Fish Art Appreciation

Wildlife art is something most anglers and hunters appreciate. While the Venn diagram plotting the wader or camo crowd with the art gallery types might only share a slight sliver, there is still a sliver. And although Bass Pro bucks or Guy Harvey sailfish might not be critically acclaimed, they are perfectly at home in the hunting lodge or beach house.

But there are plenty of wildlife artists that truly deal in fine art. Moreover, there are plenty of paintings or prints that have significant personal value.

I have quite a few pieces that I appreciate. Some are quite special. The three pictured above have been part of my offices for over two decades.

Let me tell you their stories.

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Podcast Ep. 248: What’s in a Gear Review?

Most of us rely upon others’ reviews of products and services as we attempt to make decisions regarding our hard earned money. More importantly: as we attempt to do our best to catch more fish.

What makes a good review? What kinds of things should you look for as you shop, discern, and discriminate? To make it more personal, what kinds of things do I attempt to do as I write reviews on Casting Across?

Is this a review of reviews? In a sense: yes. Give it a listen.

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

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Never Enough Small Trout

Orange fins.

Blue halos around red dots.

Dark parr marks that span the vertical transition of vermiculated olive back to dusty golden sides.

That milky white belly.

I can not get enough. And  I hope I never will.

As an eastern angler, and a passionate devotee of all things small stream, I think about juvenile brook trout like a new parent. Everyone thinks that their kid is the cutest, but I still know mine is the best.

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Qualifly Reels: Big Game Impact

For just over 10 years, Qualifly Reels have been winning over fly fishers looking for exceptionally engineered and unique reels. Their fully machined reels are all feature rich and are backed by the customer service of the designer himself. New for 2023 is the Impact, a big game reel that comes in sizes 6/8, 9/10, and 11/12.

For the last month I’ve been fishing the 6/8, and can confidently say that it is a reel suited for any and all heavy warmwater and light saltwater situations you might encounter. This particular model gives the angler everything needed for bass, pike, or carp in a lightweight reel. It also serves in saltwater applications, such as chasing schoolie stripers (and larger),  flawlessly.

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Podcast Ep. 247: 3 Ways to Fish Out of a Rut

It could be the season of life, the weather, or even just the recent (lack of) success on the water. But whatever it is, you’ve found yourself in a fishing rut.

What can you do to get back to where you should be? Well, you could power through and just make it happen by doing the same thing over and over again. Or, you could make some small changes that grease the skids.

Unless you’re  fly fishing machine who never skips a beat, this topic probably applies – or will apply – to you. Hear my three suggestions in this week’s episode.

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

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Excel at Keeping Fly Fishing Records

I like the orderliness and comprehensiveness of spreadsheets. I use them for work. I use them for home. I use them for fly fishing.

Yes. I use spreadsheets for fly fishing.

How? I keep track of some pieces of data that I think will be beneficial. Things that aren’t apparent on the surface or necessarily what I want to focus on remembering. But when I need said information, I can click on a file and get everything and anything I need.

This all might be way too involved, too obsessive, or too high-tech for you. And that is okay.  But some aspect of keeping a few notes may very well help you in a small way. If that is the case, then great. Here are three easy ideas for keeping track of some fly fishing information:

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3 Trout Box Staples for Panfish

Serious panfish anglers know that you do need particular gear to chase the biggest bluegill and sunfish. There are tried and true panfish flies that will consistently produce.

But say you’re just taking your trout rod on a walk at the local pond? Or what if your life rhythm has made regular excursions untenable? Panfish will be there for you. They’re prevalent, hungry, and fun. And while there is nuance in pursing them, you can certainly get by with what you already have in your fly box.

Here are three flies that are great “crossover” patterns: flies that you may very well have in your trout box that are also perfectly suited to the panfish pond. Not only are these two nymphs and one dry common, they’re also quite easy to fish.

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Podcast Ep. 246: Trout & Hot Temps

I’m not a biologist.

But I do have enough common sense to analyze data, listen to experts, and pay attention to the world around me. Consequently, I’m aware that it isn’t wise to fish for trout as the thermometer goes up.

It is more nuanced than “don’t fish when it is hot” though. Air temperature is something to consider, but water temperature and dissolved oxygen are significantly more important. Today I talk about how this works, how it impacts trout, and what you might do to be a more conscientious angler.

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

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Vacation: Check.

I am a few nights away from wrapping up the *checks notes* longest vacation I’ve taken since 2009. It came at a great time. Life is in a good, but busy, season. I didn’t feel like I was dragging myself to the day of departure. Even as I was loading the car I was reminding myself that vacation had to happen between my ears just as much as in my flip flops.

As per usual, the big family summer trip was down to Virginia. Time with grandparents and cousins and aunts and uncles is always something we all look forward to. It is a stone’s throw from where my wife and I spent a number of our younger years, so there is that relaxing sense of familiarity as well.

And, of course, there’s the outdoors. I’ve long maintained the spectacular value of being an outdoorsman in the Old Dominion state. We were up hiking in the Shenandoah National Park every other day. We fished every single night. Every moment that we could, we sat outside and looked as birds flew against the backdrop of the Blue Ridge.

I’m not a strict Sabbatarian, but I do take my day of rest pretty seriously. I know that I, as a human, am not meant to go full-tilt for seven days in a row. Latching onto that clearly articulated principle that is baked into the cake of creation is something I encourage my family, my congregation, and anyone within earshot to embrace. Everyone, and everything, flourishes when given rest.

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Ed, a Flea, & Me – part 4

“One more cast.”

Of all the softly spoken magic spells in fly fishing, this one might be the most frequent incantation. Part desperation, part closure; the idea of a final presentation has a certain hopeful romance to it. The fish can’t tell that you’re about to call it a day. But the thought behind the last cast does instill a level of serious focus on the angler. The right fly. The well-executed cast. The intricately mended drift.

It is worth mentioning that the initial last cast may be followed by a half-dozen or so subsequent last casts.

At the very least, the ritual of the last cast  ought to be invoked. You say it because you have to say it. There will be a last cast. That is undeniable. But the true last cast rarely pays off.

Rarely, of course, does not mean never.

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