Releasing Partisan Fly Fishing

Unless you have just come off the river after a months-long fishing expedition, you are well aware that things are not great. In fact, things are trout-detritus crazy.

I have opinions on all the goings-on. If you read Casting Across with a discerning eye or listen to some of the more unscripted moments from the Casting Across Fly Fishing Podcast, you probably know what said opinions are. But along with that position, you  also might know that I am  big advocate of talking. I want conversation. Before that, however, I am an advocate of good, honest introspection.

So with those two preliminary items out of the way, I want to give you whatever the fly fishing media version of a prescription is (Prefishion? Flyscription? Piscription?):

Go fishing, but don’t escape from it all.

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Why I Catch So Many Fish

“Why do you catch so many fish?”

I was asked this question at least three times this past weekend. Out of honesty and humility, I must share that “so many” was a modest number of fish. It was a respectable quantity; even impressive to some. But that meager awe was what instigated the question. Because each time, the question was phrased thusly: “Dad, why do you catch so many fish?”

Young men of various ages and sizes wanted to know my secret. Was it decades of experience? Was it some magic fly? Was it some retrieve cadence or rod-tip-imparted action? They desired to  don the mantle that would inevitably compel fish into submission. And apparently they thought I was holding out on them.

Each time I gave the same answer. It is simple. It is basic. It is the opposite of impressive and awesome. But they needed to hear it.

Truth be told, a lot of adults need to hear it too. I’ve offered the same advice to clients, friends, and even frustrated strangers. There is a logical and an empirical reason why it works, but the rudimentary nature runs contrary to the do this different flavor of most fishing tips n’ tricks you’ll find online or on the magazine rack. And that is why it is rarely received with squeals of glee. Yet it should. More fish will be had.

I catch fish because I…

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Podcast Ep. 297: Take a Moment for Better Gear

I wouldn’t say that I get too worked up about what people say in and around fly fishing. But the extreme ends of gear perspectives bug me.

One says that the most expensive gear is the only way to go.

The other says that whatever you can find is all that you need.

As is the case with most situations, the moderate middle wins the day. Today I’m taking through how a recent shift in how I shop for running shoes has reminded me that taking a moment to do some real research can have a significant impact on your time and comfort. And time and comfort ultimately translate into more, better shots at fish.

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

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Past Fly Fishing

I was past the point where I could hear cars or people.

As a general rule, the pools and deep runs that are within a short walk from the parking lot get fished hard. The water looks great. It seems like it might be productive. Styrofoam worm cups and Bud Lite cans are often serve as the fishing report. Only five or ten minutes up into the mountains and things change. The literal quiet is accompanied by a sense of quiet. The trails get narrower. The signs of people disappear. Then, there are fish.

I was past the concrete bridge on the old logging road.

It is funny how another road signifies escape from civilization. Few people have the requisite access or cars capable of simply getting to this bridge. Fewer still make the journey to fish the small creek that flows underneath. The spider webs and the exposed rebar also mark the farthest point upstream where I’ve seen brown trout. After passing underneath, only native brookies swim.

I was past the rusted-out moonshine still.

Finding something that is supposed to be hidden indicates you’re off the beaten path. At one point in time this site might have been dangerous. Today, it is a quaint Appalachian relic. The same cold, clean water that was used to craft hooch generations ago still flows down in the valley. Even if the law didn’t like the bootlegging, it doesn’t seem like the little char minded the intrusion too much.

I was past the overgrown, 19th century homestead.

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Rusty Flybox: It is Hot

Years ago I spent a few weeks in Central America. One of the men I went with shared a simple, yet profound, statement: “Don’t complain about the obvious.” His example was the heat. If you’re hot, everyone is hot. What is the point of commenting on it ad nauseum?

Well, maybe it isn’t hot where you are. But it is hot where I am.

That said, you can still fish. I have three things worth sharing with you about fishing when the red fills up the thermometer. Because although not fishing is an option, it certainly isn’t the only option.

Click on the links below for three longer pieces that each deal with fishing when the heat is on:

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Podcast Ep. 296: 3 Fly Mountain Trout Scheme

There is a good chance that you have some habits when it comes to approaching certain types of water. After a few decades of pursuing brookies, browns, and cutthroats in mountain streams I have developed a simple little scheme for identifying what they’re keying in on.

Today I share the three dry flies I use to decipher how to get on the most and the biggest trout. It isn’t foolproof and there are certainly exceptions. That said, it has produced above average results and taken out a lot of guesswork for me. And, I don’t have to carry multiple fly boxes while I’m miles into the woods.

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

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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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