Fly Fishing the Blue Lines? Try “No Lining”

Scrolling through Google Maps in the Appalachians can be a little overstimulating for a fly fisher. Every valley, hollow, and mountain pass has a blue line of varying width running through it. Generally, every blue line will contain trout. The problem is that not every line contains enough trout to warrant a trip. Especially on the east coast, issues like mining, logging, and their harsh side-effects have ravaged rivers large and small. Remediation has restored some ecosystems, but not all of them.

There is a ritual: I stare at the map, wondering which blue line is worth exploring. Certainly, there are some no-brainers. The famous rivers that have flies, rods, or even shops named after them do have fish. They also have access, and people, and pressure from said people that just visited the aforementioned fly shop to buy the rod and flies named after the river. A stream like that might work if it is a Wednesday or there is a snowstorm, but not so much on a beautiful Sunday. Even the bigger mountain streams are a tough go if you are the second angler through.

Once the big-name rivers are off the table, then I consult guidebooks and state classification lists. “Blue-ribbon, class II, wild trout, delayed harvest on months that have 31 days,” or something to that effect, “from the border of forest service land to the stump with a skull and crossbones on it.” In my mind, rivers like this are hit or miss. They have lots of signs. Signs scream “fish!” Rural signs scream “come catch and eat these fish!” A trip into the woods could yield a full day of native brook trout, or it could lead to a skunk. Or it could result in a run in with bears, law enforcement, or mountain folk. (FYI: Of the three, I’d pick bears.)

Passing up the stars and B-listers means digging deep and casting a relatively unknown actor. These are the true blue lines. The tiny trickle that might be Pine Run, “or maybe Little Pine Run? Or something else entirely? There isn’t really a label once it gets up high and branches off a few times.” Creeks like these bestow an ample supply of bushwhacking street-cred. Your small stream, native trout bravado is legitimized by the amount of time you spend hiking away from roads, trails, and cell service. All you have is your map, your fly rod, and your sense of adventure (and the latest in high-tech / retro-chic gear, naturally).

But what if there was another world even deeper inside the rabbit hole of backroads, backwoods trout fishing? What is the new angling album that not even the indie-fishing hipsters know about?

Forget blue lining: this is no-lining.

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Fly Fishing Tools of the Trade

Ask any fly fisher what you need to start up in the sport, and they’ll quickly answer something to the effect of: “Just a rod and reel.”

Then, after a brief pause: “And line and flies, of course.”

And shortly after that: “You’ll need a vest, fly boxes, tippet, leaders, nippers, flotant, weight, a net, waders, boots, polarized sunglasses…”

As they continue to drone on, you’ll get the picture.

Fly fishing is easy enough to get into, but there are plenty of miscellaneous items that make the whole venture much more comfortable. Given the tendency for outdoors enthusiasts to like gadgets and gear, various and sundry tools are usually important for anglers. But what makes a good tool, and what makes a better tool?

On the banks of the Truckee River in Reno, Nevada, StreamWorks creates fly fishing tools. “StreamWorks was born out of frustration with the fly fishing accessories that were available at the time,” says company president Tom Duffy. “Our founders were avid fly fishermen who saw major design flaws in those accessories and started making their own tools.”

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Last Cast of the Week, 3/10/2017

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 Tenkara USA, Fishpond, & Blue Ridge Outdoors.

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.

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Tenkara USA – How to Choose a Tenkara rod video

Maybe you’re not into tenkara. I get it – it isn’t for everyone. But, as I’ve said before, I think a lot of negativity simply comes from a lack of exposure. The best way to  get a feel for this type of fishing is to actually pick up a rod and give it a shot. Daniel Gelhardo, Japanese fly fishing evangelist and owner of Tenkara USA, has put out some great entry level videos that will explain the ins and outs of the technique. His first entry is a breakdown of the five rods in his company’s stable. It is a clear-cut and straightforward introduction  that gives you all the information you need to get a rod and give tenkara a try.

Fishpond – Boulder Briefcase

Now, I don’t own this briefcase. I wish I did, and I’d like to one day; but currently I do not. That being said, I’ve checked it out a few times at shops and at the Fly Fishing Show. If you’re in the market for a new briefcase / weekend bag, this is a great option to pursue instead of just picking up just anything. Fishpond makes great stuff across the board, but their high-tech waxed canvas series is a perfect synthesis of modern manufacturing with vintage aesthetics.  I’m not going to promise that having fly fishing branded luggage will make you feel adventurous when you’re going to/from  work or class… but it definitely won’t hurt.

Blue Ridge Outdoors – Women in Fly Fishing

If you listen to or read April Vokey, you know that she’s explained the  counter-intuitive bristling that can occur upon hearing  the label of “woman fly fisher.” I get it. Labels have a tendency to separate more than  refine. All that to say, this piece is a great synopsis of what some leading fly fishers (who happen to be women) are up to. This site isn’t a soap box for my worldview, but I do think that articles like this are still important and necessary. That sentiment applies to the fly fishing community as well as the greater outdoors culture.

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Adventure & Aesthetics: Pirate Fly Fishing

Bright and shiny sells. Often, bright and shiny is only indicative of the external: a façade and nothing more. The fly fishing industry is not immune to this marketing malady. Reels, apparel, and flies that look really good or capture the eye might not help you one bit when it comes to catching fish. In a visual world, form has the capacity to overshadow function.

If you’re on “fly fishing social media,” chances are you’ve seen Pirate Fly Fishing’s fly patch pop up in your feed. It is hard to miss: it’s a big, bright, brown trout-colored rectangle. Sometimes they display it all on its own, other times it is covered with meaty streamers. It looks appealing, and it looks like it works. Their publicity efforts worked on me, because I was interested enough to click on through to their website. After checking out their site, I was interested enough to contact the company.

Pirate Fly Fishing is Maddie Bonthron and Justin West. They live outside of Denver, are recently out of college, and want to make functional products that “look good doing it.”

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Show + Tell from the Lancaster Fly Fishing Show

Did you get a chance to go to a fly fishing show this winter? There are definitely still some local events in March and into April, but most shows – including The Fly Fishing Show‘s three month circuit, wrapped up this past weekend.

Honestly, there are a number of reasons to attend these gatherings. Booking guided trips, learning from the experts, and buying that one  item (plus five) you just had to have are usually on the top of most anglers’ lists.

Something that is, to one degree or another, inherent in all of the aforementioned activities is interaction. Even if a sales rep is simply walking you through the features of the latest chest pack, there is a personal touch that you won’t get from an online shopping experience. Seminars, casting demonstrations, and talking options with potential guides are all certainly relational. For a sport that is stereotypically portrayed  as an individualistic pursuit, there is actually a lot of focus on interaction.

That interaction is something that I truly enjoy about fly fishing shows. Guides I’ve used in the past, former coworkers, and  co-laborers in conservation are all “walking the aisles.”  And, in person, I get a chance to connect with people from across the country who I know from online communication.  It is fun to talk face-to-face with someone who made the rod you use or wrote a book you enjoy.

This past weekend in Lancaster, I had three conversations that I’d like to share with you. All three were with people that do something in the fly fishing world and then write about it.  Keep reading and check out these three blogs from some great people:

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Road Trip: Lancaster Fly Fishing Show

Contrary to popular belief, no souls were stolen by taking this photograph.

March: the last uncomfortable TSA checkpoint you’ll have to endure before the long, warm flight of  fly fishing season commences.

While that is generally the case, there is certainly some great fishing to be had in March. If you live in many parts of the East, the second half of winter 2017 has proved to provide plenty of opportunities to be outdoors. In short sleeves, no less.

With fishing beginning in earnest, some of the  off-season activities will begin to wane. The last batches of flies will be tied, with the challenge of rearranging fly boxes  now on the table. Gear will need to be cleaned (first, it will have to be located – you might want to get on that now). And you’ll actually get to show up for fly fishing, not just fly fishing shows.

The first weekend in March marks the last stop of the 2017 Fly Fishing Show circuit. The venue is downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Lancaster: it’s more than just Amish. *

*Not the official tourism slogan.

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How to Get Your Kids to Love Fly Fishing, part II

The last post on Casting Across introduced three things I have done that have contributed to my boys’ interest in fly fishing. I recommend that you go check them out.

Today, I have three more ideas.

Truth be told, these aren’t just concepts for parents. Grandparents, uncles, aunts, neighbors, teachers, scout leaders, youth pastors – anyone who loves fly fishing themselves and wants to get a young person involved can take some deliberate steps to do so.

Here are ideas four through six for how to get your kid to love fly fishing:

Kids ask questions, you know stuff: answer your kids’ questions!

If you’ve ever found yourself in the endless “why?” vortex, you know that you’ll say just about any nonsensical thing to extricate yourself. Sometimes, a child is just being a pill when engaging you like this. However, there is a genuine level of curiosity in all children. Help them use their powers for good and guide them into fly fishing conversations. Talk about fish, rivers, bugs, flies, rods, waders, flowers, dams, pollution, laws, catch and release, herons, invasive species, seasons: the options are endless.

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How to Get Your Kids to Love Fly Fishing, part I

My five-year-old loves fly fishing. How do I know? Yesterday, we’re driving in the car and he says, “Dad, I love fly fishing.”

So there you go.

How did this happen? How did I hit the jackpot with a kid that wants to go fishing with me, wants to hear about my fishing trips, and wants his own fly fishing gear? Admittedly, there are some personality-based predispositions at work. My two-year-old would just as soon find a way to turn fly line into a rope swing so as to propel himself into the creek.

At the same time, there have been some deliberate steps I’ve taken with my three boys. They all know that their daddy likes to go fishing, and we all talk about it regularly. My desire isn’t to force them to become fly fishermen one day, but I do want to share this important part of my life with them.

Here are the first three of six things I’ve done that have contributed to my boys’ interest in fly fishing:

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Last Cast of the Week, 2/24/2017

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 AFFTA, Teton Tenkara, and Gink & Gasoline.

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.

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AFFTA –  Recycled Paper Fly Boxes

In hindsight, some things are so simple that it is hard to believe that it has taken this long to figure it out.  Ditching disposable, plastic fly boxes for paper makes sense on so many levels. And with three sizes, there is absolutely no reason for a shop to not explore using these containers for everything from midges to meaty pike flies. If your local shop experiments with these, let them know what you think!

Teton Tenkara – Fly Fishing Books

If you read Casting Across, you are probably aware that I hold fly fishing books in high esteem. Although I have a pretty sizable and diverse library,  my fly tying section is limited. In this second post on the great blog Teton Tenkara,  a handful of tying titles are put forth for your consideration. There is a brief synopsis of each book, as well as a few  helpful notes from the blogger. If you’re looking to add a classic tying tome to your shelf, these are some good options.

Gink & Gasoline – Pay to Play

This post, by Justin Pickett,  is the blogging equivalent to  chumming for piranha. The premise of the short piece is this question:  What do you think about pay-to-fish waters? At the moment I’m writing this, there are over 70 comments. It is a good question to ask, think about, and answer. This topic, with some pretty far-reaching implications, is always going to be on the radar of the fly fishing community. So… what do you think?

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Rock Solid Techniques for Spotting Trout

The angler must approach the river with the greatest of care. Being mindful of shadows, silhouettes, and sudden movements, one must proceed with great caution. Indeed, even the intensity of streamside footfalls ought to be considered.

All the while, the fly fisher needs to be scanning the water. All the likely lies of the fish should be studied: pools, behind rocks, along undercut banks. Although the coloration of fish is superbly suited for camouflage, there are certain tell-tale signs to look for. The observant eye may perceive a shadow upon the gravel bed of the river, the quick flick of a tail, or the slightest movement on the bottom of the steam.

Upon spotting the fish, the very first cast should be made with utmost precision. Many fish, such as wild trout, will not tolerate more than one cast – two at the most.

Yet, this particular fish hasn’t chased your offering after five or six casts. Luckily, your efforts haven’t sent him fleeing for cover!

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