How do you talk about fly fishing? Over the years I’ve sold fly fishing gear, taught fly casting, and instructed teens in fly fishing. Recently, I’ve taken a few opportunities to write about fly fishing and talk about it on a podcast. The more I talk about fly fishing, the more I think about how …
I’m convinced that I’ve discovered the best cup of coffee you can have. It is the cup of coffee you have when it is the only cup of coffee you can have. Flavors, origins, and brewing techniques are all second-order variables compared to the situation in which you are drinking the coffee. While some people …
Nothing beats a good copy of a good book. There is a sensory aspect to reading words off a tangible, printed page. Furthermore, that is the way that it has been done for nearly three millennia. But a digital book is not only the next best thing; sometimes it is more convenient. I can say …
We’re all creatures of habit. If, like me, you happen to be a fly fishing creature, you probably possess a certain set of idiosyncratic habits. One of my bad habits involves lacking the self control to break habits. For example: I often talk a big game about exploring new water. It’s fun, I say. It’s …
It is impossible to capture the experience of being outdoors in words. Well-written prose will communicate a lot. However there will always be moments that get left out, or, more likely, moments that words can’t adequately describe. Similarly, photographs are good but limited. While a picture might be worth 1,000 words, an image devoid of …
I’m sure there is a fly shop out there that will sell you anything and everything that you would need to go fly fishing. But I doubt it. Reason being, there is a lot of non-fly fishing stuff that I need to get to the water and stay on the water. If you’re engaged in …
The Potomac is a big river. Flowing from the steep hollows of western Maryland and West Virginia down into the tidal portions of Washington, DC, it is big. There are diverse sections of river, each with it’s own composition and angling opportunities. Downstream of historic Harpers Ferry, there are bass and musky hiding in waving …
The resurgence of fiberglass fly rods in the last decade has led to a new generation appreciating the benefits of the material. Often, casting is slower, requiring a more deliberate stroke. Delicate presentations can be made on glassy water to selective fish. And, when hooked, decent-sized fish can put a good bend in a fiberglass …
For me, Sunday is a work day. Mornings and evenings are especially busy, and I try to keep the afternoons as low-key as possible. But rest is important. We were made to take breaks. Add to that Father’s Day. I know it is a made-up holiday. However, my kids like it a lot. My four …
The very first strike indicator I bought and used was a Palsa pinch-on float. The guy behind the counter at the fly shop said they were the best, and I took his advise seriously. For what was probably a decade, anytime a fly presentation required an indicator I squeezed on a Palsa. While they may …
