Bears. Bugs. Bows.

January 14, 2020

Bears can’t open car doors. Even if a bear could get into the car, a black bear couldn’t do it so fast that we couldn’t start the engine and escape. And a black bear wouldn’t hang on to the roof like James Bond as we swerved down the mountain.

I could close my eyes and try to get some sleep.

But what if I had to go to the bathroom?

My eyes popped back open.

We had driven hours and hours from suburban DC to a weird and wild part of the Mid Atlantic. It’s mountainous. It’s old mining country. Logging roads wind along rivers and up steep valleys and it’s easy to loose track of if you’re in Maryland, West Virginia, or Pennsylvania. And it’s rural. With a capital R.

Rural also meant big rivers. There were plenty of fine trout streams only a short drive from home. The vast majority were just that: streams. Creeks. Runs. I love those streams. Every now and again it is nice to be able to cast. More refreshing is to cast without thinking about being surrounded by trees. In that part of the country, you do have to get rural to find these big trout rivers.

It was so rural that the first two campsites were on roads our little Toyota Corolla couldn’t navigate. Brown signs with a-frame tent logos promised opportunities just down the path. But the paths were equal parts mud, roots, and tire-eating holes. Add in the darkening skies over a thick canopy, and we opted for another option.

Fly Fishing Books, VII

January 13, 2020

Everyone has a fly fishing off-season. For many, it is the winter. Others double down during the coldest months. Their work or family schedule might make fishing prohibitive in the spring or fall. An off-season might not be ideal on the surface, but between important obligations and an opportunity to step back it is probably a good thing.

Still, you can stay connected to fly fishing in some simple ways. Having a book on the nightstand or in your briefcase is an excellent way to linger, learn, and live vicariously. Even a few minutes here or there can really help you get your angling fix when you’re away from the water. It may very well increase the longing, but it is a great way to hold you over during your off-season.

As I’ve done for all of the entries in my “Fly Fishing Books” series, I’ve spread the selections over three rough categories:

Guide (regional, site specific)
Technical (methods, locations, fly tying)
Literature (novels, biographies, history)

Check out one kind of each book, why I suggest it, and a bonus read below. And follow the links in the headings to get a copy for yourself.

Podcast Ep. 61: You Sure You Know Which Fly Rod You Want?

January 10, 2020

Of course you know which weight you want for your next fly rod. Or do you?

I’m only questioning you because I’ve had to question myself. Sometimes we get stuck thinking about what the marketing, or our fishing buddy, or our biased presuppositions tell us we need in new gear.

While there are countless great articles out there that give some tips on buying your next fly rod, I wanted to come at the topic from a slightly different angle. The bottom line is that you don’t need a rod: you need the rod that does the job you want done.

Listen to the episode below, or on your favorite podcast app.

Throwback Gear Review: Teton Reel

January 8, 2020

Fly fishing gear is a big part of Casting Across. I’ve always enjoyed the aesthetics, the marketing, and, most importantly, the function of fly fishing gear. Consequently, I’ll review new products on the site from time to time. But appreciating fly fishing gear shouldn’t only be about the latest model or newest technology. The things that you’ve fished with for years – for decades ought to be celebrated as well.

It is in that spirit that I put together this gear review. Although some products are old or even out of production, their value compounds with use, experience, and familiarity. We should enjoy what we use when we fly fish, especially if we’ve enjoyed it for a long time.

It was the spring of 2001. I had just spent a lot of money on my first saltwater fly rod. The 8-weight was intended to be used that coming summer, when I would spend a week in Florida chasing sea trout, redfish, and who knows what else in the Gulf. A lot of time, energy, and, again, money went into getting the perfect rod.

For whatever reason, I treated the reel as an afterthought. As July drew near, it dawned on me that I couldn’t just waltz into a local fly shop with a hundred dollar bill and get something functional. Since it was 2001, I turned to eBay. What ensued was a fast and furious week of trying to find the right reel at the right price. When the dust settled, I had a Teton reel in my hands.

It wasn’t a big name, but the reviews were good. It didn’t have the flashy design of some of the newer reels, but the technology was solid. What’s more, it held an 8-weight line and the price was right.

Enemies of the Fly Fisher, Vol. 1: The Muskrat

January 5, 2020

If you Google “muskrat,” you immediately learn a very interesting tidbit. Did you know that Ondatra zibethicus is the only species in genus Ondatra? The only one! Who would have thunk?

Once your mind has adjusted to this startling revelation, scroll down a bit more. That’s where the world’s leading search engine gets real. The sterile veil of science is torn away to reveal what people are really contemplating when they’re inquiring about muskrats:

Are muskrats dangerous?
Will muskrats attack humans?
Are muskrats aggressive?
Is a muskrat a rat?

I don’t need a degree in biology, with a specialization in the genus Ordata, to answer each of those questions with a solid yes.

Podcast Ep. 60: Fly Fishing Accusations VI

January 3, 2020

Questions, questions, questions. I am well aware that my writing and speaking might leave you with a few things you’re still wondering about.

Which is great.

Go out and experiment. Open a book and read. Show up to a TU meeting. Bend the ear of your local fly shop proprietor.

Or you could always email me or leave a comment on the website. Here I talk about neoprene waders, getting kids excited about fly fishing, and short furled leaders.

Listen to the episode below, or on your favorite podcast app.

Last Cast of the Year: 2019

December 30, 2019

2019 is drawing to a close. There is a lot that can be said about fishing and life, but today I’m taking a look back at the 150-plus pieces of content that came out over the past year.

Casting Across continues to grow. That is all thanks to you. My writing and my speaking is probably getting a little bit more refined, but I attribute the statistical growth of the website and the podcast to you – the reader and the listener. Sharing, subscribing, rating, and all of those things help. It helps my numbers (whatever that means), but more importantly it helps people. It is great to see who is reading, where they are reading, and how this has become some small part of their fly fishing.

So, thank you for all you’ve done in 2019.

To wrap up this year, I am sharing the top three articles that were posted in 2019. Not surprisingly, they feature fly shops, gear, and fly rods. If you haven’t read these before, I’d encourage you to take a minute to see what the fuss is all about. Also, I’ve added the most downloaded podcast of the year. If you are a reader, and not a listener, this might be a good introduction to a different facet of Casting Across.

Check out the top three articles, and the top podcast, from 2019 below:

Podcast Ep. 59: Trout Quixote II

December 27, 2019

* This is the second installment of a two part series ; listen to episode 58 for part one. *

My first grand scheme was met with mixed results. I was at the point where the chase was as attractive as the catch. I wasn’t going to stop until I found trout nearby.

The next stop was behind high walls, formidable gates, and a militarized security force. Sort of. They had pickups and dogs. Thus, I had to get sneaky.

With dozens of top-notch trout options within a few hours, why go through the hassle of a long hike and a quasi-clandestine fishing trip? And would it even be worth it?

Listen to the episode below, or on your favorite podcast app.

Water, Woods, & Christmastime

December 25, 2019

Christmas is not my favorite holiday. It’s like the best part of all the other fun holidays, but with a whole lot of other stuff crammed into it. It’s busy. It’s expensive. It’s almost always cold.

Consequently, I’ve been known to be a little Grinchy in the Yuletide lead-up.

But then Christmas Eve hits. All the other stuff is suddenly in the rear view. Shopping is done. Travel is complete. Meal prep is as good as it’s going to get. The superfluous holiday trappings are hidden by the fresh-fallen presence of Christmas itself.

Family. Food. Candlelight worship. The kids’ gifts staged for the early morning wake-up call.

This year I spent a quick hour on the water on the morning of Christmas Eve. It served as a good personal transition period from “bah humbug” to “God bless us, every one!” I came back from the water and the woods excited about the upcoming 36 hours.

And so here we are. All of that to say, Merry Christmas from Casting Across!

Will your holiday not be complete without more Casting Across?

No worries. Click the links below for some articles of Christmas past: