Happy Independence Day from Casting Across! On today’s episode, I’m sharing a tangentially-related collection of topics. While I do discuss giving trout some space in the hottest weather, the bulk of the podcast is about the great situation we find ourself in the United States. Things aren’t perfect. They’re far from it. But that is …
Author: Matthew
Closed to Fishing (For a Bit)
Last year, fishing within Shenandoah National Park was verboten from the beginning of August through the beginning of November. Similar bans have been enacted over the past decades. While brook trout populations generally manage to endure hot, dry conditions, it is prudent for such a well-visited area to limit fishing. Because by limiting fishing, they’re …
FAQs for Your Fly Rod Purchase
You should buy any fly rod you want. Walk into a store and get something that catches your eye. Pick the one that fits your budget. Take home the latest and greatest that everyone is raving about online. There is nothing wrong with any of those approaches. But if you want to do a little …
Podcast Ep. 294: Deciphering Fish Body Language
Thousands of aquarium aficionados concerned about the stress levels of their tropical fish can’t be wrong. And from an anecdotal angling perspective, I agree with them. You can gain insight into what a fish is going to do by watching it’s body language. While it isn’t an empirical exercise, there are some tells in fish …
The Genuine Risk of Fly Fishing
Less than a week ago I opened a post about safety with these words: I’m not being dramatic. Nor am I being flippant. The podcast I was referencing was entitled “Don’t Die Fly Fishing.” Although the label sounds a bit like clickbait, I was not being flippant. And since the episode was recorded four days …
Fishing the Post-Dusk Rise
There is a frantic and fun aspect of late spring and summer fly fishing that only lasts about 45 minutes. Although fish often rise all evening and all night, the moments around twilight often see the water boiling with copious feeding activity. It can be amazing. But it can also be intimidating. Fishing in the …
Podcast Ep. 293: Don’t Die Fly Fishing
I’m not being dramatic. Nor am I being flippant. You can truly get yourself in some serious moral peril while fly fishing. Waist deep in moving water miles away from other people? Yes, it is fun. But yes, it is not without risks. Today I cover four areas of danger worth thinking about as you …
Apple’s Grip & Grin
I like it. And I usually don’t like things like it. Moreover, I can’t remember the last time I went out of my way to write a few hundred words about something like it. But here we are. I’m writing, and you’re reading, an article about a smartwatch commercial involving a fake carp. Because apparently …
5 for Fathers
At this moment, our culture has a long list of fears. One of them is praising the virtues of fatherhood. We’ve lost the ability to think categorically. Easily offended, talking about good dads is perceived as a direct assault against those who didn’t have good dads or those moms who are good. It is stupid …
Podcast Ep. 292: [Cast1] Small Stream Fly Fishing
We are back with another entry in the Cast1 series. Today, the discussion is all about small stream fly fishing. For many, pulling up to a tiny cascading creek is the epitome of an angling adventure. But until you’ve had that experience, the idea of fishing in a veritable trickle might not only be intimidating; …