I’m man enough to admit that I watch The Waltons, from time to time. The wholesome life of the Depression-era mountain family is the TV version of a palate cleanser. People on The Waltons aren’t perfect, but love and community and family almost always win the day. That, and they go fishing a lot. The …
I’ve never lived in the Shenandoah region. But at various points over the years I have been located close enough to become familiar with this spectacular part of the country. And I’ve spent this past week at the foot of the mountains, just outside the park. In and around Shenandoah National Park there are a …
Want to know how to make a better presentation with your fly? Cast better Want to know how to catch more fish? Cast better. Want to know how to have more fun fly fishing? Cast better. Learning to be able to cast a fly rod better is part of growing as an angler. It might …
For years I maintained that ice fishing was on the extreme end of a spectrum, the polar opposite of fly fishing. You fish up and down. You carry what you need on a sled. You don’t need to attempt stealth. You can eat a sandwich while fishing. Ice fishing is a lot of fun, and …
A few weeks ago I compiled a list of the top rated fly shops in each state. The list was just that: top rated, not best. So what makes a fly shop the best? Maybe even better than another that is highly rated online? Admittedly, it is very subjective. Your preference might be dictated solely …
40 episodes in, and I have a lot of questions, comments, and other feedback to interact with. This podcast I answer a question about fishing while backpacking, sing the praises of old fly rods, and address “Japanese shower climbing.” Briefly, but I address it. It is a lot of fun to hear what readers/listeners are …
I’m pretty careful of my fly rods and reels. Only a few pieces of gear have truly been damaged. I can’t say the same thing about waders, however. For whatever reason, I’m tough on waders and wading boots. Maybe I “fish hard,” or maybe I don’t look where I’m walking. Regardless, I’ve put holes in …
The “what” and “why” of using a dry/dropper rig are explained a few weeks into Fly Fishing 101. You cover more water, present to more fish, and maximize your catching potential. But there have always been many more ways to tap into 2 fly systems than a Chernobyl Ant with a Copper John underneath it. …
If you’re not fishing a dry/dropper, you’re missing out on an excellent way to maximize your fish-catching potential. But there are other “dropper” rigs that work really well in a variety of scenarios in which a dry fly trailed by a nymph just wouldn’t make sense. In this episode I talk about four ways you …
I consider myself an avid reader of fly fishing content. The scope of my interests ranges from literary classics to random posts on social media. For whatever reason, fly fishing writing has a unique penchant to transcend “I caught a fish” or “this is how I caught a fish” and wade deeply into “catching a …
