The eye does amazing things. With our vision alone, we can discern and identify a dazzling array of variables. You can see intricate vermiculation lines across the back of a brook trout, unique spot patterns on a mountain cutthroat, or a shimmering azure cheek of a wild brown trout. And while that counts for a …
I usually don’t produce a full-sized article around holidays, as I am often busy with various and sundry celebrations. But I do want to put out something. Part of it is maintaining consistency. Part of it is that I am a little nuts about the idea of a schedule. Another website I frequent put up …
Every other fly rod was on the vertical rack. Sage, Orvis, Winston: all the names I knew and aspired to collect. But this rod was hung up horizontally. It was a bright amber with deep red wraps. The most striking aspect of the rod was that it was shorter than all the other fly rods …
You can do it. You can fish teeny, tiny flies. Moreover, you want to do it. Why? Because if you can fish midges then you can probably fish dry flies any day you want to. In virtually all healthy ecosystems there will always be some tiny insects on the surface film. And somewhere, trout will …
Take a look at the photo above. On the surface, it isn’t that remarkable. The trout is pretty enough… but it isn’t particularly large. The tackle in the background, on first glance, is standard fare. And there is nothing immediately distinctive about the scenery. The perceptive observer might notice something about each of the subjects …
There I was, looking at my dog curled up on an expensive human chair in my living room, saying: “Why not? Why shouldn’t I buy him a dog bed from Orvis?” So I did. But I feel like I have to explain myself. Dog beds were, for a time, one of the punch lines about …
Why did you pick the fly rod that you did? Was it the label? Was it the price? Was it how it felt when you wiggled it in the store? Or, was it because the rod cast a line in a way that fit your stroke and your fishing? Okay, now: why does the rod …
Birds aren’t fish, and ducks aren’t trout. But for anyone interested in the conservation of these sporting species, a lot can be learned from a recent podcast put out by Ducks Unlimited. The show features an engaging conversation regarding ongoing empirical research on migratory birds. A story that is not unfamiliar to those who pay …
Clothes make the man. But do clothes make the fly fisherman? True: fishing is more about reading the water, making the right cast, and matching the hatch. But you can’t do any of this unless you’re dressed for the occasion. (And in most locales, it is probably frowned upon to fish if you’re not dressed.) …
Fly fishing is about a whole lot more than catching fish. I’ve expressed that sentiment in quite a few ways over the years here on Casting Across. This week’s podcast touches on that theme in a few different ways. While I do give some practical, “tips-n’-tricks” information at the end, the majority of the ~20 …
