I don’t want you to feel like you’re being attacked.
I am sure that you are really, really into fly fishing. If you were to tell me everything you know, share your angling expense report, and rattle off where you’ve been I bet I’d be impressed. Seriously. No sarcasm. There is a very good chance that you’re an angling enthusiast or a fly fishing aficionado or a hardcore fisher-person.
You’re just not a trout bum.
Listen to the episode below, or on your favorite podcast app.
Everyone catches small fish. For some, they are the pesky by-catch that must be dealt with and endured. For others, they are a safe, dependable source of fishing, fun, and food. Most anglers start by catching small fish, and all big fish start off being small fish.
Under normal circumstances, an eight-inch fish isn’t anything worth writing home about. Sure, it is a fish. A small fish is better than no fish. A small fish is still technically a success. Moreover, maturity and perspective view such a fish as worthy of appreciation. But on a big, powerful river an eight-inch fish doesn’t represent the real target of an angler.
On a small mountain stream? That eight-inch fish could very well be a trophy. If most trout are six inches, the fish measuring in at eight inches is an unexpected surprise. It is the outlier; the literal big fish in the small pond. It got that way because of wit, tenacity, and (most importantly) luck. On a small, gentle creek an eight-inch fish represents the real target of an angler.
If your fly fishing world extends anywhere off the water, you’re constantly exposed to more fly rods. You can’t shake a 5-weight without hitting an advertisement, a review, or someone waxing lustfully over a rod. While some promotion is necessary (you can’t sell fly rods unless you sell them), much of it is superfluous at best and materialistic at worst. The technological jargon and nostalgic pandering turns many people off to the contemporary fly fishing industry as a whole. With fly rods being the central piece of the whole scene, the hyperbole and high cost associated with them draws the ire of plenty of anglers.
But the reality is that you might need a new fly rod.
Digging into your wallet and giving in to Big Fly Fishing might be a tough pill to swallow. You have morals, you have standards, you have a budget. Still, the fish demand a few hundred dollars’ sacrifice. And they’re the boss.
I’ve put together a (nice round) 11-point list of reasons why you should maybe definitely, absolutely probably replace your fly rod right away. Or as soon as a good deal comes along.
What harm is a little rain?
For some reason, the myth exists that fishing isn’t any good in the rain. Maybe we should keep that fallacy going, because getting out on the river in the rain is a great way to get to spots and fish that would otherwise be hard to approach. Whether it is because the rain is keeping away crowds or creating angling opportunities, a few drops might be the catalyst to getting you on the water.
I share a few tips, some observations, and my unscientific opinion on why fly fishing in the rain isn’t scary at all.
Listen to the episode below, or on your favorite podcast app.
I’m man enough to admit that I watch The Waltons, from time to time. The wholesome life of the Depression-era mountain family is the TV version of a palate cleanser. People on The Waltons aren’t perfect, but love and community and family almost always win the day.
That, and they go fishing a lot.
The show is set In Virginia, on a fictitious mountain in a fictitious county. They’re close to Charlottesville, but otherwise the scenes are made up. An exception is the local river; the Rockfish River.
John-Boy Walton and his siblings would fish in the river for sport and for food. The Rockfish River flowed alongside mountain roads. Floods made it a force to be reckoned with. Like real mountain communities, the River was a constant yet impersonal entity that gave and took away. But more often than not, it gave.
I’ve never lived in the Shenandoah region. But at various points over the years I have been located close enough to become familiar with this spectacular part of the country. And I’ve spent this past week at the foot of the mountains, just outside the park.
In and around Shenandoah National Park there are a wealth of options for the fly fisher. Brook trout and smallmouth bass steal the show; up in the mountain hollows and down in the river valleys, respectively. The fishing is accessible and approachable, but presents a myriad of challenges for beginners and experts alike. With the other historical, cultural, and outdoor activities available, and the proximity to major metropolitan areas, this part of Virginia is special.
Here are two articles about trout fishing on small mountain streams, and a podcast that explores the diverse angling opportunities in the Shenandoah.
Read each article by clicking on the titles or the pictures below:
Want to know how to make a better presentation with your fly? Cast better
Want to know how to catch more fish? Cast better.
Want to know how to have more fun fly fishing? Cast better.
Learning to be able to cast a fly rod better is part of growing as an angler. It might be about distance, accuracy, or efficiency. Regardless, a little bit of perspective, patience, and practice can go a long way to make your time on the water better.
I discuss a few ways to think about fly casting practice in this episode. But at the end of the day, I realize that catching fish and having fun is a lot more important than perfect – even good – form.
Listen to the episode below, or on your favorite podcast app.
For years I maintained that ice fishing was on the extreme end of a spectrum, the polar opposite of fly fishing. You fish up and down. You carry what you need on a sled. You don’t need to attempt stealth. You can eat a sandwich while fishing. Ice fishing is a lot of fun, and it is very different than fly fishing.
But it is trolling that is the opposite of fly fishing.
I was up at five and speeding across the lake at 5:30. Even though it was still the hottest part of summer, the cool mornings had begun to mark a change in the median temperature. The water was covered with fog and I was joyfully sipping from my coffee during the smooth patches of the ride.
We arrived in the center of the lake. The large body of water is made up of a number of tentacle-like segments that meet in a central hub. This is the deepest part of the lake, and the mouths of the many arms create variances in the depth. These channels and dropoffs are like shorelines for large segments of cooler water. The transition points also make perfect ambush spots for big, predatory fish like lake trout and landlocked salmon.
The salmon were our quarry.
A few weeks ago I compiled a list of the top rated fly shops in each state. The list was just that: top rated, not best.
So what makes a fly shop the best? Maybe even better than another that is highly rated online? Admittedly, it is very subjective. Your preference might be dictated solely by proximity: either to your home or your home water. Your choice could be all about brand loyalty: whoever carries Company X is going to get your dollar. For a lot of fly fishers, preference and choice isn’t a luxury: you’ve got one fly shop, love it or leave it.
All that to say, there are some things that virtually every good fly shop has in common. Here are a few criteria that my favorite shops meet, and that I personally value as being necessary. Necessary for my loyalty, and necessary for keeping their doors open in a difficult market.
Check out my thoughts below, and feel free to leave yours in the comment section at the bottom:
40 episodes in, and I have a lot of questions, comments, and other feedback to interact with.
This podcast I answer a question about fishing while backpacking, sing the praises of old fly rods, and address “Japanese shower climbing.” Briefly, but I address it.
It is a lot of fun to hear what readers/listeners are thinking when they interact with Casting Across, and these episodes allow me to take previous content to another level of specificity.
Listen to the episode below, or on your favorite podcast app.
