Debate Unsettled: Waterproof Fly Fishing Packs

Every once in a while I simply type “fly fishing” into the news section of search bar of my web browser to see what pops up. More often than not it is a local story about an event or an article from one of the larger angling sites. It is interesting to get less-customized results than I would  see through my own social media.

The #1 listing this week was a piece from Men’s Journal entitled “Fly Fishing Gear | Settling the Debate – Is a Waterproof Bag Worth the Extra Cost?”  I am always interested in debates and their being settled, so I clicked. Ultimately, it is a review of a Simms pack (I’ll link to the article below). But it did get me thinking about this question, as I’ve had many discussions about this exact aspect of gear storage over the years.

Waterproof bags do work. But what provides you with all the requisite pros also brings along its fair share of cons. Here are three things I’ve noticed as I’ve fished with waterproof gear storage that, at least in my mind,  leaves room for more debate:

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400 Fly Shops

From day one, a goal of Casting Across has been to connect anglers with some of the best resources in fly fishing. And in my humble opinion there are few options out there that rival fly shops. Of course shops will sell you gear. But the best also provide real-time information and legitimate community.

That is why I started compiling the Casting Across Fly Shop Box. It is, to my knowledge, the most comprehensive fly shop directory online. Between my own research and the valuable input of listeners and readers, the Fly Shop Box hit 400 listings last month.

Now, I did set some parameters. Below you can read my subjective criteria for what qualifies a business as a fly shop. You might disagree… and I’m okay with that. Furthermore, Alaska and Hawaii aren’t up and running yet. But my intention is to connect you to people who are committed to outfitting you with what you need, tangible and intangible.

Along with hitting 400 shops in the directory, I added a little feature that will make finding all the listings in a state a bit easier. A dynamic map has replaced the long list of state names. Perhaps some other quality of life upgrades are in the works, too. But most important is up-to-date and complete information. To that end, I ask that you use the contact form below to let me know who I’ve missed.

Check it out right here:

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Podcast Ep. 295: F-I-S-H in the U-S-A

Happy Independence Day from Casting Across!

On today’s episode, I’m sharing a tangentially-related collection of topics. While I do discuss giving trout some space in the hottest weather, the bulk of the podcast is about the great situation we find ourself in the United States. Things aren’t perfect. They’re far from it. But that is the human condition, after all. That said, our angling opportunities and access here are exceptional. We have that foundation to build on, so we shouldn’t squander it by not engaging in free speech together.

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

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Closed to Fishing (For a Bit)

Last year, fishing within Shenandoah National Park was verboten from the beginning of August through the beginning of November. Similar bans have been enacted over the past decades. While brook trout populations generally manage to endure hot, dry conditions, it is prudent for such a well-visited area to limit fishing. Because by limiting fishing, they’re limiting stressors on already stressed fish.

While this can be discouraging for a few reasons, there is little reason to despair.

First, this is not the end. Once more, Shenandoah has put restrictions in before. There have been worse conditions (including prolonged freezes, hurricanes, and wildfires). These creatures and their habitats are resilient.

Second, if not fishing is what has you bothered, remember that there are options. The region is littered with bass rivers, catfish ponds, and steadily cool spring creeks rife with trout. The answer to the fishing question isn’t no. It is here, not now.

Check out the National Park Service press release below:

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FAQs for Your Fly Rod Purchase

You should buy any fly rod you want.

Walk into a store and get something that catches your eye. Pick the one that fits your budget. Take home the latest and greatest that everyone is raving about online. There is nothing wrong with any of those approaches.

But if you want to do a little research on which rod might be the best for you, I have some suggestions.

With 20+ years of helping people choose fly rods in one way or another, I have answered some of the same questions more than a few times. Here are five more FAQs to add to the growing catalog of resources on Casting Across:

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Podcast Ep. 294: Deciphering Fish Body Language

Thousands of aquarium aficionados concerned about the stress levels of their tropical fish can’t be wrong. And from an anecdotal angling perspective, I agree with them.

You can  gain insight into what a fish is going to do by watching it’s body language.

While it isn’t an empirical exercise, there are some tells in fish behavior that can  clue you in as to when to keep going, change tactics, or just keep on moving. I cover a handful of observations in this episode. As usual, there are countless resources on this and hopefully these 20 minutes will pique your interest.

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

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The Genuine Risk of Fly Fishing

Less than a week ago I opened a post about safety with these words: I’m not being dramatic. Nor am I being flippant. The podcast I was referencing was entitled “Don’t Die Fly Fishing.” Although the label sounds a bit like clickbait, I was not being flippant. And since the episode was recorded four days after a local man lost his life while fly fishing, I was certainly not being dramatic.

On Father’s Day, a man from New Hampshire went fishing with his adult son on the Kennebec River in Maine. Not long after 8:00am, he apparently lost his footing and went under. His waders quickly filled and he struggled to get to the surface. He was eventually rescued, but it was too late.

There is no way to eliminate risk in life. Needless to say, there is no way to eliminate risk in fly fishing. But there are some things that can help. This tragic story includes the unfortunate detail that a wading belt was not used. While a nylon strap isn’t a foolproof life saving device, it can mitigate how much and how quickly water enters waders.

My prayers do go out to this family because of their loss. And I can only assume that they hope that by hearing of this terrible event others might avoid a similar situation.

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Fishing the Post-Dusk Rise

There is a frantic and fun aspect of late spring and summer fly fishing that only lasts about 45 minutes. Although fish often rise all evening and all night, the moments around twilight often see the water boiling with copious feeding activity. It can be amazing. But it can also be intimidating.

Fishing in the dark isn’t for everyone. Between the whole wading when you can’t see aspect of the endeavor and the upped difficulty of tying by headlamp, a lot of people choose to wrap things up as the sun fades behind the trees. While you’ll never eliminate some of those complicating factors, there are ways to limit their effect and put yourself in a position to take advantage of the trout’s reckless rising.

Here are five simple things to think about when you push past those first moments of dark, pursuing the fish that are capitalizing on the cover of night and the preponderance of bugs. There are moments of great frustration, but there are also moments of real excitement. You know, like fly fishing in general.

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Podcast Ep. 293: Don’t Die Fly Fishing

I’m not being dramatic. Nor am I being flippant.

You can truly get yourself in some serious moral peril while fly fishing. Waist deep in moving water miles away from other people? Yes, it is fun. But yes, it is not without risks.

Today I cover four areas of danger worth thinking about as you head outside. They may be common sense or well known to you, but they also might not be. If that is the case for just one listener, it is worth it.

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

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Apple’s Grip & Grin

I like it. And I usually don’t like things like it. Moreover, I can’t remember the last time I went out of my way to write a few hundred words about something like it. But here we are.

I’m writing, and you’re reading, an article about a smartwatch commercial involving a fake carp.

Because apparently the newest Apple Watch update gives you and me an opportunity to capture those hero shots when we catch big fish. And we can do it with the flick of the wrist… or something like that.

Does it facilitate a quicker method to photograph fish and, in theory, keep them wet(ter)? Sure. Could one also argue that such a feature exemplifies our growing need to document everything as a manifestation of prideful impulses, a desire for online serotonin bursts, and a willful conditioning that forgoes enjoying the moment for that perfect shot that will be one on one million sets of ones and zeros on our phone? Maybe.  Inevitably people will argue the merits of such things. They’ll even argue about how fake carp handling is depicted. Because that is how people do.

Regardless of all that, it is a fun commercial. And that is the point. I like the Yeti and the can of Vienna sausages.  I like the comically large carp wrapped in an embrace. I even like the release at the end. I like his joy and panic. There is an authenticity in the actor’s face. It is something that you and I, anglers, know. And for a brief  moment in an advertisement we can see ourselves. It is worth a watch… not buying a watch, mind you, but a view.

In case you haven’t seen it, here it is:

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