There are no brown trout here. Fish aren’t going to rise unless bugs are hatching. Nothing in this pond is over a few pounds. You can’t use flies – they’ll only take bait. Oh yeah? For an unpredictable pursuit like fly fishing, those statements sound awfully concrete. Add in a little bit of competitiveness and …
I do a fair amount or research for work. Most of the information I search for is still found in physical books. One of the most frustrating things is when a book doesn’t have an index. I know the information is in there somewhere; I’ll just have to work to find it. Obviously, Casting Across …
This week marks four years of Casting Across; four years’ worth of articles about the people, places, and things that go into the pursuit of fish. What have I learned? Even though the fly fishing community includes an incredibly diverse array of experiences, there are two common denominators that make fly fishing what it is. …
Four years ago I set out to write about fly fishing. I did want to write about fish. You can’t really write about fly fishing without giving your two cents on how to hook a trout every now and again. It establishes credibility. It is also pretty simple. Even more than the fish themselves, I …
I had never casted my fly rod before. I felt like the right thing to do was to wait until I was on a trout stream. All or nothing; all for a $25, boxed rod, reel, and line from a department store. But wouldn’t you know it, I caught a fish on my second cast …
50 episodes! But really, the milestone for a weekly podcast is 52… This week I respond to four listeners/readers. I discuss the quality of my podcast, keeping your eyeballs safe, a few pieces of gear an angling “noob” might want to pick up, and a fly rod that I am embarrassed I don’t own. Even …
If you were to write a classic fly fishing story you’d start with an existential statement. Maybe something about water or wind or the challenge of catching a fish. You’d develop it a bit. Then, you’d launch into the metaphor. Because this is real fly fishing writing, and everything is a metaphor for something else. …
One of the smallest fly fishing accessories might make the difference between catching and not catching. Think about the times you’ve missed fish. Was it because you were too slow? Was it because there was slack in the line? Was it because the fish was just slashing at the fly and not trying to eat …
I’m surprised at how many devoted fly fishers haven’t tried catching Great Lakes steelhead. Big fish, manageable rivers, and easy access seem like a perfect combination. Sure, fishing for these lake-run trout isn’t the same experience as going to the Pacific Northwest. But being a half-day’s drive from a unique seasonal fishery is something that …
The International Fly Tackle Dealer Show has returned to beautiful Colorado! For three days, fly fishing companies will be showing off their latest and greatest to others in the industry. While the purpose of the event is to cultivate relationships and broker deals, many fly fishers keep an eye on the goings-on. What gets unveiled …
