“Snowhite? That’s like, a nickname, right?” Knowing an 18-year-old me, that was probably how my first interaction with Rob Snowhite went. I had just started working at the Orvis store in Tysons Corner, Virginia. Rob and a handful of guys in their twenties had been there for a while already. I learned a lot about …
Although using journey as a metaphor can be cliché, it seems to be appropriate when describing those for whom fly fishing is more than a hobby. For the men and women who live and breathe angling, much of what transpires off the water reflects the paths that they take when they are seeking fish. In …
If you had to pick a place to live with fishing opportunities as a major deciding factor, what would you choose? A blue ribbon trout stream? A lake filled with giant largemouth? Estuaries that see run after run of saltwater fish? Every one of those fisheries has its merit, but there is another angling scenario …
Recently I sat down with Dave Goetz and Steve Mathewson to record an episode of 2 Guys and a River (listen here!). We discussed Casting Across and the role that a website like this plays in the greater fly fishing culture. Afterwards, we went to lunch and I was able to interview them to answer …
Every now and again on Casting Across I share information about a product or a company in fly fishing. The goal is usually to tell a story. It is either the story behind a piece of gear, a business, or my experience utilizing something on the water. I’m happy to share these stories, and make …
A year ago, I had the idea to explore the emergence of “retro” gear in fly fishing. Whereas very recently the necessary paradigm of equipment in the industry was always and only “lighter, faster, sleeker,” the past decade has seen many companies revisiting traditional elements. With the partnership of some premier fly fishing brands, I …
Ask any fly fisher what you need to start up in the sport, and they’ll quickly answer something to the effect of: “Just a rod and reel.” Then, after a brief pause: “And line and flies, of course.” And shortly after that: “You’ll need a vest, fly boxes, tippet, leaders, nippers, flotant, weight, a net, …
Bright and shiny sells. Often, bright and shiny is only indicative of the external: a façade and nothing more. The fly fishing industry is not immune to this marketing malady. Reels, apparel, and flies that look really good or capture the eye might not help you one bit when it comes to catching fish. In …
There is a certain aesthetic that comes to mind when you think “fishing lodge.” Rough-hewn wood, wildlife-silhouette lampshades, and fish mounts. In fact, taxidermy might be the epitome of this look such that any large fish immediately makes a room, regardless if it is in a cabin or suburban den, feel “woodsy.” For generations, this …
Although there are plenty of exceptions to the rule, it is a well-known fact that most fly fishers gravitate towards waters that have special regulations. Across the country, the language and intricacies of the rules varies somewhat. Be it “fly fishing only, catch and release,” or simply some derivation thereof that ensures the vast majority …
