Stretching Fly Fishing Opportunities: Kismet Outfitters

June 25, 2018

“Before you even hook some of these saltwater fish, there is so much that has to go into it. Things all have to align: the moon, the tides, your fly, your cast. It is exciting, it is intense. But there is nothing like it.”

That is part of the answer that Abbie Schuster, founder and owner of Kismet Outfitters, gave when asked to describe the feeling of chasing fish in the salt. Her response to the same question, only pertaining to yoga, was a little more concise.

“Peaceful.”

Based out of Martha’s Vineyard, Schuster can put clients on some of the best striped bass, false albacore, and bluefish water in the nation. The quality of the fly fishing just off the idyllic Massachusetts island provides one more option for an already bustling tourist destination.

With such a diverse group visiting the Vineyard, Schuster wanted to broaden the appeal of a day on the water. “There’s no need for fly fishing to be intimidating. But in my experience, so many clients’ spouses wouldn’t travel with them because they thought that they have to be a hardcore fly fisher to just be on the boat.”

It’s Not a Beaver!

June 20, 2018

Above: What it looks like to watch someone catch a fish at night.

“KER-SPLOOSH!”

Before the last of the water from the aquatic eruption had fallen, one of my fishing companions let out a string of expletives. The punctuation on the end of the profanity-laden, run-on sentence was “…big fish.”

It was a big fish. A big trout, to be exact.

“No way. It was just a beaver,” was my attempt at humor. I handle mildly stressful situations with mild attempts at humor.

“No,” Scott replied. “It’s not a beaver. It was a trout.” He was laser focused.

Chris was just casting and casting and casting.

It was nearly dark, and we had all anticipated this moment. That special time at twilight when big trout leave their spooky inhibitions under streambanks and their usual carefulness down in dark pools. Dusk is when predators act like predators. We had counted on this and decided to predate on those very trout ourselves… releasing them, of course.

Mice were on the menu.

Outside the Box: The Postfly Fly Shop

June 18, 2018

Every month, thousands of anglers find a small black box in their mail. The VHS cartridge-sized container is full of fly fishing gear, stickers, articles, and, most importantly, flies.

Since 2013, Postfly has been putting quality flies and fly fishing miscellany in the hands of anglers through their monthly subscription service. Far and away the leader in this segment of the industry, Postfly has expanded their Massachusetts-based company to include a full line of fly fishing gear and apparel.

In 2016, Postfly relocated from Boston to Newbury. This location was not only more convenient for the team, but it allowed them to house the rapidly growing amount of gear they were sending to subscribers and other customers. Additionally, it was much more convenient to the spectacular striped bass and other saltwater fishing that the North Shore of Massachusetts provides.

With such amazing angling in the region, other fly fishers frequently travel along Route 1 and pass the Postfly headquarters. Founder and president Brian Runnals explains what happened next: “We put a big sign with ‘Postfly’ and some rods on the building, and people just started stopping in. But it was just a warehouse. It was piles of boxes and shelves of packaged flies.”

But it kept happening. People kept knocking on the door. The Postfly team would welcome visitors and talk fishing, but it wasn’t a fly shop. And for all intents and purposes there wasn’t a true fly shop between Boston and southern Maine.

Rusty Flybox: Father’s Day

June 15, 2018

Being a dad is amazing.

It is amazing in a way that I’d struggle to adequately encapsulate in words. That is why I stick to writing about fly fishing.

I’m thankful that I’ve been able to combine the two. All three of my boys have had fly fishing experiences. All three have enjoyed their time on the water, in the woods, and with fish. I’m praying that baby number four, due later this year, has the same appreciation for the outdoors.

Here are three posts from Casting Across that pertain to fatherhood and fly fishing. Click on the image or the title to go to the full article. Enjoy reading or re-reading them, and have a happy Father’s Day. read more

VIDEO: $10 Car Fly Rod Storage

June 13, 2018

Although taking your time while fly fishing is important, there isn’t any reason you need to be slow getting to that point.

If you like to show up to the river with rods assembled and lined, have multiple rods, or plan on fishing over the course of a few days, it can be really beneficial to have a storage solution that allows your rods to be put together in your car. If your vehicle’s cabin can accommodate a 9-foot rod, you’ve probably slid the whole rig in at some time. But often this means bending, threading, and otherwise making do with securing your valuable fly rod.

There are plenty of great external rod holders on the market. However, they can be hard to come by, are expensive, or may be prohibitive based upon where you drive or park.

For less than $10, you can get the major component of my fly rod storage solution.

Based upon your vehicle’s dimensions and layout, you’ll probably have to make some modifications to the setup I use in my Subaru. But the concept is relatively easy: secure your rods so they don’t rattle and flex needlessly. With a little creativity, you can be ready to get on the water quicker.

Check out my $10 car fly rod storage in the video below:

Simplicity for Success: One Fly Fishing Tip

June 11, 2018

The more I fly fish, the more convinced I am that success comes down to only a few simple variables.

For example: The fly pattern you use is important. Of course it is. However, how the fly is fished might be even more important. There are exceptions. You shouldn’t fish a size 10 green drake when a size 14 tan caddis would match the insects that are coming off. Even then, a well-fished green drake imitation might outperform a clumsily dragging caddis.

There are a handful of other truisms that I’d lump into this simplicity for success paradigm. Fishing using methods you are confident in, reading the water before making your presentation, and casting well are all easy examples. There is another tactic that can improve your fishing while, by necessity, getting you more time fishing.

Go again.

Last Cast of the Week, 6/8/2018

June 8, 2018

Most Fridays on Casting Across are devoted to other people’s contributions in the fly fishing community. Articles, pictures, social media accounts, videos, podcasts, products, and more will be featured on The Last Cast of the Week.

Today, I’m sharing items from WIngo Belts / Derek DeYoung, Risen Fly Fishing, and Hatch Magazine / ECHO.

If you’d like to be featured in the Last Cast of the Week, or have seen something that others might be interested in, use my contact form or shoot me an email (matthew[at]castingacross[dot]com). Also, be sure to subscribe to Casting Across to never miss a post.

Check out the links, along with my thoughts, below:

What in the (Fly Fishing) World are People Reading?

June 6, 2018

If you’ve spent any time on Casting Across, you know that I am a fan of fly fishing books. Furthermore, I advocate anglers spend some time reading. You learn how to fish, where to fish, and sometimes even why you fish.

Regardless of what kind of impact fly fishing literature makes, a big part of the reason why books are so important is that they do impact people. So many fly fishers I have spoken to have testified to the role a book had during their formative years in their pursuit of fish.

Over the past few weeks I’ve reached out to some folks in the fly fishing industry. I asked them to share one of their favorite books. Maybe not their absolute, number one, top book of all time – but a favorite. Some titles may be familiar, while others could be new to you. Either way, it is fun to see what people are reading:

7 Fly Fishing Gifts for Father’s Day, $15-$200

June 4, 2018

Buying a Father’s Day gift for a fly fisherman should be an easy enough task. Gear, and stuff in general, is a big part of the angling culture. But there are two big problems:

He might already have one.
He might not need that.

Thankfully, there are some things that every fly fisherman needs. Moreover, if he had another one it would be a good thing.

While there is no sure-fire gift for the pickiest dad on your list, I’ve compiled a list of seven items that span the $15-$200 price range that should please most men this Father’s Day.