The Presidential Fly Fishness Test

For many children of the past 75 years, there was a certain rhythm to the school year. Field days, D.A.R.E. presentations, and book fairs marked the passage of educational time. Another momentous milestone, loved by some and abhorred by most, was the Presidential Fitness Test.

Although there were older iterations, JFK cranked this exercise in exercise into high gear. One of the reasons was because American kids were perceived to be soft compared to the commies’ children. Anyways, all was well and good until Obama decided that kids needed Beyonce-led jazzercize instead of Cold War-era martial structure.

But I digress.

There was something satisfying about running, stretching, and pull-uping your way into the top 15% of children in the country. I propose that this current administration implement something similar for another demographic that is unfairly characterized as “soft.” Why not establish benchmarks for exceptionalism in one of the most historic and cultured facets of American sporting history?

Why not give out patches for being good at fly fishing things?

My modest proposal is based off of the  Presidential Fitness Test that so many of us grew up with. It takes the spirit of the five events and imports them into the fly fishing world to create The Presidential Fly Fishness Test. Here are the 5 events:

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A Beast of a Fly Fishing Pack

Since February of 2017, the Vedavoo Beast Sling has been my go-to pack for fly fishing. Other gear storage options enter into the picture when I’m wading deep in the salt or moving quickly in the mountains, but the Beast functions as a flexible and all-purpose  pack that fits into nearly every other fishing scenario. It meets my needs for long days on the river or big fly assortments in the canoe. Ultimately, the durability and versatility  of this design and build have left me completely content for over six years.

What makes this sling pack special? With all the new, the latest, and the flashy out there, why return to a (seemingly) simple Cordura bag time and time again?

Here are four reasons why I am still fishing with this bulletproof pack six years later:

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Podcast Ep. 224: 3 Fly Fishing Things I Wish I Knew Then, IV

It is never too late to do better. Two of the three things I mention on this episode; I’m really still working on them. But all three are real examples of aspects of fly fishing that would have been great to be keyed in on when I started.

This fourth edition (six, if you count fly tying) of this series touches on getting more out of gear, fishing, and the experience. You can have a blast and catch a lot of fish without doing what I suggest. But honestly, I would consider these three things as simple, effective facets worth adding to your approach to fly fishing.

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

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Hellbent on Conservation

adult hellbender: Virginia DWR, A. Hoffman

If you live in Appalachia, there are plenty of animals that consistently fly, walk, or swim in your world. Red-tailed hawks, black bears, and brook trout are part of the living scenery  from Maine to Georgia. There are other creatures that are just as much a part of the woods and waters, but are less  well known. They might not be as colorful or regal as the aforementioned species. They might not be as visible; either when casually walking in nature or on state license plate designs. Some, like the hellbender salamander, are both.

The hellbender is an ugly, reclusive critter. It has loose, brown skin. It has tiny, beady eyes. It lives under rocks and spends its time lurking along creek beds. It is a spectacular part of Appalachian fauna.

One of the largest amphibians in the United States, this salamander has a special place in the hearts of many fly fishers. It exists where they want to be. It is happiest and healthiest under the same conditions in which trout thrive. So although no angler is (or should) target hellbenders, they are captivating and symbolic of our pursuit.

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TroutRoutes: Mapping Angling Adventure

There are certain tools that are indispensable in fly fishing.  A rod and line are obviously important. You need flies, too. Tangible on-stream items begin to add up quickly. Often overlooked, but no less significant, are all the resources needed to be successful on the water. Casting instruction and reading the water aren’t automatically imparted once you step into a stream. And before you step in the water, you need to know if you can legally fish in that particular spot and, if so, how you get there.

Figuring this out has always meant relying upon the guidance of others. Similarly, you could cross-reference state regulations with maps. If you wanted to add another layer of information, you could overlay the access information  found in local or regional guidebooks. Or, you could download TroutRoutes.

There are a number of fishing apps out there. What differentiates TroutRoutes, first and foremost, is that the data is not crowdsourced. Neither is it about you sharing your information.  TroutRoutes was designed so that anglers can know  where and how they can fish, legally and conscientiously.

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Podcast Ep. 223: Das Wading Boot

How much can you say about wading boots? Well, at least 20 minutes.

I’ve long maintained that wading boots are one of the pieces of gear that deserve your hard earned money. They keep you comfortable and they keep you upright. Or, they keep you fishing.

In today’s episode I talk about some things to think about when shopping for wading boots (and I do intend that as plural!). This is a great discussion to share with a new angler, as I walk through some of the most common questions.

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

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Now I Have Him

Freshwater. Saltwater. Fly tying. Lifestyle. For decades, I have bought plenty of items from every one of those sections in fly fishing catalogs. In recent years, shooting and paddle sports have been added to the mix. Browsing the aisles of an outdoor store or scrolling through an online retailer, I could easily find something anywhere that would be useful. With one exception. Dog stuff. Collars, toys, and treats might as well have been golf clubs or ski poles. I didn’t have a use. But that stuff was always at Orvis, always at Bass Pro, and usually at local fly shops.

Now I have a use. Because now I have a dog.

To be more precise, my family has a puppy. This charming little lab/husky mix’s mom was a rescue. While she was being processed for adoption, she gave birth to eight pups who yielded an unprecedented number of applications. At the same time all of this was happening, I was a month into processing feelings around how much I had enjoyed the company of some family pets over the holidays.

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Trout are Tough

photo credit: Eric Lu

I am all for the safe handling of fish; especially trout. But I’ve seen plenty of things in my decades of being outdoors to dispel any assertions that trout are delicate organisms living their lives in constant threat of mortal peril. You can kill a fish if you’re careless. They’re also a lot more robust that we give them credit for.

Empirically, fish persevere because they get big and perpetuate their populations. Anecdotally, I’ve encountered trout that should not be alive but are.

There was the sixteen-inch rainbow with the snagging hook stuck in it’s gut. Just north of his anal fin, the  golf ball sized treble hook sat embedded and snug. The fish ate my fly just fine. He fought well; perhaps from the perpetual weight lifting he had been engaging in for who knows how long. There was no sign of infection. There wasn’t any indication of malnourishment or stress. I removed the hook, tossed him back in, and he swam away. I’m confident he’s awaiting an opportunity to repay the favor.

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Podcast Ep. 222: 4 Ideas for Offseason Action

Yes. I know that for most fly fishers there is no “offseason.” But at the bare minimum, contending with shorter days and impossible weather will render the December-February period less intense than June or September.

With that big caveat out of the way, I want to share what this episode is about: Redeeming the time.

Today I talk about four things that you can do sans fly rod that are perfectly suited to cold days. Plus, each and every one will have a tangible payoff come springtime.

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

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Solitude Together

For most anglers, fly fishing means being alone together.

It is an oxymoron. But it is certainly something that anyone who fishes understands. Fly fishing is all about solitude, but it is a solitude that we often love to share with others.

Why does this matter? Because relationships matter. People matter a whole lot more than fly fishing. And fly fishing can be an excellent point of contact for people. Sharing the solitude gives the pursuit much more value than it possesses on its own.

Not to overanalyze what ought to be natural, but  how do you pursue fish and people simultaneously?  How do you pay attention to someone else and pay attention to your drift? To be very pragmatic; how do you cast next to someone else who is casting?

There are some settings where it is possible to fish a few yards from each other and not compromise your angling efforts. Heavy spinner falls, salmon runs, or amidst the crashing waves on the beach: these situations allow for conversation and fishing in equal measure. If you are sharing a drift boat, then this dynamic is automatically part of the experience. Proximity usually means a running dialogue punctuated by hook sets or attempts to convince the other person to move to a new spot.

It is completely within the rules of fly fishing to stop, sit, and rest while on the water. Taking breaks allows you to perform the essential tasks of observation and rest. Or, there could be a conversation. Streamside chats could be purely about tactics, or they could go deeper. There is something disarming about being in nature that facilitates genuine discussion, even among the most hardened of individuals. Fishing is about more than catching fish. We all know that. Enjoying the scenery and the company doesn’t  compromise what you’re there for. If anything, it enhances it.

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