Sadly, fly line is the piece of gear that lives in the shadow of the stars of the show: rods and reels.
But for most fly fishers, line is much more important than a reel. For all anglers, fly line is much more important than we give it credit for.
In this episode I talk about how line can save you money, improve your casting, and get your fly in front of more fish.
Listen below or in your favorite podcast app:
All fly fishers have their go-to spots. Spots they feel are productive; spots that give them confidence. Some people like to fish riffles. Some people like to fish up against the banks. Everyone likes to fish plunge pools.
And for good reason. Generally, these spots are the deepest, widest, and fishiest places in a river. But why?
Here are three facts about these spots, three reasons why fish love them, and three ways to effectively fish plunge pools:
1.1 A plunge pool is simply the bottom of a source of dropping water. In nature, waterfalls create plunge pools. Through man-made means, plunge pools exist under dam spillways. There are a number of factors that determine the nature of the pool. The height of the fall, the volume of water, and the composition of the streambed are most important.
1.2 While the rapidly moving water itself does encourage erosion, the sediment and debris that the falling water carries is much more abrasive to the riverbed below the source. The gravel or sand at the bottom is constantly shifting and scouring the bottom, while simultaneously being refreshed from upstream.
2018 was quite the year for me. By extension, it was quite the year for Casting Across.
Let me begin by saying thank you. I am always humbled and a little surprised that thousands of people want to read what I have to say about things like fly rods or using the sense of smell while fishing. I’ve said it before – I write because I want to write. But I also truly enjoy sharing with others who are passionate about getting outdoors and spending their time fly fishing.
On the last day of the calendar, I wanted to share how people have read, liked, and contributed over the past year.
Here were 3 highlights of 2018 on Casting Across:
It is okay to do more outdoors than fly fish.
I’d say that it is important to do more outdoors than fly fish.
In fact, there are a lot of benefits that come with adding more and different types of outdoor activities to your life. And, in my opinion, doing so will actually help your fly fishing.
What else do you do during your time outdoors? How does it impact your time on the water? In this episode I touch on how hiking, running, hunting, and even foraging can compliment your fly fishing.
Listen below, or in your favorite podcast app:
We certainly didn’t plan on having a baby on Christmas morning. But that was, without a doubt, what happened.
From the outside looking in perspective, or even our own once-held this might actually happen standpoint, a December 25th birth isn’t ideal. Yet here we are, and it was more than fine. To be fair, the more important birth that we’re thinking about on Christmas also transpired in less than ideal circumstances. That isn’t something I told my wife during her labor, mind you.
Now I have four boys.
The ultimate holiday of the year is nearly upon us. Children are waiting with anticipation. My refrigerator is over capacity. Magic is in the air (mingled with a smidge of stress).
Yet even with all the enchantment of snow and reindeer and yuletide and whatnot, I’m unable give everyone a unique, personal present.
However, I have the next best thing: an angling-themed parody Christmas carol. I know – just what you’ve been wanting.
So gather with kith and kin around the old piano. Pour yourself a tall, frothy eggnog. Get the fire crackling. Have Aunt Gertrude flex her ivory-tickling muscles and join together in song.
For today, I present to you…
Does your car help or hurt you in your fly fishing endeavors?
The truth is that there are a few things you can do in, and to, your car to make it the perfect fly fishing vehicle.
Just yesterday I put my 2001 Subaru Forester out to pasture. I didn’t shed any tears, but I won’t lie and say that there wasn’t a montage of sentimental moments that flashed through my mind. To Michael W. Smith’s “Friends.” But a quarter-million miles is enough. He fought the good fight.
It all got me thinking about what made the Subaru such a good fly fishing vehicle. Listen below, or in your favorite podcast app:
Want some great last-minute fly fishing gifts? Want them in your hands in less than three days? Want to make all of this happen without leaving the comfort of wherever you currently are?
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Obligatory Disclaimer:
You shouldn’t wait until the last minute to buy gifts. It adds stress to an already stressful time and, more importantly, sucks some of the joy away from the occasion.
But it happens. To all of us.
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Obligatory Disclaimer 2:
Fly shops are worth patronizing. You’re going to have to drive. You might pay a small percentage more for the same product than you would if you just hopped on the internet. But good fly shops are staffed by friendly, knowledgeable, helpful people. No internet ever gave my kids a few free flies or hosted a get-together.
But every once in a we get in a pinch. We aren’t close to a shop, and we need a gift in two days.
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So we can all agree that we should be proactive, loyal fly shop customers? Good.
Okay, now on to plan B:
At riverside pull-offs, in fly shop parking lots, and online, we’ve all seen fly rod tubes affixed to vehicle roof racks. Guides use them out of necessity. Hardcore anglers have them for convenience. But are they something that the common, weekend warrior fly fisher needs?
Recently, I asked someone who knows a lot about them. Luke Winkler is the product manager for Riversmith. Based out of Boulder, Colorado, Riversmith is one of a handful of companies making rooftop rod holders. I asked Luke some legitimate questions I have had about products like this. Also, I played the devil’s advocate and raised some concerns I’ve heard thrown around by skeptical anglers.
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Aren’t rooftop rod holders only for guides and trout bums in their 20’s?
Not at all. We see applications for all kinds of different fly fishers. For example, time is one of the most valuable things we all have. Using a rod holder lets us stop and hit a few more holes more without taking that extra time to tie on tippet, tie on flies, and rig it up all over again. You might think that a spot might not be worth stopping and re-rigging. But if your rods are ready to go, you might get into fish when you wouldn’t have stopped otherwise.
Is there an advantage to putting something on the roof of my car over how I’ve always done things?
Arkansas might not seem like a premier angling destination.
But if you’ve heard of the enormous browns, the beautiful rivers, and… the delicious Southern cooking, you know that the Ozarks is one of the most unique fly fishing spots in the USA.
I caught my first trout in Arkansas. That experience, and a whole lot more that followed, made rivers like the Little Red and the White an important part of my fly fishing history. The miles of river and the quantity of fish are truly mind boggling. Plus, you can probably fish however you want – nymphs, midges, or huge streamers.
In this episode, I give a brief overview of the major tailwaters and make a case for why you should fish the Ozarks.
Listen below, or in your favorites podcast app:
