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:

read more

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.

read more

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:

read more

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:

read more

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.

read more

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:

read more

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:

read more

Podcast Ep. 322: Your Next Bass Fly Rod

The 6-weight  rod that you already own will work. It will work really well. You’ll be able to catch smallies and have a blast doing it.

But there are some drawbacks to a lighter rod. If you want to cast all the bass flies, if you want to cast for distance, or if you want to cast some versatile lines, you’re going to need a bigger rod.

If you have found yourself hitting this wall on your local pond or you’ve decided that warmwater fish are this season’s goal, check out some of the preliminary recommendations and  suggestions in this week’s episode.

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

read more

Rusty Flybox: It Is Cold

I love fly fishing in the winter. I love not fly fishing in the winter.

Sound a bit confusing or contradictory? Well, it isn’t. You see, both the river and the hearth have their advantages and disadvantages in the coldest months. It is usually a fish plus discomfort versus a no fish plus comfort equation.

Today I’m sharing three practical articles on cold weather angling.

  • How to ensure you can fish dry flies year round.
  • Why we endure the frozen extremities.
  • Where you can find open water when everything else is frozen.

Read each article by clicking on the title or image below:

read more

It Sounded Cold

Driving home from his meeting, he noticed a car parked next to the river. The pull off was next to a trail, which wound through the woods and down into the river valley. Where it intersected the water, it presented the traveler with two choices: upstream to the dam or downstream to the wide, glassy water. After two weeks with highs in the twenties, downstream was certainly covered with ice. He’d have to walk upstream to find trout. But he was going 50 in a 40. The car on the side of the road had a brook trout sticker on the back window. He wasn’t going fishing. Whoever parked was most likely fishing, most likely headed upstream.

A malaise kicked in when the maybe I can was quickly dashed on the rocks of early morning meetings and other, scattered obligations stretching into the next week. Those calendar obligations were the conscious coverup of the subconscious dread for ice lined banks guarding tight lipped trout. It was cold. The fishing was slow. Both would hold true for at least two more months.

Pulling into the garage, waders  were hanging feet away from his trunk. As the mechanical door lowered, a gust of wind caused one neoprene booty to extend ever so slightly towards a rear fender. He didn’t have a brook trout sticker on his car. Should he? Inside, the pile of mail and casual conversations with family were a welcome distraction. Navigating his way to the office was more precarious.

read more