorter and lighter rods could be more efficient and effective. And, most importantly, more fun. Back …