2025 Show Report: New Fly Rods

The Fly Fishing Show is often the best place to go hands-on with gear that has just been or is about to be released. In fly fishing, on the pinnacle of that gear pile sits the fly rod. There are a lot of fly rods at the Show. From under $100 to over $1,000, there are bamboo, fiberglass, and graphite options that range from state of the art to antique. The biggest labels and garage makers alike have their handiwork on display.

With casting pools available for anyone to use, it is worth picking up a rigged up rod from a booth and playing around for a bit. If things aren’t too crowded, you even have the opportunity to cast two similar models back-to-back. It is a great way to make a decision. It is also a great way to see what is new and noteworthy in fly fishing.

While I could write about a dozen rods I checked out in MA and NJ, I wanted to focus on two new rods from two  established brands. Neither are high-end, but both were a pleasure to cast. Most importantly, I think they are each rods that will appeal to a wide range of anglers. Check out my thoughts on the new Orvis Superfine and the Redington EDC below:

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Podcast Ep. 325: 2025 Fly Fishing Show Recap

As both a presenter and a participant, I spent the better part of two weekends at The Fly Fishing Show this January.

On today’s episode, I give a recap of my experiences and highlight a few things that stood out to me from the Show. I do talk about a few products that are brand new for this season; including two great fly rods. Also, I share a few reflections from my presentations as well as some of the presentations that I attended.  And, once again, I talk about what I think you ought to do to get the most of your trip to an outdoor show.

While the MA and NJ stops of The Fly Fishing Show are over for 2025, there are still 5 more events this season!

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

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VIDEO: A Trout Education Right on Your Bookshelf

You could find a university that has an online program that also offers a class on trout and salmon. That is an option.

Or you could get a copy of Dr. Robert Behnke’s Trout and Salmon of North America.

This book contains a wealth of information directly from the man who was the foremost salmonid ichthyologist in the world. That should be all the endorsement needed, but there is  whole lot more that this book offers. Accessible, entertaining, and beautifully illustrated,  there aren’t many books like this that pack so much content in. Needless to say, it ought to be on your bookshelf.

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

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VIDEO: Underrated Trouting

Last week I kicked off a new content series on Casting Across. This is the second YouTube book review, and there are at least another ten scheduled to come out in the next months.

I started with Healing Waters by Beau Beasley. It is a newer book that deals with some of the most important subject matter possible in fly fishing.

Today’s video focuses on Ed Shenk’s Fly Rod Trouting. If you fish terrestrials, if you fish spring creeks, or if you are a student of the history of fly fishing, this volume is an essential read. Probably because Shenk fished and lived alongside so many other marquee angler-authors of the mid-20th century, his sole contribution is an underrated book.

I also share a pretty exciting piece of gear connected to the book towards the end of the video.

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

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Podcast Ep. 324: Fly Fishing on Ice

Fish do slow down in colder weather… but it  is the water, not the ice, that impacts them. The ice does tend to keep anglers away, however.

Today on the podcast I share how ice can be used to your advantage as a fly fisher. There are risks and some things to be aware of, but there are also some significant benefits once the water becomes much harder than you’re used to.

And just to be clear: I’m not advocating casting to a hole drilled with an auger.

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

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VIDEO: Healing Waters

Fly fishers ought to know the power of this pursuit and the potential for good they, as participants, possess. This is why  Healing Waters  by Beau Beasley is an important book. While certainly not a pleasure read, it communicates something vital about humanity, it’s frailty, it’s resilience, and how something as simple as fishing can tether all of those facets together.

With that in mind, the book is a joy to work through. A joy that elicits tears, smiles, and some serious contemplation – but joy nonetheless.

Today is the first installment in a new series of YouTube videos where I review books (and a little bit more). Watch what else I have to say about the book, and find out where you can pick it up, below:

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4 Ways to Avoid Risk While Fly Fishing

At a recent presentation I gave on backcountry fly fishing, I was discussing the benefits of maps. I talked about tracing the topography to determine gradient. I shared how certain features indicated where the smallest of tributaries or springs might be located. I spoke  on how the usefulness of maps was in that they were a starting point for exploration.

And then a woman in the audience made the comment that they could save your life, too.

An excellent point. And it is one that I can honestly say  I haven’t given enough attention on Casting Across over the years. While I routinely herald the joys of adventure and the wonders of pushing further into the wild, the inherent risks and appropriate mitigation efforts can’t be undersold. Or: have fun, but be careful.

Here are four things worth doing to stay safe if you’re going out of the direct line of sight of the parking lot while fly fishing:

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Podcast Ep. 323: Why You Should Fish the Driftless

It has been a long time since I’ve covered a destination. And the dead of winter is as good as it gets when it comes to talking about travel.

On one hand, it is fun to daydream about trout when it is frigid outside. It is also a great time to start putting plans together to make a few trips. But in the case of this week’s area of focus, you could actually head there and fish dries today.

And it isn’t a tailwater down south. It is in the heart of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and parts of Iowa and Illinois.

I give a quick synopsis of why you should fish the Driftless. And to put a fine point on it, I tack on an apologetic for the Pink Squirrel.

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

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3 Tips for Your Next Bass Fly Rod

Most trout anglers have been enlightened by the joy that comes from tangling with a big smallmouth on a fly rod. Aside from the aggressive, powerful fight, the entire process is refreshingly different than the usual 5X tippet and tiny nymph scenario. Tossing a popper while wet wading in sandals is more casual Friday than normal fly fishing may be.

But you may have also noticed that there are some limitations that come with just picking the biggest trout rod and biggest trout flies for the job. They’ll work – don’t get me wrong. But there are limitations. So you’re thinking it might be time to pick up something specifically for bass. That might be the right call. It might be unnecessary, but it is at least worth considering if it is something that will be worthwhile.

So what to do?

Go to your local fly shop. Talk to people who know and fish for bass. Cast anything and everything you can get your hands on. But keep these three things in mind as you begin your shopping journey for your next fly rod for bass:

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A Fly Fishing Show Schedule

The first outdoors show I attended was outside Dulles Airport in Northern Virginia. As a teenager who had only been an avid angler for a few years, only exposed to the handful of brands carried by my local tackle shop, it was eye-opening. And I was hooked. Since then, I’ve been going to fishing, hunting, and fly fishing shows on a nearly annual basis. The Fly Fishing Show has been a part of Casting Across since the site’s inception.

That said, I think I have an idea of how you can maximize your time at an outdoor show. More than just walking the aisles with a wad of cash or gleaning free stickers from every vendor, tapping into the fullness of the scene will make your day (and your entry fee) worth while.

Here’s an “itinerary” I would suggest to a first time attendee or to someone who hasn’t felt they’ve gotten a lot out of previous days at events like this:

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