Let Them Touch Bugs

I am not an entomologist. I am not even the kind of fly fisher who  is proficient with insect taxonomy at the species level. But I do know a few things about bugs. And I am aware that they can captivate an 8 year old in a way that very few digital things can.

Over the past fifteen years or so, I’ve had a handful of opportunities to teach “bug class” to kids. At private schools, summer camps, and homeschool co-ops I’ve introduced students to stoneflies, aquatic snails, and (to the very brave) hellgrammites. Along with encountering some alien-looking critters that live under the rocks of the local stream, kids and teachers learn a few things about water quality and what trout eat.

Something like this might be a possibility for you. You may be an educator, a volunteer, or even a parent looking for a fun thing to do with your kids. With a few things that you probably have around your house, and with the knowledge that you probably already possess from  “matching the hatch,” you too can introduce someone to the fascinating world of macroinvertebrates.

Here are five quick and easy tips on sharing the aquatic insects you know and love with young people:

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Podcast Ep. 304: Gear Gimmicks

Rightfully so, many consumers think that marketing is out to divide them from their hard earned money. Consequently, most hype surrounding new or novel innovations is received with a fair amount of skepticism.

But what if some of these features are more than gimmicks?

Today I’m sharing four products with design or function elements that I have heard people call “gimmicky.” While I don’t think any are worth paying exorbitantly more for, I do think they have their merits. Listen as I walk through each and give reasons why you may very well consider adding such a piece of equipment to your collection… or even your main rotation.

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

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3 Ways to Save on New Fishing Gear

You can absolutely nab some excellent deals if you shop sales, wait for next year’s model to come out, or trawl auction sites. This can be a lot of fun and you can certainly find some amazing things.

But you can also strike out a lot and damage your eyes from staring at a computer screen for hours on end.

Sometimes just buying something new and right away is more convenient. That doesn’t mean that you can’t save money, though. In fact, there are some simple ways to get brand new gear from fly shops and manufacturers with steep savings.

Here are three ways to save money today on everything from rods to clothes to fly fishing footwear:

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Give to Vocation, Receive from Leisure

Work is not antithetical to recreation. The inescapable dichotomy within time allocation  doesn’t demand  disjunction. That is to say, it is more appropriate to consider work and recreation as complimentary. And complimentary things aren’t better and worse. They are different and necessarily different.

Labor and rest need one another.

Misconceptions about this come from a number of places. Some of us are overworked. Jobs, then, are seen as the enemy of fun. Some of us are (believe it or not) over-recreated. Jobs, then, are seen as the barrier between us and our true selves. In the western world, an errant interpretation of the fall of man places work as the consequence of rebellion. In fact, work existed prior to sin (Genesis 1:28); it is toil that is a consequence (3:17-19).

Fly fishing should fuel your work and work should charge your fly fishing. Time on the water ought to clear your mind and refresh your soul. Days at the desk or on the jobsite  ought to leave you a bit spent from giving what you can to do well. A complete man – complete angler – gives to his vocation and receives from his leisure.

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Podcast Ep. 303: Why You Should Fish the New England Coast

Countless tourists head to coastal New England cities, towns, and remote coastlines every year. Trust me: I sit behind you as I try to get around during my normal day-to-day.

With around 6,000 miles of coastline, there is room for all of us. And there is just that much more room for stripers, bluefish, and a number of other species that will gladly chase a fly.

On today’s podcast, I give a high level overview of fly fishing the New England states. With apologies to landlocked Vermont, I touch on some general things that will get you looking in the right direction as you either plan a fishing trip or plan on tagging some fishing on your family vacation.

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

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Life and Death in the Middle: A Review

I have a soft spot for books filled with two- and three-page stories. Perhaps it is because I grew up reading outdoor magazines. It could be that I prefer to write in a short format. Or, it may very well be the case that I have succumbed to the short attention span beguiling so many of my generation. No, it can’t be that.

Life and Death in the Middle: Reflections from the Seam Line is a book filled with good short stories and observations. Focused on and around fly fishing, they are easy reads that take up a few minutes of time. Loosely connected through the authors’ experiences, they don’t need to be read serially or in long sittings. Having this book on the nightstand or in the screen porch might be the best way to enjoy it.

So where did Life and Death in the Middle come  from? It is the shared work of Anthony Surage and Mike Aleckson. Both are accomplished and seasoned fly fishers. Surage brings the perspective of a professional guide as well. Their reflections, spread across nearly 60 brief chapters, intertwine, diverge, and run parallel with one another.

Why else might you consider picking up Life and Death in the Middle?

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Rusty Flybox: Me, the Fly Fisherman

Full disclosure: today is a day that comes around every year, and my family makes a big deal out of it. Consequently, I’m sharing some content from the Casting Across back catalog.

But these are three great articles.

They’re great because they touch on some of the most important parts of life and fly fishing. They’re great, if you read Casting Across, because they truly give you the context and the framework for understanding the rest of my writing. They’re great because they’re about as heartfelt as they come.

Click on the images or titles below for the full articles:

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Podcast Ep. 302: Downstream Dry Flies

The vast majority of your dry fly presentations ought to be made upstream, with you standing slightly to one side of the fish. This optimizes your cast, your mending, and your hook set.

But what if you can’t do that? What if there is a fish that is downstream, under cover, and slurping bugs off the surface with wanton slovenliness? What then? Do you  miss out and chalk it up to the “rules” of dry fly fishing? Do you go home, bested by the trout to which you did not cast?

There is good news. You can cast downstream to rising fish using a dry fly. And although it isn’t optimal, you should know how to do it.  And today I’m talking about it.

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

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Open to Fishing (Once Again)

Back at the tail end of June, things were pretty dry in Virginia’s piedmont region. I was down there in July, and saw the low flows with my own eyes. Rivers and creeks weren’t dried up. But low flows and high temperatures are a perfect combination for stressing out coldwater fish. Add in the high volume of anglers that use the Shenandoah National Park and it makes complete sense that they closed fishing down within the park’s borders.

Yet here we are in the middle of August and things are once again open to fishing.

Why write about the closing and opening of one particular fishery? I think it illustrates a few important aspects of resource management:

  • Last year’s closure ran September to December. This year’s was late June to early August. While no closures would be better than any closures, it is interesting to note that this one was shorter. And, it  was in the hottest part of the year. Despite all the “settled science” we have to acknowledge that there are more variables at play than we truly understand.
  • A little break isn’t the worst thing. Farmers do it with their fields. Gamekeepers do it with their beats. Certainly if conditions warrant it, a reprieve is good for the big picture.
  • It is actually a good thing that the NPS had to make the decision close the park. Why? It is indicative that there are a lot of people recreating on public land. That is one of the purposes of the park system. The nearby national forests weren’t closed. The state didn’t close trout fisheries. But out of an abundance of caution, the Department of the Interior oversaw the protection of a well-loved resource.

Check out the press release below:

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VIDEO: Trail Running X Fly Fishing

While fly fishing might be my favorite way to enjoy the outdoors, it is hardly the only way I spend time in nature. Camping, hunting, and paddling are all fun on their own; but I also find ways to mix fishing into each of them.

My favorite combo has to be fly fishing and trail running. Why? Aside from the great exercise, I’m able to get farther into remote locations faster.

Even if you aren’t going to be adding a 10k on the front and back end of your day on the water, what I’ve learned in packing for trail running will undoubtedly help you as you consider moving more efficiently to your fishing spot. Carrying less, choosing smarter, and streamlining gear are essential when running. At the same time, they’re certainly beneficial for all backcountry anglers.

Check out a quick synopsis of the what, why, and how of gear and packing for trail running and fly fishing in the video below:

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