Those Who Can Fish, Teach!

November 7, 2016

“I know what it means… I just can’t explain it.”
In one way or another, I’ve worked with young people for the past dozen years of my life. Early on, I realized that I was getting a lot of engaged expressions and eager nods to statements and follow up questions of “do you know what I am saying?” Many times, I’d even be able to get a reasonably cogent answer from a request for regurgitated information. However, things began to fall apart when I’d ask for them to restate the answer in their own words.

What really changed my paradigm of education was when I became aware of how many words young people (all people, really) use without understanding what they mean. That is where “I know what it means… I just can’t explain it” is truly problematic. The inability to articulate is indicative of a deficiency at a fundamental level.

I’m confident in asserting that if you can’t explain it, you don’t get it.

What does this have to do with fly fishing? Well, think of it this way: Can you explain the basic mechanics of a cast? Could you give a quick overview of why the feeding behavior of fish changes with the weather? Why should I buy a medium-action fly rod over a fast one… or vice-versa?

Dropped: What You Might Lose Fly Fishing

November 2, 2016

It was the most subtle of sensations, but it was different. I was walking through tall, wet grass alongside a spring creek. The sodden blades had soaked my shoes and bottom eight inches of my pant legs. My toes were wet, and I could feel the dampness on my ankles. So I was quite surprised that I even felt the slight tap on the back of my heel.

When I turned around, there it was: my little fly box.

I’d been negligent. The three-by-two case was completely filled with flies. I hadn’t unloaded it in months. There were tiny midges, poppers, streamers, and who knows what else crammed into the little box. Dozens of flies.

Secured to my sling pack by just a clip, it made sense that it would fall off. That day I had been bouncing from spot to spot, taking my pack off and throwing it in the back of the car. Things get jostled and fasteners get loosened. So there it was, laying on the ground.

I’ve been lucky. I can’t recall anything of value that I have lost while fishing. And really, isn’t fly fishing the kind of activity that is just perfectly suited to losing things? You take dozens of tiny objects deep into the woods and stand in moving water. That is a recipe for disaster if I’ve ever heard one.

Good Times, Good Stuff

October 31, 2016

Casting Across celebrated its first anniversary this past weekend. And as is the case with any good celebration, there ought to be gifts. So gifts there shall be.

I’ve partnered with four great companies – companies with great people that I’ve had opportunities to interact with over this past year – to put together a pretty exciting gear package. And what do you need to do to be eligible to receive all of this? Just subscribe to Casting Across!

More about that in a second. Here’s what you’ll get:

Monthly Fly – 60 trout flies in a Tacky box

Risen Fly – 4 fly boxes (waterproof, mini waterproof, slim, & super slim)

Trout Life – Baseball Shirt & Trucker Hat

Vedavoo – Escape Pack

Again, all you need to do to be in the running is to enter your email in the box below or on the right sidebar of the website. Also, your address will need to be in the United States. Your information will be safe; all you’ll receive is a notification when new content pops up on Casting Across.

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Thanks again for reading Casting Across!

Happy Birthday to Casting Across

October 28, 2016

One year.

160 posts.

Too many alliterative titles.

Lists for the sake of lists.

Articles about fishing… but not really about fishing.

Lots and lots of people reading my thoughts about fly fishing (and some other stuff) along the way.

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I still haven’t written too much about why I am writing about fly fishing. Obviously, I enjoy it. But, like my appreciation of fly fishing itself, there is a lot more to it than just this website. However, I’ll save that for another day in the near future.

Stay tuned. If you haven’t subscribed yet, take a moment to do so. There are some good things coming soon that you won’t want to miss!

This has been a great year, and I am exceedingly appreciative for everyone who has read, liked, followed, and subscribed. Thank you. I want to give you something to check out over the weekend. Here are the three articles that premiered with the launch of Casting Across, on October 29th of 2015. I think that they’ve aged well and deserve a read:

Dogs & Pipes

A harrowing tale of adventure and youthful exploration.

Finding Fiberglass

The revelation of hidden treasure right below my nose.

Gear Review: The Vest

A totally serious, industry standard-setting, breakdown.

Fly Fishing Fall Foliage: 3 Tips

October 26, 2016

Let’s talk about leaves.

“Why? What to leaves have to do with fly fishing?” you might ask.

First, you need to read Trout Are Made of Trees to your child, grandchild, or self. So, there is that. More than the scientific benefits of understanding the relationship between foliage and fish in general, there are some matters to discuss pertaining to fall specifically.

Leaves change the way that you approach the river. Yes, that is correct: in the fall, leaves can impact your fishing in a way that requires you to adapt. Here are three things that you might not have necessarily thought of that may be worth contemplating as you head out for some of the best trout fishing on the calendar.

Leaves on the water

I fished a Pennsylvania freestone stream one fall that was so totally covered in leaves that it made fishing practically impossible. The water was low so there wasn’t a lot of flow, there was a windstorm that shook most the leaves off the trees, and I literally could not fish. Casts were catching leaves in the air. Flies, even heavy streamers, were landing on leaves and fouling immediately. Fly line would sit on leaves, and cause all sorts of drag. It was miserable.

Fly Fishing is Trespassing

October 24, 2016

I was trespassing.

Well, sort of. The company that owned the land that the stream flowed through hadn’t actively used it for years. And word on the street was that their concern was more about teenagers and their drunken revelry than fly fishers, duck hunters, and trappers. So, I’ll go ahead and file it in the “tree falling in the woods with no one around” category of property law. I was the tree, and I wasn’t making a sound.

I’d accessed this particular stretch of water before. Numerous times. It is a small tributary of an incredibly famous stream. The main stem gets slammed spring, summer, and fall. Additionally, the little branch narrows to a small, deep channel where it enters the main creek. It is overgrown, murky, and doesn’t seem worth a second look.

But most fly fishers should know better. Because a short walk upstream (after looking around to make sure no one is watching you deviate off the path) reveals that the tight little run opens up into a perfectly fishable creek.

Where this creek is… well, where it is I’m not exactly going to say. Where it is, generally, is old. People have been there for a long time. People have used the land, used the water. So although it is somewhat remote, there are traces of civilization all over. Busted out dams. Culverts. Diversion channels. And when nature takes those things back, they get awfully fishy.

Last Cast of the Week: 10/21/2016

October 21, 2016

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 Creek, Colorado Springs Gazette, & Pyramid Fly Co.

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).

Thanks again for reading, and please take a moment to subscribe by plugging your email address in the field on the right sidebar.

Five Insufferable Fishing Phrases

October 19, 2016

Fishing quotes. Angling maxims. Phrases you are tired of seeing printed on the kitschy doodads that friends and family “saw and thought of you!”

But even worse than a knick-knack emblazoned with these tiresome sayings is actually having someone speak them to you. With serious intent in heart. That, my friends, can be too much to bear.

Maybe I’m jaded. Perhaps I’m a bad person. But I thought I’d lay out some of the most infamous quips that have ever offended the sensibilities of a fly fisher.

Editorial note: I’ve formatted each quote in bold, and emphasized all with an exclamation point. Hopefully this construes the tone and smarminess that usually accompanies the utterance of such obnoxious idioms.

“A bad day fishing is better than a good day working!”

False. There isn’t anything inherently bad about work. I’ve had plenty of fishless, sweaty, freezing, or otherwise disastrous days out on the water to call this one’s bluff. If you don’t fish a lot, then a bad day fishing seems like a waste. If you fish hundreds of days every year, then a bad day is most definitely a squandered opportunity to do something else. Can’t see the sense in this? Get your priorities in order.

We’ll be Backcasting After these Messages

October 17, 2016

"Mortgage broker fly fishing banter! Ha!" — “Mortgage broker fly fishing banter! Ha!”

Ah, fall. That time of year when I should be fishing but I’m firmly planted on the couch, wading from football to baseball playoffs and back again. I don’t watch a whole lot of television. Sports are really the only thing that will get me to stop and zone out for a prolonged period of time. Even fishing shows hardly keep my attention. So consequently, every September/October I get exposed to all of these “commercials” everyone keeps talking about.

And, boy, have I learned that I don’t have what I need in life! I’ve been living this whole time – content with my family, functional cars, and little fly fishing hobby – completely unaware that my cell phone carrier, financial institution, and fast food taco/cheese ratio are all woefully inadequate! Good thing I’ve got a credit card handy… but is it the right one?!?

Another thing I’ve (re)learned is that fly fishing is for people in the twilight of life. “The olds,” as some might call them. Why? Because every third life insurance, mutual fund, and *ahem* male pharmaceutical advertisement features a quasi-masculine gent of about 55-65 whipping some poor fly line about a river out west. read more