I found the gift bag in the van after church. “Oh, that is a birthday gift,” my wife said. I pulled back the tissue paper and saw that it was a sweater. Shamefully, my initial reaction was not unlike a child receiving a sweater on his birthday. Then I pulled the garment from the bag. …
Author: Matthew
The Fly Fishing Show: Kids’ Highlights
Days and evenings spent at various outdoor expos are important for Casting Across and a lot of fun for me, personally. But there is a three-hour chunk of time that gets written in ink on the calendar by my kids. Since 2018, the boys get a morning or afternoon at The Fly Fishing Show in …
Podcast Ep. 269: Dumbing Down Fly Tying
I mean that in the absolutely most positive way possible. Heck, I had to dumb down my fly tying when I started (and restarted) so that I didn’t get so frustrated that I threw my vice through the wall. So, apologies out of the way, what do I mean by dumbing down fly tying? Some …
Top Fly Fishing Books for Kids
There are few gifts that you can give a child that can have as much of an impact as a book. Between the valuable skill of reading and the even more special benefit of reading together, a book does things that few toys or electronics can. A quick search online will yield plenty of titles …
3 Sets of 3 for the New Year
Happy New Year from Casting Across! As per usual, I don’t exert myself too much when putting holiday articles together. That said, what you’ll find below is worth a few minutes of your time. Because it is lists. And everyone on the internet loves lists. This list of lists includes a few things that you …
Podcast Ep. 268: 2023 in the Backcast
What better for a final podcast episode of the year than a curated retrospective on 2023? While I touch on other subject matter, this is what I get rolling with on this final episode of December. You might be surprised what the most shared episode of Casting Across happened to be. But you won’t be …
The Simple Fly Fishing Ornament
Sometimes the simplest things can bring the most satisfaction. Those who love the outdoors, fly fishers included, ought to appreciate that. In that vein, today I’m sharing something simple yet satisfying. It is a holiday decoration. It is a craft. It is fly tying. It can be a gift and it can become a tradition. …
Merry Christmas to All
Who is He in yonder stall,At whose feet the shepherds fall?Who is He in deep distress,Fasting in the wilderness? Who is He the people blessFor His words of gentleness?Who is He to whom they bringAll the sick and sorrowing? Who is He that stands and weepsAt the grave where Laz’rus sleeps?Who is He the gath’ring …
Podcast Ep. 267: Fly Fishing Storytime ’23
While this episode is being released in late December, it isn’t a holiday episode by any means. However, I’m reviving something from a few years ago that was a part of the podcast around this time of year. The public domain is a treasure trove of fly fishing and fly fishing-adjacent content. And this particular …
Go Fishing, for Trout’s Sake
Luray, VA – Effective immediately, Shenandoah National Park officials have lifted a parkwide fishing closure. Extremely dry conditions and low stream flows prompted the ban on August 31. Recent rainfall has improved conditions resulting in lifting the fishing ban. However, Evan Childress, fish biologist, added, “Be gentle with the fish and the fragile environment they …