How light of a fly rod should you use if you want to feel fish? What is the perfect dry fly rod? Will a broken rod make casting harder? (Yes, I’ve heard this a number of times.) I love questions. And I enjoy thinking through and talking about fly rod questions. In my years writing …
I mentioned going fishing this weekend. “No,” he quickly replied. “Next weekend is opening day.” He was right, from a certain point of view. Opening day for trout ponds is next weekend. But in this state the vast majority of water had been open since New Year’s Day, after a brief hiatus for the fall …
Yes. I know it is a long title. But I like the way it sounds. Today I’m in the midst of planning a fly fishing excursion of my own. So I figured I would share some of the most practical advise I have amassed over the years related to lodging. If you have the means, …
I don’t celebrate Earth Day. But I think about the environment quite a bit. And I do so from within a worldview that forces me to reckon with nature, my place in it, and the entire trajectory of the created order. If you have been around Casting Across for any length of time, you are …
Fishing new water is always exciting. Particularly when there is a high degree of certainty that there will be plenty of trout, exploration is enjoyable. A recent morning on a new stretch of river was filled with probing undercut banks and drifts through deep runs. Slow and deliberate observation was the ticket to identifying spots …
Trout don’t live in ugly places is a cute little phrase. But it is not true. I have caught trout in some ug-ly places. Busted concrete abutments, shopping carts, and the growl of engine braking are not what you think when you daydream of fly fishing. But out of necessity or adventure, this alternative ambiance …
TroutRoutes is unequivocally the best digital app for fly fishers. And no: it is nothing like social media. No one knows where you’re fishing, what you’re catching, or what you’re doing. Given the majority of the angling apps out there, that needs to be said. It could be argued that alone makes it worth having …
The large trout was gently finning, staying relatively still in the gin clear water. Every once in a while he would slide to the right or the left. Given that the spring creek was absolutely thick with cress bugs, it was a safe assumption that the brown was sold out to feeding on these little …
Guides do a lot more than put fish on the end of your line. In fact, putting fish on the end of your line is one of those things they can’t do. So when they ask questions, give ideas, or encourage the trip to go in a different direction, their expertise is worth leaning into. …
The history of introducing fish into American waterways is a story of interesting stories. Setting aside the ecological concerns of nonnative species for a moment, the paths taken by the ancestors of today’s trout and bass are remarkable. There are plenty of fantastical accounts of warming barrels of fry and derailed trail cars filled with …
