In my younger days, January 1st meant bothering a Walmart employee early in the morning. Groggy and in the malaise that only accompanies working on a holiday, whoever got summoned to the sporting goods desk was met by a much more enthusiastic young angler. Getting that fishing license on day 1 of 365 was an …
Standing on the banks of that fabled river, I felt a deep connection to all the anglers who came before me. The rocks, the water, the trout themselves vibrated and flowed at a frequency that resonated across space and time. And I was amidst all of it, fingers trembling as I sought to attach the …
The river was wide. Wider than any eastern trout river I had ever been in. It was so wide, that I had to turn my brain off to the fact that I wasn’t going to be able to fish every pool. Not every pool in an upstream/downstream manner, mind you: I wasn’t going to be …
Recently I fished a new river. It was a wide waterway with miles set apart for catch and release. I knew that it was filled with trout, and that it had been fishing well the week prior to my trip. So even though finding a spot and locating fish was a little daunting, I had …
I’ve frequently written about how outdoor shows can be “the most fun fly fishing thing you can do while not actually fly fishing.” These expos often encompass the best of the off-the-water elements of fly fishing: the people, places, and things that go into the pursuit of fish. As we head into the winter months …
It is getting cold out. Although the calendars say “fall,” the thermometers say “winter.” More importantly, the frost on the windows and the chill that finds its way through jackets are saying “winter.” So, are you going to go fly fishing? Excuses and reasons alike have the tendency interfere with even the most ardent angler’s …
Driving through the mountains of Pennsylvania, well under the speed limit with windshield wipers frantically smearing wet snow, the two steelhead I landed didn’t seem worth it. It was the dark and snowy homestretch of a fly fishing trip that took an immediate and unexpected turn. Jeff and I were both on edge. He was …
Happy belated Thanksgiving from Casting Across! Also, if you’re among the many who get this unofficial holiday off I hope that you’re able to take advantage of today however you choose. Fly fishing, shopping, napping, decorating for Christmas: however you find joy on Black Friday is fine by me. Outdoors pursuits are certainly a good …
Stop! Before you start copying and pasting Amazon links and fly shop web pages, hear me out. It is wish list season. The holidays are approaching. Christmas music and decor are taking over like some abominable mistletoe/tinsel/kudzu hybrid. Everyone from your spouse to your parents to your kids to your aunt Myrtle wants to know …
Trout are creatures with paper-thin fins and gossamer bones. Their optimal temperature and dissolved oxygen thresholds are relatively narrow. Touching their scales with dry hands or laying them upon the bank can render them susceptible to deadly infection. Trout are survivors, but they are fragile. It isn’t just fish, though: A creek, sustaining all manner …
