Fly Casting: Where to Go to for Better

The previous post on Casting Across explored a few quick ways to practice casting. Anyone and everyone should feel like it is okay to head out to the yard and work on fly casting. When it comes to form, there is some that is certainly better than others. When it comes to habits, there are some that are good and some that are bad. But for the vast majority of your fishing all that matters is getting your fly where you want it.

As you practice fly casting (or as you pay attention to how things are going on the water), you will inevitably notice some shortcomings. It might be literally coming short of your target. It might be an accuracy issue. It might be that you struggle when there is an obstacle, when the current is fast, or when your fly is heavy.

At this point, it is time to look for help. In the last article I gave two, simple resources. Today I want to share a few more options for improving your fly casting. Here are four places to look to become better with a fly rod:

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Casting Practice Makes Better

Practice makes perfect.

That is a great sentiment. But when you’re dealing with wind, big flies, and overhanging trees there is no such thing as perfect. However, with enough practice and on-stream experience you can get much, much better.

And while river hours are nice because they translate into fish, the fish are a great reason to only do what is immediately necessary. If you want to hone skills that aren’t right in front of you or work on something for that trip coming up later this year, you probably need to spend time on the grass.

But how?

Here are three simple “casting drills” that will work on techniques that every fly caster needs to know. And if you know them, you can probably improve on them:

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Podcast Ep. 226: 6 (or 12) Preseason Gear Checks

A little can go a long way. When it comes to your fly fishing gear, taking a couple of hours can keep your equipment functioning well and actually improve your time on the water.

In this episode, I quickly run through six things that you can do to take care of your gear and get it ready for the upcoming season (or tune it up during the season). I also add six more quick steps that aren’t as vital, but are nevertheless helpful and probably worth your time.

All in all, most fly fishing gear will give you season after season. “Fishing hard” doesn’t mean that your stuff will fail after a year of use. A few simple steps will keep you and your equipment happy and hooked into fish.

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

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There are Flies on My Shirt

The shirt (on me)

“Hey. There are flies on your shirt.”

Sometimes it happens in my first meeting of the day. Sometimes it happens as I’m in the checkout line. It even occurs as I walk down the stairs in my own home. Apparently I look like a man who doesn’t know what he’s wearing. At the bare minimum, when I’m wearing this particular shirt I give the impression that I am wholly unawares of what I have used to covered my torso.

Perhaps it is because there are flies on my shirt.

I have seen shirts covered in little sailboats or palm trees. I wonder if the men wearing them have been told that  their shirts are covered in seacraft and island foliage. It is possible. But I doubt it.

People wear Simms and Orvis shirts. People wear Salt Life headbands (do they even make real hats?) and Columbia PFG shirts (you need those vents for long days at the mall, dads). All these wardrobe choices elicit is an occasional affirming head nod.

It is this shirt. This one stirs things up whenever and wherever I wear it.

Here are my top three hypotheses regarding the phenomenon of attire-based commentary that follow me when wearing this shirt:

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Maine Priority: Outdoors Education & Outreach

Those who have been to the state of Maine, and probably even most who have not, recognize the rich sporting history of The Pine Tree State. Indigenous peoples and settlers fished, hunted,  and trapped the diverse ecological landscape. In the 19th century, those outdoor activities were pursued for pleasure along with sustenance. While railroads brought hunters, anglers, and adventurers from Boston and New York, residents honed their skills for their own pleasure and table fare. This cultural ethos has remained unchanged for large swaths of Maine, but a number of  variables over the past few generations have impacted the connection between the people and the wild.

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has identified some of the issues that have impacted both urban and rural peoples. Modern society, with all its technological benefits, is a significant factor. The southeastern part of the state has seen significant population growth; including increasing summer vacation swells. Sociological detriments, such as drugs or a loss of multi-generational heritage, play a role as well.

Although there is much to be said about the larger social picture, it is important to note that the MDIFW is taking steps to  engage people and foster positive experiences through the great outdoors and the sporting history of the state. Chelsea Lathrop is the Education and Outreach Coordinator for the MDIFW. Her office provides a wide range of programs that attract across the demographics in Maine; from “Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs” to “Becoming an Outdoor Woman.”

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Podcast Ep. 225: Fishing Culture Controversies

I don’t get bent out of shape to often about fly fishing. But one thing does make me look sideways at what is happening in our little angling community.

It is when people get bent out of shape.

Sound hypocritical or oxymoronic? Hear me out.

A lot of the battles that are fought online or over fly shop counters are akin to two sculpins jockeying for position on the bottom of a giant pool. They don’t matter that much. They’re much ado about nothing. They are controversy for controversy’s sake. They’re not worth it.

In this podcast, I discuss two areas where people get fired up: fly fishing “celebrities” and product reviews. Check it out, think about it, and let me know what  you think.

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

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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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