Fly fishing is serious business. You have to be buttoned-up, orderly, and kinda/sorta stuffy. If not, any fish you catch isn’t legitimate. Trout, as you are quite aware, are dignified creatures that wouldn’t condescend to consume the fly of some ragamuffin angler. Every once in a while, some johnny come lately writer thinks he can …
They say that smell is the sense with the closest connection to the brain. Olfactory stimulation can trigger responses, even memories, more than even sight or sound. It is remarkable, if you think about it. An infinitesimal quotient of particulate in the air can stimulate thoughts, emotions, or recollections. A smell, can quite literally, take …
There is a certain aesthetic that comes to mind when you think “fishing lodge.” Rough-hewn wood, wildlife-silhouette lampshades, and fish mounts. In fact, taxidermy might be the epitome of this look such that any large fish immediately makes a room, regardless if it is in a cabin or suburban den, feel “woodsy.” For generations, this …
If you haven’t ever been to the Fly Fishing Show in Somerset, you’re missing out. As the world’s largest fly fishing expo, there is so much to see, hear, and do. The sheer volume of tying materials, rods, and other outdoor miscellany can overwhelm the senses (and, if you’re not careful, the wallet). In Somerset, …
For $70, you can buy a lot of things in this world. A month’s worth of cell phone service, a nice oxford dress shirt, or two tanks of gas for your sedan. Take the whole gang out for burgers and ice cream. If you’re shopping shrewdly, you can get a week’s worth of groceries for …
If there is one article online on “how to choose a fly rod,” there are a hundred. Generally, the information contained therein is pretty solid. As long as someone isn’t shilling for a particular company, communicating the basics is a straightforward task for an angler that has been around fly rods for a while. Experts, …
The time has come. I’m heading up the Mid Atlantic coast for two days at the Fly Fishing Show in Somerset, New Jersey. By the way, New Jersey blows old Jersey out of the water as it relates to angling expos. What’s on the docket for today? Lunch: Fast food. Preferably something local and/or sketchy …
It could be said that I overthink road trips. I know what route I’ll be taking, what I’ll be wearing, where I’ll stop to eat, and what I plan on listening to while I drive. Call it crazy; it works for me. As I anticipate heading up to New Jersey for the Somerset Fly Fishing …
You’ve mustered up the courage to try a new body of water. Instead of settling for the known commodity of your tried and true spot, you venture off boldly based upon something you read or overheard at a fly shop. You do your research, map out the journey, pack up your provisions, and head out. …
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 Pennsylvania Rod and Reel, Thin Air Angler, and Bill Dance. If you’d like to …
