Podcast Ep. 355: Dig the Long Rod

I own some positively diminutive fly rods for angling in the mountains. And I revel in the plethora of options when it comes to 9-foot 4-, 5-, and 6-weights. But every once in a while the right tool for the job is just a little bit longer.

Today I share four reasons why a longer fly rod might be the ticket for your fly fishing. That might mean taking a 9-footer up in the mountains, or that might entail fishing with a 9’6″ rod.

The reality is that rod length can really impact your cast and your presentation. If circumstances deem a different piece of equipment, it might be worth considering switching up your most important angling tool.

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

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VIDEO: Read a Glimpse into a Western Trout Town

In this “one minute review” I share three reasons why Travers Corners needs to be on your fly fishing book stack.

Scott Waldie’s first book in the series is a great read on its own. The people of this remote Montana town are endearing, the exploits of the protagonist interesting, and the fly fishing exciting. It is all you can ask for in a book full of fly fishing stories.

But the book itself, and the series as a whole, is a story in itself. That is another reason why it is special.

Read what else I have to say about the book, and find out where you can pick it up, below:

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Danger in the Hollows & on the Streets

We were looking for a campsite alongside the tumbling mountain creek.  It was a brook trout creek. However, rainbows had been stocked without any fish’s consent and now made up the bulk of the trout population in the valley. We, along with the native brookies, were higher up in the hollow. It had been a great winter hike along the South Carolina/North Carolina state line in a vast wilderness area. The mild southeastern temperatures and thick pine forest betrayed the month on the calendar.

Moving the requisite distance off trail to set up camp, we began to look for a flat parcel of ground for our small tent. Navigating 100 feet was simple enough. Locating a smooth, debris-free plot involved moving up small outcrops and looking behind boulders. It is in one such spot that we came across the still.

Moonshining in the Appalachians is certainly more than folklore. It was a part of life in many communities. And, as is the case with many industries, there was competition. But rivalries in this industry weren’t settled with litigation. Firearms were the mediators in these backwoods arbitrations. Proactively, there were other measures taken to protect manufacturing and product.

I was confident from the state of the copper in that still that there was a good span of time between ourselves and the last proprietors of the location in question. Personally, I assume most folks engaged in quasi-legal distilling are just good old boys – never meaning no harm. However, that is not a blanket statement for everyone involved in off the books agriculture and/or chemistry.

In fact, there are some dangers that you should be aware of when venturing out with rod, rifle, or backpack. The usual dangers of snakes, falls, and drowning should be on your radar. But, without being paranoid, in this world there are other considerations for which one should keep an eye out. Here are three I’ve encountered while fly fishing:

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Podcast Ep. 354: More… On Fly Fishing With Less

I like questions. When I get the same question a handful of times in quick succession, that topic gets shifted to the top of the subject matter pile.

Recently, a number of fine fly fishing folk have asked me about what I consider to be the essential gear for minimalism or travel. In this episode I give my answer. But before I go over the what I discuss the why. This is because your reasoning for carrying less may necessitate a completely different loadout  than what I bring with me when I travel or stash gear in my car.

A fun topic to think about, consider why and what you bring with you when you want or have to move lightly.

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

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VIDEO: The Magic of Small Flies

Just because they’re “no see ‘ums” to you, it doesn’t mean the fish can’t see and eat ‘um.

Midges are a staple of trout diets. Imitations of these tiny insects and their cohorts deserve a place in your fly box. And, assuming you have the eyesight or gadgets to tie them on without too much trouble, they probably deserve a devoted box in your pack.

Midge Magic by Holbrook and Koch surveys the entire midge fishing waterfront: technique, equipment, identification, and tying. The fly tying piece is especially helpful, as the strategies and patterns can be employed by expert and beginner tyers alike.

If you want to take advantage of a year-round food source for trout in nearly every stream, pick up Midge Magic to acquaint yourself with these little bugs.

Watch what else I have to say about the book, and find out where you can pick it up, below:

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Rusty Fly Box: Awkward

I’ll be the first one to celebrate how people are a major part of fly fishing. Almost as much as the distinctive nature of the fly cast, the culture and the community make this particular pursuit of fish  special.

That said, it isn’t always rosy. As you aggregate a large enough sample size of interactions the odds of something off increase. Spend enough time at boat launches, fly shops, and fishing events and you’re bound to have an incongruous social moment.

I consider myself relatively pleasant and easy going. But I have had my fair share of awkward fly fishing exchanges. And I’ve recorded a number of them for your enjoyment.

Below, click on the image or title to read each full awkward angling encounter.

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Podcast, Ep. 353: American Museum of Fly Fishing, Summer ’25

Some hot weather and a spur of the moment decision turned into an excellent 24 hours of father-and-sons fly fishing time.

In this episode, I talk about the great time that my boys and I had in Manchester, Vermont. The occasion was the American Museum of Fly Fishing’s Summer Festival. There were vendors, exhibits, and competitions. (And there was food.)

Needless to say, a good time was had by all. This is the kind of event that isn’t fly fishing… but it is a quintessential to fly fishing culture.  Hear about our time and make plans to attend something similar near you.

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

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VIDEO: Ye Olde Fly Fisher

Something that contemporary fly fishing culture has latched onto is the wonderful distribution of anglers: very different people from very different backgrounds are in very different places fly fishing.

This is true throughout this present space. This is also true throughout time. If you fly fish, you’re connected to people who did what you do in the past.

Ken Reinard shares what this looked like in the 1770s as “The Colonial Angler.” He is a historical reenactor focused on the period around the Revolutionary War. However, as a fly fisher, he has put a unique piscatorial spin on his passion. This fun little book is a great way to learn a little bit of fly fishing history and see the intersection between it and an important period of our country’s past.

Watch what else I have to say about the book, and find out where you can pick it up, below:

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Bass on the 4-Weight

I can live happily in two different fly fishing camps. On one hand, I see the value in having precisely picked and dialed in gear. At the same time, I appreciate adaptation and using what you have in creative ways. One takes more resources; the other takes more energy and effort.

If you live or fish frequently where there are hefty largemouths, you’d do well to invest some application-specific equipment. Foam poppers, deer hair bugs, and meaty streamers best imitate the food these hungry fish desire. Something like an 8-weight rod best presents these patterns with accuracy, distance, and ease.

However, you can still chase these fish with those flies on your dry fly rod. You won’t have the accuracy or the distance like you would with a bass rod. And it certainly won’t be easy. But if you’re just giving fly fishing for bass a try, have been steered away from the trout stream for some reason, or are on a budget there is no need to despair.

Here are three ways to take your trout rod out on the pond for big bass:

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Podcast Ep. 352: 2 Quick Words on Casting Better

If there is one truism in fly fishing, it is this: Everyone can work on their casting accuracy and distance.  In fact, the more I develop as a fly caster the more I see room for improvement in these areas.

Today I share my thoughts on two ways to think about improving your fly casting. Neither necessarily costs money, and neither will take much time to consider. But with a few tweaks you’ll probably see some marginal improvement.

As always, something like fly casting is best discussed in person with rod in hand. Hopefully this episode will get you outside playing around and talking to those who can help you grow as an angler.

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

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