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 …
Author: Matthew
Catching Virtually Inaccessible Fish
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 …
Podcast Ep. 284: Urban Fly Fishing 101
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 & onX: Charting Fishing Success
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 …
Leaves of Three: Let Anglers Be!
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 …
Podcast Ep. 283: Guide Stories & Insights
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 Kind of Moxie it Takes to be Anadromous
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 …
Reelly: Believe the Fly Fishing Unbelievable
“What is the most unbelievable thing that has happened on the river?” After guiding for decades, Ryan Johnston has probably heard that query more than a few times. The result is Reelly. In asking a question like that, some people are looking to be amazed. Some are probably looking for dirt. Johnston’s book is not …
Podcast Ep. 282: Nasty Weather Fly Gear
…and a few of them are pretty inexpensive, too. For one reason or another, you might find yourself fly fishing in the kind of weather that isn’t found on catalog covers. But there is also a very good chance that such outings yield experiences that you won’t forget. By and large, the gear that you …
Bread, Milk, & Egg Patterns
As far as I can recall, I’ve only really pressed my luck once when it has come to fly fishing in blizzards. To be fair, I was fishing the Lake Erie tributaries. Not only are the lake effect weather patterns erratic, but combat fishing for steelhead* puts you in an unstable state of mind. After …