Rusty Flybox: Pretentious

Recently I released  a podcast episode in which I comment on the new breed of fly fishing elitists. Spoiler alert: they don’t wear tweed or try to dazzle you with Latin terms.

If you give it a listen (which you can do from here or anywhere you listen to podcasts), hopefully it doesn’t come across as a rebuke. It is meant to be more of an admonishment; an encouraging word to pull back before cultural collision, if you will.

That said, I did want to address it head on. Passive-aggressive isn’t my thing. In fact, passive-aggressive is a thing I have no problem rebuking. But I do have no qualms about poking a little fun at pretentiousness with  a wink and a nod.

With all that said, these three posts from the Casting Across archive are meant to prod the new generation of serious fly fishers a little bit. And, it might be added, I think we all can see areas in which the commentary hits a little close to home.

Click on the image or the title of the three posts below to read the entire article.

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Podcast Ep. 387: Fly Fishing Elitism is Dead…

Long live fly fishing elitism.

In a different sort of podcast episode, today I talk about why the stereotype of the old, stuffy, tweed-jacketed fly fishing elitist isn’t really valid anymore. In his place a new figure has emerged to stand as arbiter of what is “authentic” fly fishing.

And while I’m always interested in your feedback, I’m particularly interested in your thoughts on this topic. After all, this has been a big part of fly fishing culture for as long as I’ve been chasing trout.

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

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VIDEO: The Top 5 Fly Fishing Books on Amazon

I am well aware that a lot of people have strong feelings about giant corporations. And it is not lost on me that among readers, Amazon gets mixed reviews. While I advocate for patronizing local bookstores and fly shops that carry books, hopping online and getting two day delivery not only meets a lot of people’s needs – it is their only option.

Regardless, it is interesting to see what the top five best selling fly fishing books on Amazon are at any given moment. Some are new and some are classics, And you’d be hard pressed to argue against any of the books that I share in this video. It is a good way to get a feel for what people are reading. It is also a great way to find a title or two to add to your shelf.

Watch what else I have to say about the books, and find out where you can check out the list yourself, below:

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Dark Skies Fly Fishing: April/May 2026

This magazine just keeps on growing! If you have yet to check out Dark Skies Fly Fishing, this latest issue is a good place to start.

In the April/May edition of the publication, I have two articles; one being a book review. The other is essentially a comprehensive “here are your best options” guide for picking a small stream fly rod. I get the any-rod-will-do sentiment that a lot of anglers take for mountain stream angling. But if that is your preferred type of fishing, then it is certainly worth it to think through what the best tool for the job might be.

Along with my article, there are pieces on pre-spawn smallmouth, learning from challenging days, and an excellent fly: Tom Baltz’s Para Nymph. Click on the link below to start reading and to learn how you can access the whole issue.

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Podcast Ep. 386: [Cast1] Opening Day

Opening Day. For generations, this was a high holiday among anglers. With the success of resource management programs and special regulations, year-round fishing is available for most of us. Still, there are some reasons to circle a particular date on the calendar.

In this Cast1 episode, I walk through some of the reasons why opening day should still be held in high regard. I also list a few things new (and seasoned) fly fishers should pay attention to before they hit the water and a couple of things they should be thinking about when they encounter spring conditions.

Regardless of if you’re  just getting into fly fishing or you can remember “when opening day meant something,” you’ll find something in this episode to enjoy.

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

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VIDEO: The Old College Fly Fishing Try

Anthologies of fly fishing writing are not uncommon. With enough time, the public domain presents a vast array of content to choose from. Consequently, there is a variety of quality on bookshelves.

One example of a great collection of fly fishing writing, however, comes in the form of Tight Lines: Ten Years of the Yale Anglers’ Journal. This now-defunct university magazine burned bright for the decade it was around. Not only did it feature student and faculty contributions, but prominent anglers from all over could be found in its pages.

This title is easily found used, and should seriously be considered for the caliber and breadth of writing it contains.

Watch what else I have to say about the book and find out where you can pick up your own copy below:

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Fly Fishing Wader Repair 101

There are two types of anglers. Those who fish through the winter, and those who do not. Both are legitimate fly fishers. For the sake of today’s discussion, the only real difference is that one discovers  a wader leak on a random day in January while the other has a nasty surprise in April. So while anglers come across unexpected wet spots throughout the year, there is a concentration of said incidents in the springtime.

It is worth mentioning that a lot of these leaks are the result of poor wader storage. Creases, critters, and collisions all destroy high-tech breathable fabric. Dry, off-the-ground organization is the key to avoiding passive wader damage. There is more to it (and you can read about that here), but those tips are a good start.

But whether it is some mouse nibbles, a barbed wire incident, or simply wear and tear, there is usually hope for damaged waders. Catastrophic incidents do happen, but they are rare. Also, diagnosis and remediation isn’t terribly complicated or expensive.

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Podcast Ep. 385: 5 Fly Fishing Book Thoughts

Recently I hit the “50” mark on my fly fishing book review series on YouTube. I’ve filmed myself doing “show and tell” with over 60 books, and it has been a lot of fun.

Today on the podcast, I talk about some thoughts (five, to be precise) I have on reading fly fishing books. There is a whole lot more that I could share, but this is a nice little synopsis of some questions I’ve fielded and some observations I’ve made.

If you haven’t yet, subscribe to Casting Across on YouTube. And  it goes without saying: get reading!

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

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VIDEO: A Fly Fishing Book You Probably Don’t Need

There are a handful of very valid reasons why you wouldn’t use this book.

At the same time, if you did happen to have it on your shelf it could be valuable to you.

How could both be true? Well, Mark Williams’ Trout Fishing Sourcebook is absolutely chock-full of information. In fact, it might be the most comprehensive trout angling publication in recent history. Of course, it was written in 1996. And therein lies the rub.

Watch what else I have to say about the book and find out where you can pick up your own copy below:

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Crying “Bomb!”

Paul Ralph Ehrlich passed away  on March 13, 2026 at the age of 93.

I am going to be quite critical of his popular work and its impact. But don’t assume the dangerous category confusion that stifles meaningful  dialogue. Today  critique of an opposing viewpoint is considered hate or violence. I’ll unapologetically state that I think what he said was wrong and dangerous. But I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that he was a person possessing dignity.

Ehrlich’s most prominent work was 1968’s The Population Bomb. In it he theorized that the planet couldn’t handle the number of lives on it. Or, bare minimum, a carrying capacity threshold was just around the corner. The problem was that  the opposite happened. He prophesied that because of famine, the population in the US would dwindle to 22 million by the year 1999. In actuality? It was  279 million. He also claimed England wouldn’t be around in the year 2000. Things aren’t great across the pond, but it has little to do with the quantity of Brits.

What does this have to do with fly fishing? He also made the bold prediction that all major marine life would die. This would transpire, he said, in the early 1970’s.

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