Fly Fishing (Art) Show

By all means, buy that third (or 13th) fly rod at the next outdoor show you attend. Pick up a basket full of flies, the perfect shade of rooster hackle, or your next perfect lucky fishing hat. If you have the resources, the requirement, and the opportunity: go for it.

But if you have some money burning a hole in your pocket and no real gear needs, consider getting something just as much a part of angling. Fish art.

These days, a quick scroll through a fly fishing-focused social media account will present you with the work of countless artists nationwide. There are prints, carvings, and assorted miscellany  worth displaying in your office or cabin. Creative pursuits and fly fishing have always gone hand-in-hand, and accumulating at least a few things is quite normal for the angler.

While an online buy is great, there is something uniquely special about meeting the artist and picking out your piece in person. Chances are, there aren’t a lot of local galleries specializing in fly fishing artwork. One of the benefits of an  outdoor expo show is a relatively high concentration of fly fishing artists for consumers to meet and patronize.

As you keep your eye out for the next local event near you, check out six art exhibitors  from the  New Jersey stop of The Fly Fishing Show:

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Podcast Ep. 272: [Cast1] Rods, Reels, & Line

The fly rod. It is a beautiful, functional, and essential part of fly fishing. But if you’re new to the pursuit, the hundreds of options (split into different weights, lengths, actions, and even materials – mind you) can be  a lot to take in. Add a reel and line on top of it? That is what they call a “barrier to entry.”

But it doesn’t have to be. First and foremost, a good fly shop will get you set up with what you need at a price close to your budget.

On your way to said good fly shop, consider listening to this episode. It is a quick, thousand-foot flyover of the bare essentials of these three core pieces of gear. And trust me: this part of fly fishing becomes fun quickly.

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

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The Culture of the Fly Fishing Industry

The judicious reader of this website will be well aware that he may encounter content that is fly fishing adjacent. The  very subheading of the website, in contrasting white for all to see, promises that what follows is about “the quarry and culture of fly fishing.” The quarry is the fish. But as soon as you delve into rods, flies, locations, history, or conservation you’re squarely within the category of culture. Try as you might, you can’t have one without the other.

This reality does create some consternation among anglers, from time to time. If paid attention to, the sheer volume of the stuff and the marketing and the social media intensity can be off putting. For what it is worth, there is a kernel of truth in that sentiment. But there is more to the industry than that. Here are three observations:

  • Fly fishing is a small economic fish in a big outdoor industry pond.
  • No one is forcing you to scroll Instagram, attend a film festival, or read this website.
  • The vast majority of people are in it for the genuine love of the quarry and the culture of fly fishing.

And I have a great example of that third point.

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New Humbling Perspectives

Perspective is incredibly valuable. For example: I have been fly fishing, inside and around the industry, for over 25 years. I know that there is a lot of gear – a lot of gear – but I’m comfortable picking out what I need and discerning what is necessary. But when I try to pick out a few things for myself as I take my boys skiing? That is  completely different story. A humbling one, in fact.

Going from a higher aptitude in one arena to a significantly lower competency  in another brings a lot of perspective. On one hand it is humbling. On the other, it is incredibly enlightening if you’re just starting out… or helping someone else start out.

I’ve come to these three conclusions:

  • There is a lot of gear out there.
  • The quantity of gear out there shouldn’t keep you from having fun.
  • True experts encourage beginners.

Whether you’re looking to head downhill or up the river, read what I mean below.

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Podcast Ep. 271: [Cast1] How Fly Fishing Works

The Cast1 series of the Casting Across Fly Fishing Podcast is all about exploring the fundamentals of fly fishing. In each episode, there will be plenty for newcomers and seasoned anglers alike.

Today we’re answering these important questions:

  • What makes fly fishing different than regular fishing?
  • Why would someone choose to fly fish?
  • How might fly fishing be your only option?

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

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Introducing the Cast1 Podcast Series

The Casting Across Fly Fishing Podcast has been “on the air”  for over 5 years. From day one, the podcast has been about providing something different in a remarkably crowded space. There are plenty of great shows with interview and roundtable  formats, most of which run for close to an hour. My goal is to add a brief, digest-style option for anglers looking for a quick fly fishing bite.

For the next nine episodes, I’m going to take that same formula and put together a series focused on introductory fly fishing content. I’m calling it Cast1.

Whether you are  flirting with fly fishing or are a seasoned vet, I think there will be something for you. For newbies, I’ll walk you through the essentials while giving you some direction on where you can get more info. If you’ve been fishing long enough to be a teacher, I’m confident some of the language and concepts I use will help you help others. And who knows, maybe you’ll learn something yourself.

Check out the prospective slate of Cast1 episodes on the Casting Across Fly Fishing Podcast below:

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A Tippet Take: True & False

Recently the good folks at Hatch Magazine published an article entitled “Let’s Stop the Tiny Tippet Nonsense.” Essentially, it argues that 6X and 7X tippet isn’t a necessary or ethical choice for fly fishers pursuing trout.

I want to be clear: the intention of the article is good and there are some good, thought-provoking areas of emphasis. At the same time, I think that it represents a narrow frame of reference at best and a black-or-white perspective at worst.

As someone who endeavors to use the heaviest tippet I can get away with, but also fishes a lot of tiny midges  on spring creeks, I have thought a lot about tippet. Consequently there are some things in the piece I agree with. But I also object to some statements that are made.

See two true points and two false assumptions, along with a link to the original article, below:

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Podcast Ep. 270: Fly Fishing Accusations, XXVII

Oh I’ve got some good emails this week. All thanks to you. I mean, it wouldn’t be nearly as entertaining if I read emails I sent to myself outloud, would it?

This time around I talk about spacing out your fly rod purchases, finding an all-around wading boot, and climate change. Yes, one of those is quite different than the others. But hopefully my ramblings will be helpful in some way, shape, or form.

And as always, thanks for your emails. Keep them coming: even if they aren’t accusatory.

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

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Nostalgia, Sweaters, & Trout

I found the gift bag in the van after church. “Oh, that is a birthday gift,” my wife said. I pulled back the tissue paper and saw that it was a sweater. Shamefully, my initial reaction was not unlike  a child receiving a sweater on his birthday. Then I pulled the garment from the bag. As the cream crewneck unrolled, a marvelous sight came into view.

It was the leaping trout. The Kilbourne trout. The Orvis trout.

Stitched onto this soft, perfectly sized sweater was one of the most iconic fish in angling art. This vintage Orvis pullover was in mint condition. As I looked it over, the original “inspected by” sticker fell  out onto the van floor. And to top it off,  it fit perfectly

Ironically, I am confident that I made fun of this exact sweater 25 years ago. As a young fly fisher browsing through the Orvis catalog, I’d laugh at the idea of wearing pheasant feather bow ties, plaid shorts, and certainly trout sweaters. Yet there I was, overjoyed at someone’s thoughtful thrift shop find.

What changed? I think there are a few reasons… and I think I’m not alone.

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The Fly Fishing Show: Kids’ Highlights

Days and evenings spent at various outdoor expos are important for Casting Across and a lot of fun for me, personally. But there is a three-hour chunk of time that gets written in ink on the calendar by my kids. Since 2018, the boys get a morning or afternoon at The Fly Fishing Show in Marlborough, MA.

Since we homeschool, we’re able to head down on the less-busy Friday. They pretty much dictate what we look at and how much time we spend doing so. As the oldest two are getting more responsible, I let them have a little bit of independence. Add in some fast food, and it is a mark on the calendar that we all look forward to.

After our 2024 trip, I asked them what their favorite part of the Show was. Here’s what each of them cited as a highlight… along with the swag each they picked up.

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