Bass on the 4-Weight

I can live happily in two different fly fishing camps. On one hand, I see the value in having precisely picked and dialed in gear. At the same time, I appreciate adaptation and using what you have in creative ways. One takes more resources; the other takes more energy and effort.

If you live or fish frequently where there are hefty largemouths, you’d do well to invest some application-specific equipment. Foam poppers, deer hair bugs, and meaty streamers best imitate the food these hungry fish desire. Something like an 8-weight rod best presents these patterns with accuracy, distance, and ease.

However, you can still chase these fish with those flies on your dry fly rod. You won’t have the accuracy or the distance like you would with a bass rod. And it certainly won’t be easy. But if you’re just giving fly fishing for bass a try, have been steered away from the trout stream for some reason, or are on a budget there is no need to despair.

Here are three ways to take your trout rod out on the pond for big bass:

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Podcast Ep. 352: 2 Quick Words on Casting Better

If there is one truism in fly fishing, it is this: Everyone can work on their casting accuracy and distance.  In fact, the more I develop as a fly caster the more I see room for improvement in these areas.

Today I share my thoughts on two ways to think about improving your fly casting. Neither necessarily costs money, and neither will take much time to consider. But with a few tweaks you’ll probably see some marginal improvement.

As always, something like fly casting is best discussed in person with rod in hand. Hopefully this episode will get you outside playing around and talking to those who can help you grow as an angler.

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

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VIDEO: The Essential Read For New Fly Fishers

In one minute, I share why you should absolutely own Sheridan Anderson’s 1978 book, The Curtis Creek Manifesto.

No other book shares all the necessary information about fly fishing in such an entertaining manner. Not only are the illustrations great fun, they are incredibly helpful. Additionally, the “necessary information” isn’t just what a fly rod is and what the most popular fly patterns are (or, were in 1978). Anderson understands fly fishing culture and communicates that important facet in the same breath as logistics.

Plus, he talks about conservation and how to cook trout.

Not only is this a great book for beginners of all ages, but it is a good way for experienced anglers to visualize and grasp the basics in a way that can be passed along.

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

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The Fish in Artificial Intelligence

The first time I came across the use of artificial intelligence in the fly fishing  world, it benefitted me. At the very least, it had the potential to benefit me. A spike in website traffic to Casting Across was the result of a link to an article I had written. The link was on another fly fishing website. After a few minutes of reading, something felt off. The writing was not good. Now, people can be poor writers. But this wasn’t just C- writing. It was soulless. It was undoubtedly AI.

I’m hardly an angling luddite. Casting Across is, after all, an online platform. I have hundreds of podcasts and dozens of YouTube videos taking up digital space on servers somewhere. Technology is not a problem. AI isn’t even necessarily a problem.

Recently, I received a marketing email from a company trying to sell me on how AI could help me connect with my audience. Even though I was confident that the answer would be a strong no I read their pitch. Basically, they used natural language processing to comb through the available data to create a list of topics you’re interested in.

What did I do with this data?

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Podcast Ep. 351: Fly Fishing Accusations, XXXV

This week I have two – yes, two – bona fide accusations.

Now, I assume they were made with the best intentions. Still, I do  appreciate the opportunity to interact with a little pushback. One has to do with mountain trout fishing and the other pertains to fallfish. My two favorite topics.

I also share how I’m prone to sarcasm.

As always, I appreciate all my readers, listeners, and viewers. Please keep the feedback coming!

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

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VIDEO: Making the Fly Fishing Transition from Fresh to Salt

Barry and Cathy Beck’s Fly Fishing the Flats is a modern classic in the instructional genre of fly fishing literature. It isn’t groundbreaking or breathtaking. It is simply the perfect solution to a legitimate  problem:

How do I make the transition from fly fishing in  freshwater to saltwater?

Although there are many similarities, countless trout anglers have stared at the seemingly endless ocean and thought that they are literally and figuratively far away from the rivers and lakes they are used to. With great photographs and diagrams, the Becks break down the most essential aspects of saltwater fly fishing such that anyone who has fished before will have a baseline awareness of the game. There are other books that dive in deep, but  few do it as succinctly and as well as Fly Fishing the Flats.

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

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Support A Shop That Is Not A Fly Shop

You should support fly shops.

But if for one reason or another you can’t, you should support a shop that is not a fly shop.

Again, support fly shops. They have all the gear that you’ll need. Rods, reels, line, and flies. They’ll have breathable waders and a handful of vest options. You’ll undoubtedly have your pick of fly tying tools and materials. The staff will be knowledgeable in all things new and trending in the industry. Of course, they’ll be able to steer you towards a good place to fish and help you find the patterns you’ll need to make some headway. This is all good, normal fly shop fare.

However, unless you’re  in Missoula or one of the few cities that has as many fly shops as it does stop lights, you might have to drive to find a good store with all the bells and whistles. And you should drive to one if you  have the time.

Time or distance may be the reasons you support a shop that is not a fly shop.

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Podcast Ep. 350: Father & Son

Just because you put a fly rod in a baby’s hands doesn’t mean he’ll grow up to be a fly fisher. But in the case of my eldest son, it is working thirteen years in.

Recently he asked to go on a fishing trip to one of the places I fished most as a teenager.  That got a quick yes from me. Although we had some inclement weather (not our choice) and fished some challenging water (our choice), we had a great time.

As has been my practice on these milestone episodes, I invite a special guest on the podcast for a conversation. Hear about a historical fly fishing region and special father & son trip this week.

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

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VIDEO: A Book For All Anglers, Hunters, & Outdoorsmen

I obviously advocate for the reading of fly fishing books. Hopefully it is understood that this is in no way to the exclusion of other books in general, or outdoors books in particular.

One title that is in the same section as fly fishing books, albeit not on the same shelf, is Steven Rinella’s Meat Eater.

There is a good chance you’re aware of Rinella’s work through a hunting show, a wild game cookbook, or even some camo clothing. The “Meat Eater media empire” is chock full of quality content. This book serves as a great introduction to Rinella’s outdoor ethos and life. I’m confident all anglers, hunters, and outdoorsmen will appreciate it.

(And, of course, the above includes women who fall into the category of “outdoorsmen.”)

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

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Summer 2025 Fly Rod FAQs

Something that I love about fly rod conversations is how they vacillate between empirical and metaphysical. You can go from talking ounces and recovery speed to how it makes you feel in a matter of seconds.

It is just a fly rod. But if you fish, you know what I mean.

Not only is a rod a potentially significant expense, but it is what connects you to the fish. So while it isn’t what fly fishing is all about, it makes it possible.

Today I’m tacking five more questions onto my Fly Rod FAQ page. This is a running list of questions I’ve fielded and continue to field from people as I talk about the tangible and intangible aspects of the pinnacle piece of fly fishing gear.

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