3 Sets of 3 for the New Year

One of my top fish of 2023…

Happy New Year from Casting Across!

As per usual, I don’t exert myself too much when putting holiday articles together. That said, what you’ll find below is worth a few minutes of your time.

Because it is lists. And everyone on the internet loves lists.

This list of lists includes  a few things that you will enjoy. One is personal. I list my top 3 fish of 2023. Then, I lay out three “resolutions” that you might add to your fly fishing in 2024. Finally, I share the top three articles of the prior year. They’re all pretty good… but #3 is excellent.

So here they are: 3 sets of 3 for the New Year.

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Podcast Ep. 268: 2023 in the Backcast

What better for a final podcast episode of the year than a curated retrospective on 2023?

While I touch on other subject matter, this is what I get rolling with on this final episode of December. You might be surprised what the most shared episode of Casting Across happened to be. But you won’t be shocked to find out which episode garnered the most ears. *cough* clickbait *cough*

Also, I’m impressed with how many new listeners hopped on board this year. Moreover, I’m encouraged that so many found their way here via text. That means you’re helping Casting Across grow.

All that said: listen, thank you, and Happy New Year!

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

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The Simple Fly Fishing Ornament

Sometimes the simplest things can bring the most satisfaction. Those who love the outdoors, fly fishers included, ought to appreciate that.

In that vein, today I’m sharing something simple yet satisfying. It is a holiday decoration. It is a craft. It is fly tying. It can be a gift and it can become a tradition. It isn’t original to me, but  I’m more than happy to spread the word or remind you.

It is a fly in a glass ball.

Again, it is simple. But it is a way to preserve, share, and display something small that brings a lot of satisfaction and may very well be quite significant. So while it is relatively self explanatory, here is how one goes about putting one together:

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Merry Christmas to All

Who is He in yonder stall,
At whose feet the shepherds fall?
Who is He in deep distress,
Fasting in the wilderness?

Who is He the people bless
For His words of gentleness?
Who is He to whom they bring
All the sick and sorrowing?

Who is He that stands and weeps
At the grave where Laz’rus sleeps?
Who is He the gath’ring throng
Greet with loud triumphant song?

Lo! at midnight, who is He
Prays in dark Gethsemane?
Who is He on yonder tree
Dies in grief and agony?

Who is He that from the grave
Comes to heal and help and save?
Who is He that from His throne
Rules through all the world alone

’Tis the Lord, O wondrous story!
’Tis the Lord, the King of glory!
At His feet we humbly fall,
Crown Him, crown Him Lord of all!

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Podcast Ep. 267: Fly Fishing Storytime ’23

While this episode is being released in late December, it isn’t a holiday episode by any means.

However, I’m reviving something from a few years ago that was a part of the podcast around this time of  year. The public domain is a treasure trove of fly fishing and fly fishing-adjacent content. And this particular story is really, really good.

So sit back, grab an eggnog (or a lemonade if you’re listening in July), and enjoy.

Merry Christmas from Casting Across!

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

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Go Fishing, for Trout’s Sake

a Shenandoah creek | photo NPS

Luray, VA – Effective immediately, Shenandoah National Park officials have lifted a parkwide fishing closure. Extremely dry conditions and low stream flows prompted the ban on August 31.

Recent rainfall has improved conditions resulting in lifting the fishing ban. However, Evan Childress, fish biologist, added, “Be gentle with the fish and the fragile environment they inhabit. The dry conditions likely reduced spawning success. Brook trout eggs spend the winter incubating in gravel in the streams, so it’s important to avoid walking through those areas to prevent trampling of eggs.”

Anglers are also encouraged to minimize handling and time out of the water to reduce stress on the fish. 

For nearly a third of this year, there was no fishing within Shenandoah National Park.  That is a long time. And that period encompassed the ever-alluring fall fishing season. This year, anglers couldn’t ethically adore brook trout in full pre-spawn regalia.

It was unfortunate. But it was the right call. Here’s why.

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Fly Rod FAQs

One of my favorite parts of Casting Across is interacting  with readers and listeners. It is always exciting to see the emails come in, whether they contain comments, questions, and, every once in a while, accusations. Also, I feel like if someone has taken the time to hear what I have to say and then gone through the effort of reaching out then the least I can do is respond. SPAM filters aside, I do think I’ve gotten back to everyone who has sent something my way.

There is one topic that I hear about more than any other. Fly rods.

After fly fishing for a long while, selling rods, and teaching casting, I do think I know a few things about rods. Enough to satisfy all but the most technical engineering questions, at least. It is fun to give my two cents on what might fit someone’s needs. I like to help people think through the variables of making a purchase: use, budget, preference, etc.

And while the last thing that I’d want to do is circumvent this kind of interaction, I do think it might be helpful to catalog some of the most frequently asked questions. I anticipate that this will become a dynamic/static page on Casting Across. The plan is to introduce a new round of “questions and answers” every once in a while before integrating them into the growing list. If I’m feeling industrious, I may even add in helpful links from the back catalog of the site.

So, without further ado, here are the first five Fly Rod FAQs:

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Podcast Ep. 266: Fly Fishing… From a Boat!

Watercraft and fly fishing go together. But which watercraft are best suited for the job? And, consequently, your hard-earned money?

Today I dip my paddle into the wide, deep river of watercraft that one can employ in his pursuit of fish. There could be an entire podcast series on this topic, but hopefully this will serve as a sufficient introduction.

Whether you’re starting out or whether you have been fishing for years, this primer on a half dozen types of  boats can help you think about how you can get to fish easier.

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

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8 Fly Fishing Gift Swap Ideas

White Elephant. Yankee Swap. The super original “gift exchange.” Whatever you call it,  it can be a lot of fun and a quick way to waste $20.

So why not have fun with it? If you get invited to a TU or fly shop holiday party, you can bring something that brings the seasonal heat. Especially if you are able to operate in anonymity, you have the opportunity to make some memories or at least ruin someone’s evening.  A bunch of hand-tied flies is nice. Summer sausage is a hit. You could buy a really nice 4-pack of beer. Or, you could take my advice.

Each one of these carefully curated gift choices all fall within the reasonable gift exchange limit of $20. But note: prices in the links may change and/or be the victims of inflation. So please, make sure you do your research lest you perpetrate a great holiday party foul

Here’s 8 ideas, all at or under $20.

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Costa’s Sunglasses King

After quite a bit of build up, and a remarkable amount of hype at some industry events, Costa del Mar revealed their King Tide sunglasses earlier this year.

These frames were touted to be the culmination of Costa’s 40 year history. The press releases, early look features, and social media posts from ICAST all seemed to place the King Tide alone atop an outdoor sunglasses pedestal. But is their performance worthy of that reputation?

While I didn’t pick up a pair in the first roll-out, I did place an order once the full array of lenses was available. Since then, the King Tide has been with me on and off the water, and I feel like I’ve put them through the paces.

Here’s what I’ve noticed about Costa’s King Tide after a few months:

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