The first time I stepped into a large tailwater I realized I was woefully unprepared. I had the right rod. All the flies would have worked. I could even see fish rising. The problem? I couldn’t stand in the water for more than a few minutes. The river was much more frigid than anticipated. It …
From a big picture of respective, there’s always going to be a last time that you fish somewhere. I don’t mean to be morbid. But the fact is that we are finite. Our days are numbered. There’s only so much that we can do. And fly fishing, as pleasant as it is, does not exclude …
This fall I’ve taken some of my own advice. For years I’ve been encouraging those who read or listen to Casting Across to diversify their outdoor experience. It isn’t that I assume everyone who fly fishes only goes fly fishing. I just know that there have been times in my life when I’ve been primarily …
That is me. And I’ve obviously caught a largemouth bass. Aside from those two facts there’s not a lot of certainty I have about this picture. Why should that matter to me? Or, more pertinently for the reader, why should this photographic mystery matter to you? I have a good reason why this all matters …
The best heroes are flawed. The simplest explanation for this is that we can identified with such a person. Sure, there are plenty of deep literary nuances that a reader with an analytical mind can probe and ponder while reading about protagonists with obvious shortcomings. That is fine. For most of us, we read ourselves …
If you look back at previous years’ gift guides, you’ll find some common themes. I always recommend small businesses, American made items, and some of my favorite gear. As much as possible, I attempt to source items that span the price spectrum. Often, I try to showcase things that I have used over a prolonged …
Earlier this week, I shared three things that you’ll get if you go to a fly fishing expo. To be honest, there are a lot more than three. Ever since I was a teenager, I’ve marked certain winter weekends off on my calendar. What started as a chance to learn more about fly fishing turned …
In the last 20 months, most fly fishers have been able to get out on the water without too many hassles. For all the inconveniences and serious caution that we’ve had to endure, the rivers and the fish haven’t been significantly impacted. However, there are plenty of other fly fishing activities that have been on …
You don’t have to buy anything to have a Merry Christmas. You certainly don’t have to devote copious amounts of time and extravagant sums of money to celebrate the season, your family, and the incarnation. But if you do decide to go that traditional and joyous route? And if you so happen to be a …
It feels like only yesterday that fly rod companies were advertising every new offering as FAST. Rods for trout, striper, and everything in between touted quicker action that produced longer casts with greater accuracy. Of course, there are always trade-offs. For many models, this meant reduced sensitivity and feel. Still, some builders produced some quick-action …
