The Best Laid Plans of Trout and Flies

In my younger days, January 1st meant bothering a Walmart employee early in the morning. Groggy and in the malaise that only accompanies working on a holiday, whoever got summoned to the sporting goods desk was met by a much more enthusiastic young angler. Getting that fishing license on day 1 of 365 was an adventure and was also perceived as a real value. Cold mornings on the water coupled with various sleep-deprived shenanigans made for some memorable New Year’s.

I looked forward to the date. Big plans were made around this annual event. That was half the fun.

These days, I’ll get that fishing license online. I’ll sleep in on New Year’s Day. I’ll go fishing later in the month. At least I’ll plan on it.

Speaking of plans, here are some things that you can look forward to from Casting Across in 2018:

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Last Cast of the Year: 2017

Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man.

– Benjamin Franklin

From what I know about Benjamin Franklin, I have to assume that his use of “war” allowed for a pretty wide range of interpretations. I also can’t find any record of him being an angler, so we can exclude fly fishing from the initial phrase of that particular New Year maxim. So all in all, it is  a reasonably good way to think about 2018.

And 2017 has been a reasonably good year. I’ve moved back to New England, forged some new trails for Casting Across, and even caught a fish or two. Of course, you know all that – because I’ve been writing about it three times a week for the past year.

I   truly  enjoy writing about fly fishing. The people, places, and things that go into catching fish are just inherently fun. It isn’t that everything surrounding the quarry and the culture is perfect, but there is a whole lot of good worth sharing. Say what you want about some of the more unsavory characters and characteristics in fly fishing: the simple pleasures of fish, fly rods, and friends overshadow the negative.

Below are the three posts that got the most views in 2017. Is it the best of list? I don’t think so. However, these three articles are close to summarizing the warp and woof of Casting Across. Products, tips, and humor are what make this website and my writing mine. Have a look, and a read, below:

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A Lot for a Little: 2 Great Fly Fishing Products Under $25

In fly fishing, there is nothing wrong with doing things the hard way. Fly anglers sometimes revel in it. In fact, it could be argued that there is a certain virtue that only comes through patient  diligence. There is also nothing wrong with fishing smarter, not harder. These days gadgets and gizmos can can create shortcuts. Little bits of tackle can help, but they also usually carry a price. For most folks, a slight convenience is not worth the expense.

Every once in a while, a product comes along that doesn’t cost much but also yields impressive results. In an industry that constantly sees  innovation, the mousetraps that are rolled out are generally only slightly better than the last model.  Consequently, any affordable and game-changing pieces of gear are worth serious consideration.

Two fly fishing items that fit this description are recent releases from Vedavoo and Appalachian Furled Leader Company. Both of these companies have stellar catalogs for the fly fisher, but each offers a little product at or under $25 that could potentially streamline your angling in a big way.

Read a quick review of each, below:

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Merry Christmas from Casting Across!

What are you doing reading a fly fishing blog on Christmas morning?!? Watch the snow, assemble your kid’s toy, or go back to sleep!

“What are you doing writing a fly fishing blog on Christmas morning?” you may ask. Well, through the wonders of the internet and my particular platform, I am writing to you from late on Christmas Eve. I’m like the ghost of outdoor writing past.

Tonight was good. I just got back from church, where my five year-old son and I took part in the service by reading the account of Jesus’ birth out of Luke chapter 2. It was a great scene, and really a microcosm of what Christmas should be: friends, family, singing, snow, decorations, good food, and celebrating the Savior.

I hope that you can feel the blessings of all those things today and throughout this whole holiday season. They certainly enrich our daily experiences, and consequently give more value to the time you  spend fishing.

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Last Cast of the Week, 12/22/2017

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 Risen Fly Fishing, The Fiberglass Manifesto, & 2 Guys and a River.

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:

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The Eye of the Beholder: A Study on Flies for Fishing

Standing on the banks of that fabled river, I felt a deep connection to all the anglers who came before me. The rocks, the water, the trout themselves vibrated and flowed at a frequency that resonated across space and time. And I was amidst all of it, fingers trembling as I sought to attach the fly to the end of my tippet. The delicate dry fly was tied with great care. Perfectly proportioned wings, expertly wound hackle, and a finely dubbed body came together to perfectly imitate  the pale mayflies that danced across the surface of the water. Although it was a facsimile, it should serve as a worthy surrogate.

With a drag free drift, I expected it to glide naturally over the lie of a healthy trout I had observed. With a quick flick of my fly rod, the line uncurled and propelled the gossamer-thin leader outward. The fly naturally followed; fluttering down with the whimsy of an actual insect caught in some heretofore unseen zephyr.

In those moments, time seems to stand still. The entire endeavor of angling crescendos in a  series of events that are ever so still and ever so silent. Minute adjustments of the fly line were made with surgical precision. All the while, my attention was split between the fly itself and the position of the targeted fish. Eyes, unable to focus upon two objects at once, attempted to defy the laws of physics and dart quickly from one to the other. Then, the already protracted clock slowed even more. The trout, seeing or sensing a possible meal, changed the cadence of its tail ever so slightly.

Rising from the translucent depths, the figure of the healthy fish became more perceptible. Tilting its head upward, it hung in the current motionless. Like a still frame, the trout and the fly appeared to be frozen while being carried downstream in unison. The telltale white mouth was the only visual cue that something other than a dance was actually occurring.

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Eternal Stocking Truck of the Troutless Mind

The river was wide. Wider than any eastern trout river I had ever been in. It was so wide, that I had to turn my brain off to the fact that I wasn’t going to be able to fish every pool. Not every pool in an upstream/downstream manner, mind you: I wasn’t going to be able to fish every pool from bank to bank.

That might be a bit of hyperbole, but that is how it felt. After an hour or so of flailing around, changing flies, and feeling overwhelmed, I decided to make a mental adjustment. I quit. Well, I quit looking at all of the river. So, after I turned my brain off to the vastness of the water before me I decided to cheat. I didn’t get out treble hooks or dynamite. My specific form of angling gamesmanship entailed going to the easy spot.

In any given river, bridge pilings are often the  natural barrels in which one can shoot a fish. The bridge itself provides a false sense of security to the fish. The construction creates a swift run, below which a deeper pool forms.  Furthermore, little critters like bridges. And trout eat little critters.

Positioning myself just downstream from under the bridge, I endeavored to nymph the opaque green hole. A few casts in, I caught a rainbow. It was the first fish of the day, and a hair above ten inches. On my very next cast, I caught another fish. Another rainbow, also about ten inches. For the next half an hour or so, I didn’t go more than three casts without catching trout. All rainbows; all just shy of a foot in length.

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Last Cast of the Week, 12/15/2017

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 Redington, Wish4Fish, & Fishing Small Streams

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:

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Why Fly Fishing Smarter is Sometimes Harder

Recently I fished a new river. It was a wide waterway with miles set apart for catch and release. I knew that it was filled with trout, and that it had been fishing well the week prior to my trip. So even though finding a spot and locating fish was a little daunting, I had faith that I could get into something soon enough.

Once  I was in the water, I was excited to see that there were prime riffles, runs, and pools as far as the eye could see in both directions. It really appeared to be an embarrassment of fishy riches.   A strong, fast rainbow on my second cast all but confirmed to me that it was going to be a good day.

Then things slowed down.

I nymphed every good lie. Hard. Constantly adjusting my weight and the position of my strike indicator, I probed some of the most beautiful and fishy looking water I’d seen in some time. All morning and into the afternoon it was the same thing: hours of nothing, nothing, nothing, FISH! …another hour of nothing, nothing, nothing, FISH! ANOTHER FISH!

Sitting on a rock, I tried to decipher the pattern. It felt like I was fishing with great focus and determination. But the results were a hair below intermittent. I could keep playing nymph roulette, hoping that I stumbled inexplicably upon more trout. Or, I could make much more out of an infrequent all-day trip to a river hours away from home. read more

2 Guys and A River and Me and Fly Fishing Shows

I’ve frequently written about how outdoor shows can be “the most fun fly fishing thing you can do while not actually fly fishing.” These expos often encompass the best of the off-the-water elements of fly fishing: the people, places, and things that go into the pursuit of fish. As we head into the winter months and the bulk of the indoor fly fishing events, it is worth planning a weekend day or two around a local show.

Recently I did a long distance sit-down with Steve and Dave of 2 Guys and A River to talk about fly fishing shows. 2 Guys and A River is a weekly fly fishing podcast that serves both as  entertainment for seasoned anglers and an entry point for beginners. I’ve been a guest on the show before, and definitely recommend subscribing to their feed wherever you listen to podcasts.

On this episode, we discussed what makes a good fly fishing show. This included how to get the most out of a day’s visit, as well as a survey of some  of the options across the country.  And, true to form, we gave a little bit of humor our best shot.

Here is how you can listen to my conversation on 2 Guys and A River:

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