Casting Across 2024 Gift Guide

Fly fishers are notoriously difficult to shop for.  Picking out a rod is both pricey are personal. Flies are nice, but ones that will be used have the tendency to  be quite specific. Floatant and split shot are serviceable stocking stuffers, but hardly under-the-tree fare. So what to do when the holidays come around? Is gift giving reduced to asking for direct links to fly shops’ online stores?

There is a better way.

Some items would be a hit for any angler. Below are seven gift ideas that range in price from “local TU white elephant” to “I’m going to spoil my spouse.” And they’ve been selected because either there is  a good chance the intended recipient doesn’t have them.  If he or she does, these gifts are the kind of thing that is worth probably having more than one.

Here are seven gift ideas, ranging from $10 to $400:

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Podcast Ep. 315: The Wal-Mart Angler

A random errand led to my being face-to-face with a $20 fly rod/reel/line combo. It even came with flies. Around me, people were shopping for car batteries and Barbie dolls. I examined the reel. I assessed the flies. I debated scanning the QR code on the  package. It wasn’t for me, but it didn’t look half bad for a $20 Wal-Mart fly fishing rig.

For everyone who starts their fly fishing life off with the Orvis silver spoon in their mouth, there are probably a few others who get after it with department store gear. Who is to say who catches more fish on that first trip out?

Today I talk a little bit about the place that inexpensive gear plays in the fly fishing world. It might not be for you, but remember that it might have been at one time.

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

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Outdoor Clothing: When to Pitch It

They’re your favorite fly fishing socks. They cost upwards of $20 a decade ago, and you’ve been enjoying their soft, warm, wicking, anti-microbial features every time you’ve headed out into the great outdoors. Money well spent.

But lately things are rough, chilly, damp, and – if we’re going to be honest – a little stinky. I guess that is fishing, right?

No. It is your nasty old socks. It is socks that have been worn over and over again in demanding conditions. It is socks that have been washed and dried ad nauseum. It is socks that you’ve asked more from than you reasonably should have. I’m not saying you need to throw them away, but for the love of all things pedal: buy some new fly fishing socks.

This also applies to your jacket, your hat, your waders, and even your lucky fishing shirt. Waterproof things  stop being waterproof. Breathable things stop breathing. Puffy things stop being puffy. That is simply the way of wool, nylon, and everything in between.

So how do you know when to throw in the towel and shell out another twenty bucks? Here are three things to pay attention to:

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5 Thoughts for Wader Storage

Many anglers fish straight through the winter. There are plenty of “off-season” opportunities to chase fish and enjoy the outdoors in the coldest months. But if other hobbies or the comforts of home keep you off the water until springtime, there is no reason to be ashamed.

If that is your preference: more power to you. Just be sure to take care of your equipment while it is being set aside. Especially your waders.

Many anglers and hunters complain that the waders that were in great shape at the end of last season have surprise leaks on their  first return trip after months of rest. Even the best brands can fail. But your waders shouldn’t die when they’re not being used. The streamside fall or the ill-advised barbed wire fence limbo is a much more dignified end to fishing gear.

Here are five things to think about when storing your waders and boots to keep them safe when they’re not being used.

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Podcast Ep. 314: A Slap on the Wrist

In the complicated system required for fly fishing that is man and equipment, your wrist might be the most fickle. For the same reason it is an incredibly flexible and dexterous joint it can lead your cast very, very astray.

While the best way to straighten out your casting woes is to practice, today I share a few wrist-related issues that may lead to problems. And problems like reduced line speed and increased fatigue are worth ironing out if possible.

Hopefully these 20 minutes will spark some interest into making some small changes that will payoff big time.

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

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Kids Agree: All Fish Are Awesome

My four boys love the outdoors. My four boys also love reading. Needless to say, there was a lot of interest when I opened up All Fish Are Awesome earlier this week.

Noel Vick’s book follows the simple formula that makes children’s books readable and re-readable (and if your child chooses, the latter can be quite the understatement). Eye-capturing artwork is coupled with quick fish facts. Saltwater and freshwater fish are both featured, and sportfish are spotlighted alongside other species.

It is not a long book, but it is substantial. The perfect age range, in my opinion, is 5-8. But that doesn’t mean that older and younger children won’t enjoy it. In many ways, it feels like a conversation you’d have with a child while sitting and fishing. “Have you heard of sturgeon? Yup, they can get to be thousands of pounds. And darters? Only inches long!”

My boys have been through the book. They enjoyed it, and I have shared their thoughts below. All Fish Are Awesome is a great book for kids who like nature, are interested in fishing, or get excited what their dad, grandpa, or older siblings enjoy.

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New Tying Gear from Loon for Beginners & Pros

Nearly every fly tyer wants to get better. With focused repetition, patterns become more consistent and come together more quickly.  It isn’t in the cards for everyone who sits behind a vise to produce professional-looking bugs. It isn’t necessary, either. Practice makes productive flies that fill boxes and catch fish.

Along with guidance, know-how, and vise hours, there are some truly helpful ways to improve fly patterns. Good materials can’t be overstated. And the right tools open up opportunities for tyers of all skill levels.

Scissors, bobbins, and finishing tools come in a plethora of designs, each with their own features and applications. Advanced fly tyers  can take advantage of a well-stocked tool drawer. With skill and experience, tools sporting what seems like minor differences can be wielded to impart subtle nuances to patterns that take them from good to better.

For beginner and intermediate tyers, specialty tools  have another distinct benefit: they help overcome those little hurdles that everyone encounters while gaining competency.  Not circumventing actual learning, the right tools can help redeem slight errors and salvage ties.

Some of the newest tools from Loon Outdoors can aid all tyers realize these benefits.

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Podcast Ep. 313: Easy Fly Fishing Watercraft

You can spend a lot of money on a boat for your fly fishing endeavors. There’s the cost of the craft itself, then the trailer, then the accessories, then the truck to pull it more efficiently…

While I’ve enjoyed the quality drift boats, skiffs, and  bass rigs I’ve fished from over the years, the vast majority of my time on the water has been in smaller crafts. And I think they suit me just fine.

Today I’m talking about easy watercraft. Easy to acquire, easy to transport, and easy to use.

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

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Rusty Flybox: Election 2024

If you know me, you know I don’t shy away from things like religion and politics. That would be like a doctor shying away from gaping wounds; a real estate developer shying away from a tract adjacent to a new exit on the interstate; you and me shying away from trout rising to big, splashy bugs.

As I say in a post linked to below,  “Everything is religion, and most things are politics.”

This post is scheduled for the day after Election Day 2024.  At the time of writing, I don’t know what is going to happen. When I hit “publish,” I don’t know who will be headed to the White House in 2025. I don’t even know if we’ll know who that will be by the time this goes live.

But what I do know is that there are some important things that stay constant. Fly fishing has a role in and amongst them, too. And I’ve been writing about that for three major election cycles now.

Below, you can see posts that came out right at the elections of 2016 and 2020. I think they, along with a bonus inclusion, are worth reading.

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Game of Inches: 4 Areas for Fly Rod Grip

You don’t need to be a physics or geometry expert to be able to use a fly rod well. But there are a few ways that even the most rudimentary grasp of scientific or mathematic principles will help you on the water.

For example: manipulations of your rod grip are telegraphed exponentially up to your rod tip. Or, even if you move your hand only a little bit it is going to move the end of your fly rod, nine feet away, quite a bit.

What does that mean, though? How does that impact fishing?

It impacts fishing quite a bit, actually. After all, it is called angling. And all it really means is that with a little awareness of how you are holding or angling your grip you can have a significant impact on casting and fighting fish.

Here are four areas where  you ought to be paying attention to the orientation of  your grip:

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