Podcast Ep. 18: The 5 People You Meet in Fly Shops

You will find some real interesting characters in fly shops.

After nearly two decades of formal, empirical anthropological research, I’ve developed an efficient classification system and taxonomy for the types of individuals one encounters in fly shops. As a former fly shop employee, an occasional customer, and a curious observer of awkward situations, I believe that I am uniquely qualified for such a study.

I’d like to present my completely objective findings in the following podcast.

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

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Reckless Rodents & Rent Rods

Having your rod separate into two pieces is never a good way to catch a fish.

But that is precisely what happened. With a sudden sensation of weightlessness followed by an awkward plop, I realized that the top two sections of my rod were in the pond. Injury had been added to insult, as my companions had already been ribbing me about the particular rod I was using. We were fishing a mountain brook trout pond. Most of the trout were foot-long brookies. They were cruising the surface, sipping skittering summer caddis. My 6-weight rod and large arbor disc drag were, for all intents and purposes, overkill.

Whether it be my own defensiveness or the equipment itself, I wasn’t doing well. Sloppy casting. Missing hook sets. Tangles and knots. No fish were caught, and no fish were earned.

Being young and impetuous I decided to not fish smarter or harder. I decided to fish reckless. On went a deer hair mouse. If I wasn’t going to catch a little fish, I wasn’t optimistic I was going to catch a big fish either. Moving away from my friends, I began to splash and strip and splash and strip. The wide face pushed water and the little rubber tail made a wake. No fish were interested. At least I was entertained.

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12 Tips for Fly Fishing Organization

Winter provides fly fishers with plenty of opportunities. For some, it is one more season to chase anything that swims. For others, it is a brief and anxious respite.

Regardless of your intensity, winter is a great time to take stock of your gear and get it all ready to roll for the coming spring. You take care of your gear, and it will take care of you. Plus, who has ever heard a fly fisher say “no thanks, I don’t care to look at all my rods, reels, and fly boxes!”

No one. Those things are the things we do.

Below are twelve tips for organizing, cleaning, preparing, packing, and thinking about your gear:

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Podcast Ep. 17: Big Rivers – Don’t Worry, Go Fishing

While fly fishing on wide, expansive trout rivers might be totally normal for you, it is a far cry from the creeks and streams that many anglers call home.

This can lead to apprehension or even avoidance. It is understandable. I’ve been there. But there are some simple ways to get out in the water and make sense of even the biggest rivers.

In this episode I give five simple ideas for getting out and going fishing on new, different, and big water.

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

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Fly Fishing Podcasts Worth Listening To, part X

Can  there be too many fly fishing podcasts?

Probably. But I’d put that threshold right around the same place as “too many riverside conversations” or “too many fly shop shooting the breeze sessions.”

For that reason I’ve been recording and publishing the Casting Across Fly Fishing Podcast for the past few months. At the same time, I haven’t slowed down in my listening to other fly fishing podcasts. Similarly, I’m not going to slow down in my recommending other fly fishing podcasts to you.

Below I’ve listed five established podcasts, pointing out one specific episode in each that I think is worth your time. I’ve also added another, brand-spanking new podcast in the outdoors genre. This is one I’m sure you’ll want to subscribe to.

Read why I think you should listen, and click on the title to head to the episode and show page, below:
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8 Gear Tips for Winter Fly Fishing (If You Have To)

There are two unavoidable truths that solidify fly fishing as a 12 season activity:

  1. Fish eat all year long.
  2. You don’t have the patience to sit the winter out.

Let’s be honest, though. It doesn’t make sense. It is cold. The fish are lethargic. There’s no hatches… or sunlight. But what else are you going to do all winter? Stay inside? Read a book? Tie flies? Tying flies is the jogging of fly fishing. Fly fishing is fly fishing.

Plus, this is the 21st century. Modern gear has made us masters of the natural world. A little technology, and a little planning can help you make the most of fly fishing in the winter. Here are 8 gear suggestions for making the most of your time on the water (no matter how frozen it may be):

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Podcast Ep. 16: Fly Tying Events for Beginners & Experts

Chances are there is a fly tying event that is held on a regular basis somewhere near you. Fly shops, fishing clubs, and TU chapters are all getting in on these gatherings. Whether you are a beginner tyer or an expert, I think you should go.

In this episode, I share 5 reasons why tyers of all skill levels should attend events like these; 3 geared towards beginners, 3 for experts. (Yes, my math is correct!)

These fishing/social/learning activities are worth your time.

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

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Fly Fishing, Sales Pitches, & a Little Orange Thingy

I love a good sales pitch. In fact, one of the things I enjoy the most at fly fishing shows is hearing people hawk their products. But after riding the circuit for a while, I start to say “no thanks” when people ask if they can show me how their gizmo will surely help me land more big fish.

When I have two kids in tow? Its a hard pass.

After a frenetic morning of visiting booths, sticker collecting, and politely asking to place the thousand dollar rod down, I was in no mood for more product demos. Primarily because patiently watching an adult conversation is the absolute last  thing my six- and four-year old wanted to do. That was about the speed of most sales pitches, and rightfully so. Gear X is 50% more fishier than the last generation and 75% fishier than the previous model. Not riveting content for the kindergarten crowd.

Just as we were about to leave the show, I heard the common refrain: Can I show you how this works? I was forming the no thanks when I realized that he wasn’t talking to me. He was talking to my sons.

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No Clear Line Between Religion and Fly Fishing

I am blessed. I have four boys. A baby of two months, a two-year old, a four-year old, and a six-year old. As for the eldest, tonight is the last night he will be six. He is very excited about being seven and growing up. We are excited for him. Having other, younger children helps the sweet to outweigh the bitter. Still, our first boy is growing up.

For me, one thing that makes less bittersweet is his love of the outdoors and fly fishing. It means we’re closer to more opportunities together. I know that with each passing year more adventures will come. As he grows up and is able to do more, we’ll be able to do more together.

For tonight, he’s still six.

He still likes being read to at bedtime along with his brothers. With three tired little minds to please, finding a book isn’t always easy. It requires a consensus among the group regarding the title. Easier still is an executive order from a parent. Tonight, I chose the latter. Still I had to decide quickly.

Then the thought hit me.

A River Runs Through It, with some discretionary editing, would be fun. And if not fun, at least sleep inducing. I fetched my copy of the fly fishing classic, crisp corners and smooth spine more indicative of my obsessive care for books than this particular volume’s use.

All three boys were intrigued to know what I was going to be reading. I asked for patience, that they’d hear soon enough. This was most difficult for the almost 7-year old.

I knew that he would be excited about the story. Norman, the protagonist, was the son of a pastor who is also a fly fisherman. While I am not a Presbyterian, I am a pastor. And, of course, I am a fly fisherman. Hearing this most basic premise, he could relate. His eyes lit up and he propped himself up on his elbows.

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Podcast Ep. 15: From Trout to Panfish (& Back Again)

A lot of anglers started fishing by tossing worms to hungry sunfish. Usually, there is a progression from that point to more complex, conventional gear. For some, fly fishing becomes their preferred pursuit.

There are also anglers who go straight to fly fishing for trout because they took a class, got a guide while on vacation, or were invited to try it by a friend.

Both types of anglers should consider going back to the pond and back to the bluegill.

In this episode I give four reasons why fly fishers should fish for bass and panfish more frequently, along with a quick word on gear.

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

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