Fly Fishing Thanksgivings

I am thankful for fly fishing.

I am thankful for the quiet. My job is busy and my home is busy. I wouldn’t trade either of them for the world. But my time on the water offers some much needed contrast. This doesn’t mean that fly fishing is passive. The mental exercises often eclipse the physicality. Still, there is stillness. The moment immediately after releasing a fish  is cathartic. The moment immediately before it rises to the fly is even better.

I am thankful for the challenge. Sometimes I succeed. Often times I fail. I think that the frequent baptisms in humility are the most valuable experiences. The subjectivity of fly fishing can actually prove those failures successful. Trying to catch a trout is a low-risk training ground for my resolve, preparing me to potentially see more pertinent challenges in a new light. Fly fishing is practice, in a way.

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Not Going to a Fishing Show? Here’s Why You Should

Every fall I sit down and take a look at my calendar for the next few months. The holidays feel like such a sprint. Afterwards? The winter actually fills up pretty fast. That is why I always make sure that outdoor expos, fly tying nights, and other events get penciled in ASAP.

Running from January to March, The Fly Fishing Show is always a priority. Because of where I live, I usually make two of the seven stops. Each year I browse, I help out friends in the fly fishing industry, and I start to put together content for Casting Across.

I’m not alone. A lot of people go to this show and shows like it. But I’ve heard plenty of angling acquaintances express reasons why they don’t go to fly fishing shows. Let me be clear – I’m not saying that you’re wrong if you don’t enjoy events like this. Who am I  to tell you what you do or don’t like? But just like anything else, I’ve come across plenty of folks who have formed their negative opinions off partial truths or incorrect assumptions.

With that in mind, here are 5 responses I’ve given to common excuses for not going to fishing expos:

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Podcast Ep. 54: Head to Toe Winter Fly Fishing

Even when it is frigid outside, the fish have to eat.

Which means you can go out and catch them.  The only problem is that going out entails being out. Thanks to modern technology and a little common sense, it is actually pretty simple to stay warm in even the coldest situations.

Whether you’re in the below-zero conditions of the Great Lakes tributaries, or a brisk 40 degree day on a North Carolina tail water, you’re going to bundle up. In this podcast I discuss some practical concepts for dressing smarter and not harder to stay warm during winter fly fishing.

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

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What You Can Get Out of Fly Tying

I don’t consider myself a fly tyer. But I tie flies.

I tie flies because it is economical. I tie flies because I don’t fish dozens of patterns, and I’ve learned to tie what I like to use. I tie flies because it is fun. It is a challenge, but it is fun.

If I’m honest, I tie flies mainly because it is a highlight of angling fellowship.

Fly tying get-togethers are the fly fishing version of the knitting circle. There is usually more flannel, craft beer, and feathers, but otherwise the two gatherings are virtually identical. The object  matters, but the subjects matter just as much. The flies are what people are looking at, but they are all looking at them together.

Whether you are an expert or a novice fly tyer, group tying events are worth your time. Here are 5 reasons why you should seek one out in your area:

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Fly Fishing Sideways

The first time we fished this creek, it was magical. The fish weren’t especially large, but they were plentiful. They attacked flies with vigor. They fought with ferocity. Above that, finding and accessing the creek was an adventure. That made the fishing better. Generally speaking, our experience was delightfully repetitive. Lots of fish. Fish willing to play ball. Above average fly fishing. Having a nearby option like this was great.

It became the go-to. It became familiar. It became our creek. But it almost didn’t.

***

For years I fished with neoprene waders. This was a vast improvement over my first attempts to keep my feet dry. That involved trash bags stuck inside of winter boots. Needless to say, neoprene chest waders felt luxurious. After a few seasons the luxury lost its luster. The rubbery overalls  became offensive on warmer days. I didn’t like them much, either. A month of saving from my part time job yielded what I needed for some entry-level breathable waders. We headed to the fly shop.

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Podcast Ep. 53: 3 Fly Fishing Things I’m Glad I Knew Then

Your first months and years of fly fishing will  probably produce some of your most treasured moments. You won’t have all of the knowledge, experience, or gear, but every cast will yield something new and wonderful.

This week I look back at three things that made my first few years of fly fishing matter. I’ve caught a lot of fish in a lot of places since then, but I can honestly say that the three things I mention played an enormous role in shaping me as an angler.

If you’re a new angler or you’ve been doing it for decades, I’m sure you’ll hear something of value.

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

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Tie Today, Float Tomorrow: 3 Quick Tying Tips

It is easy to judge your skill as a fly tyer by how a fly looks. While pretty flies are indeed fun to look at, the real goal ought to be flies that fish well. (It can’t be ignored that often the flies that fish well do look good.)

So what are you doing to improve how your flies fish? Are you cutting down the wind resistance of your streamers? Are you making sure your nymphs sink at a  uniform rate from fly to fly? Are your dry flies staying dry without much fuss?

This last question is an important one. Pretty dry flies can be a real difficult task for new fly tyers. Moreover, the ideal dry fly aesthetic is tightly linked with precision proportions that lead to the proper presentation. Basically, they need to look good to fish good. While improving your skills is important, there are some easier things you can do to help keep your flies up while you learn.

Here are three things you can do at the vise to keep your dry flies floating:

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Rock Bass & RC Cola

Can we fish in your creek?

“Sure. Um… what’s in there?”

I don’t know. But there has to be something.

***

We had passed by the creek countless times. It was always just scenery. It was never the destination. If anything, as a small tributary, it was an afterthought. The Potomac is a big river. It is intimidatingly big. There are bass and musky and who knows what in that waving grass and off those rock ledges. But there are a lot of those spots and a lot of water. That is why we usually just drove over the Potomac. That  is why we usually drove past the creek.

To be fair, we didn’t know about the creek for a few years. The mouth of the little creek is obscured by dense foliage. You can’t see it from the highway. It was a wrong turn that took us west and over the little culvert-bridge. Even then we didn’t have any desire to fish there. The NO TRESPASSING signs were the first deterrent. The real reason is more embarrassing now. The creek didn’t have a name or a reputation. Why fish there?

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Podcast Ep. 52: 3 Areas of Angling Confidence

Fly fishing is ninety percent mental, the other half is physical… or something like that.

Truly, having the right mindset when approaching the stream and presenting your fly matters. You have got to be reasonable in what you’re doing and how you’re doing it, but having confidence counts for a whole lot.

I quickly cover three things you can have confidence in as a fly fisher, and how this can be helpful as you fish for the second time or the thousandth time. But I also talk about how confidence can be a bad thing that keeps you away from fish.

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

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The Trout that Should Not Be

There are no brown trout here.

Fish aren’t going to rise unless bugs are hatching.

Nothing in this pond is over a few pounds.

You can’t use flies – they’ll only take bait.

Oh yeah?

For an unpredictable pursuit like fly fishing, those statements sound awfully concrete. Add in a little bit of competitiveness and a dash of skepticism and you’re basically issuing a challenge. How can anyone really know those things? Is it that those statements are empirical facts, or are the majority of people content with the boring bulk of the bell curve?

Could a little bit of exploration and effort (and some remarkable happenstance) yield some interesting results?

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