TroutRoutes: 5 Things I’ve Seen

I started using the TroutRoutes app and website in February. At that point in the winter, a lot of the use really was more exploratory. I liked what I saw and anticipated the potential benefits for the upcoming season.

Six months in, and I wanted to share a few practical observations.

Once more, TroutRoutes is not social media. No one sees where you’re fishing. It is also a lot more than a glorified Google Maps overlay. Numerous data sets are integrated throughout the whole country and plugged in for the user to access without needing to navigate separate websites. These features represent one of the main reasons why the software was created: to help anglers confidently find water to fish, and do so legally and conscientious of private landowners.

After half of a year with the app, Here are five things I’ve come to appreciate about TroutRoutes:

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Podcast Ep. 249: 4 Quick Fishing Gear Mods

We live in a day and age when we can use products off the shelf and they’ll perform incredibly well. But if you spend any time on YouTube, you know that there is nothing that is off-limits when it comes to modifying everything from Nerf guns to leaf blower carburetors.

Fly fishing gear is no different.

While I don’t advocate chopping up your rod or sewing something onto your waders, there are some simple things that you can do to improve the  efficiency and effectiveness. Today I share four quick modifications that you can do with your gear to get a little more out of  it on the water.

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

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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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