The calendar says that winter doesn’t arrive until late December. The frost on my windshield and the ice on the edges of the streambank say otherwise. Cold weather means flies can be tied and deer can be hunted. But it also means that there are aspects to fly fishing that open up to us. Taking …
Bass are unaware of Daylight Savings Time. They don’t have an emotional response to the first frost or “sweater weather.” They certainly aren’t swayed by the pumpkin spice-ification of the world. This does not mean that bass, like any other fish out there, are not impacted by the temperature shifts that accompany the change of …
Even though the footprint of the Great Lakes’ tributary system is relatively small, its’ opportunities are significant and easily accessible by most people in the US. Whether you’re chasing steelhead in Pennsylvania, lake run browns in New York, or salmon in Michigan, you have the opportunity to tangle with huge fish in smaller rivers. Some …
Whether you are putting your fly rod away for the winter or you finally realize that your cork handle is what has been stinking up your truck’s cab, you should definitely take the time to clean your gear. Just like anything else, fly rods need maintenance. While they are not technical or complex by any …
For a split second, my brain doesn’t comprehend the implications of the sensation. Where there was once tension – a pulsing fish pulling against the line and the current – is now simply slack. It takes a moment to wrap my head around the fact that the fish is gone. Next comes frustration. It might …
Casting Across is a lot more than written and spoken words. For 7 years, Casting Across has been the vehicle for my interaction with the people, places, and things that go into the pursuit of fish. Today, I talk about a few aspects of this past season of my life that you might find interesting. …
The neighbor to one side of you still hasn’t removed all of the fake spiderwebs from her bushes, and the neighbor on the other side is staking illuminated reindeer down in his front yard. Thanksgiving (the superior holiday, mind you) is a turkey and pie speedbump that simply launches our culture headlong over Black Friday …
In early October, 2015, I grabbed up the domain name and social media handles for “Casting Across.” For that month I fumbled my way through website design, font choice, and how the internet really works. I polished up some rough drafts I had kicking around on my hard drive. I began to go through my …
We’ve all seen that guy: he’s got the entire Orvis catalog hanging from his vest. …okay, I’ve been that guy. Maybe you have too. In a lot of ways, fly fishing and other outdoor pursuits have shifted away from carrying more to taking a minimalist approach. It is a great thing. You can move lighter …
Earlier this week I posted an article about fishing in National Forests. A good number of people found it interesting enough to read, and I hope that it was also a useful reminder that there are millions of acres of public land that are accessible. Last year, I put together a similar article regarding National …
