VIDEO: Ms. Orvis’ Life in Flies

The name Orvis is synonymous with American fly fishing. If you are at all interested in the history of the sport, you’ll certainly enjoy learning about the fly tying daughter of the company’s founder: Mary Orvis Marbury.

Mary was more than an angler, of course. But her contributions to her father’s fledgling brand and the culture of fly tying at the turn of the century was undeniable. Steve Woit’s latest book, Mary Orvis Marbury: A Life in Flies celebrates her as a person while showing off her prolific work.

In this video, I walk through the major segments of the book. And although I show off a few of the full-page color photographs, this volume must be seen in person to be appreciated. If you want more information on the book, I heartily recommend Tom Rosenbauer’s interview with the author on The Orvis Fly Fishing Podcast.

Watch what else I have to say about the book, find a link to a review of Woit’s other spectacular work, and find out where you can buy A Life in Flies, below:

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Fish Everyday: The Redington EDC

Each winter, over the course of a few fly fishing expos I  endeavor to cast many of the season’s new fly rods. Often times this exercise is about getting an idea of what is new and noteworthy. It is more about research than shopping. However, in the early months of 2025 two rods impressed me such that I revisited them in multiple cities. One was a small-stream rod that would be a delightful luxury in an already crowded closet of 2- to 4-weights. The other was a brand’s top-end offering that cast with remarkable touch and power.

As you are well aware, there is no perfect fly rod.  With countless variables in anglers and the conditions they fish, what might fit for one may be a headache for another. This  means that one model might check all the boxes when it comes to action, features, and price for an angler but strike out on one, two, or three for another. That said, there are some rods that fill an all-around, everyday niche.

After six months of casting the Redington EDC, I think it meets the criteria.

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Podcast Ep. 357: Fish Without Fear

Outdoor activities are inherently risky. While your home is likely where you’re going to get hurt or run into trouble, being in wild places can lead to potential hazards.

Some have to do with critters. Most have to do with other people.

Even though there is a small chance of something problematic happening if you’re on the river, there is still a small chance. With a few simple steps you can do a lot to mitigate those risks and pursue your hobbies with confidence and not fear.

Plus, I start out the podcast discussing peace and meaning in fly fishing, the outdoors, and everything.

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

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VIDEO: The Story of Salmon & Us

There are few fish that inspire as much awe and admiration as salmon. Whether it be their qualities as a sport fish or food source, salmon have been at the pinnacle of many cultures and communities.

Mark Kurlansky’s 2020 book is a biography of sorts. It traces the various species, their natural state, their past intersections with humans, and their present situations. There are a lot of disconcerting aspects to these latter two categories, but there are also some bright spots and positive elements looking forward.

While not a fly fishing book, Salmon is an engaging read that anglers, nature lovers, and students of history will enjoy.

Watch what else I have to say about the book, read about a conversation I had with the author, and find out where you can find Salmon, below:

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Dark Skies Fly Fishing: Fall 2025

I’m pleased to share that  my writing is once again included with a number of talented angling authors in the online (and print) periodical Dark Skies Fly Fishing. In this fall issue, I break down the basics of fly fishing the wildest mountains in New England and I recommend a great read.

For this issue, Dark Skies is switching from a fully free to a sample/paid model. Having put together Casting Across on my own for nearly ten years, I can completely appreciate why the decision has been made. For the very modest sum of $3, you get nearly 100 pages of interactive fly fishing articles.

The fall edition includes pieces on Great Lakes browns, choosing line for Euro nymphing, and the original woolly bugger. The core of the content focuses on the  Mid Atlantic, but there are pieces that will be of interest to all fly fishers. Both of my contributions fall squarely into this category.

Interested? See it all below:

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Podcast Ep. 356: 5 Ways to Get that Fly Deep

Not all fly fishing presentations can be bushy dry flies over trout that will range five feet to rise with abandon. Because of the ridiculous quantity of foodstuffs in most rivers, fish are looking for a reasonable offering that is within a few inches of their noses. And since fish live underwater that means nymphs drifting at the right depth.

Getting all that to happen involves more than experimenting with split shot. In fact, I’d like to offer up an approach where a cast-altering weight is the last ditch effort.

Today I share five things I like to think about when it comes to getting your fly down deep in tricky scenarios. And as per usual, they involve using your head a lot more than your tackle box.

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

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Video: Fishing’s Most Influential Work, at Your Fingertips

Although it is not the oldest work on fishing in the English language, Izaak Walton’s The Compleat Angler is undoubtedly the most prominent. From both a literary and cultural perspective it is well known and widely celebrated.

For these merits and those intrinsic to the nearly 400 year-old book, you should read a passage or two. And it just so happens that there are a handful of ways to do so online.

Scans and transcripts of the multiple editions are available  through various websites. You’d do well to peruse the archaic but intelligible first edition from 1653. If you’re a fly fisher, you’ll want to check out the 1676 reprint. This final update includes Charles Cotton’s additions, which include a focus on flies.

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

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Fly Fishing as Labor & Rest

Work has a bad reputation. This is perhaps best illustrated in the modern concept of the weekend. Many see the time from Friday evening until Monday’s alarm as sacred.  The rest of the week is there to be endured. Labor is pitted against rest.

But this isn’t true. And fly fishers should understand this very well.

Consider your time on the water. It is restful, but it also entails complicated variable analysis and a level of physical exertion. Like many leisure activities it requires the honing of skills and focus. And even if the most contemplative  purists don’t want to admit it, one must acquire equipment to participate.

It is a labor, but it is a labor of love. Very few anglers have any expectations or quotas that originate from external sources. The fish offer up a challenge that is nearly always pursued for the sake of the pursuit alone. The early mornings, long hikes, and saved-for expenses are fulfilling  more than they are draining.

You can rest too much, but it might mean that you don’t catch fish… at least not on purpose. You can work too hard, but you run the risk of making it all science and losing the art. In fly fishing, labor and rest function and flow in perfect harmony. One can’t exist without the other. The angler can’t really comprehend the entirety of the enterprise unless he immerses himself in both.

Ultimately, this is because we were created to rest and to work and it was called good. I’m of the conviction that fly fishing is good for many reasons; this labor and leisure dynamic being a significant one. We step into something active while simultaneously taking a step back from the usual. Whether we acknowledge it or not, a large part of the pleasure comes from doing what we’ve been made to do. We labor and we rest, and we’re blessed to do so with a fly rod in hand.

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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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