Trout & Feather: December ’22

There have been countless ecological missteps taken by those attempting to protect fish because of errors in identification. Some were understandable, given the technology at the time. Others, including those of the last few generations, really stem from relying on hasty or superficial investigation. Anglers, who are not only the beneficiaries of conservation efforts but also some of the boots-on-the-ground movers, should be versed enough to at least know how to observe.

To be clear: taking the time to observe specific morphological markers in the fish you catch probably won’t translate into catching more or bigger fish. However, the kind of scrutiny that analyzes spot patterns, fin size, and flank coloration is akin to the constant enquiry that takes in the variables that lead to catching more or bigger fish.

There is a link to the rest of the post, Observation: The Angler’s Science after the jump.

But before you do that, be sure to check out the two videos I’ve included in today’s post. One is a (free) grad level class on  a productive fishing strategy, the other

Watch the videos, and find a link to the article, below:

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How Far South to get Good Fishing?

When I attended college in South Carolina, I was perplexed that locals broke out their winter coats when the weather hit the mid-60’s. Growing up in the Midwest, the only change that the mid-60’s  brought about was the addition of long sleeves. Clothing, comfort, and climate in general are all relative. You only have to go a little south in the summer to warm up, and a little north in the winter to cool off.

It also means that you don’t have to travel to the Caribbean if you want to enjoy good fishing in the coldest months. You only have to go as far south as you need to in order to get into good fishing.

I’ll be honest: the majority of my winter angling migration destinations have been in the American Southeast. Florida is an obvious choice. Arkansas can still be chilly, but boasts solid trout fishing. Virginia, while often frozen over, also has spring creeks and tailwaters that are very productive in January. Even if a trip to the Mid-Atlantic  means that I’m simply packing one less layer than I would be wearing here in New England, it feels like a big change.

And going a little south for a big change is often worth it.

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Podcast Ep. 214: How to Start Tying Flies

STOP! If you’re a veteran fly tyer or if you’ve decided that fly tying just isn’t your thing, this podcast is still for you.

There are a lot of “bad first steps” for people who are interested in taking up fly tying. In this episode, I share what I believe to be the first three things you should do if you are considering trying your hand at tying. Similarly, these are the things I think are wisest to recommend to someone who has asked you about fly tying.

After all, you don’t want to miss out on something fun because you didn’t start out well.

Also, use code CASTING right now to save 20% and get free shipping at manscaped.com.

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

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Scents of Water

I parked my car at the familiar gravel pull off. Without waders or fly rod, I walked up the road to a low bridge that crossed the stream. I had plans to write a number of articles featuring the spring creeks I fished so often when I lived in Pennsylvania. Standing on top of the bridge, I took some pictures facing downstream. I crossed the one lane road and took more pictures looking upstream. The photos looked good. But I had a particular shot in mind: a good shot of the creek meandering up through a willow-lined meadow.

This required me to climb down  the side of the bridge and get positioned on the ground, at creek level. Jumped over the guardrail put me right where I wanted to be. It also put me someplace I didn’t expect.

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Cold Weather Fishing Comfort: Beyond Layering

It is easy to stay warm when you’re fishing in the winter. Layer, layer, layer. You can always add another pair of long underwear bottoms or an additional fleece top. This will keep your core toasty in the most brutal conditions.

But the fact of the matter is that regardless of how warm you core is, cold fingers and toes make fishing miserable.

You can’t layer, layer, layer gloves and still tie flies on or feel a rod grip well. You can’t pile on socks and still fit your feet in wading boots. The solution is to fish with better gear. And that doesn’t mean $150 yak wool balaclavas or  battery operated copper-infused beanies. It means picking gear designed for use in the outdoors that is built to mitigate the unavoidable cold of winter.

Here are four pieces of gear that will immediately keep you warmer, which will keep you fishing happier and longer, for under $40 each:

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Podcast Ep. 213: 4 Winter Confidence Flies

Today I talk through four flies that work for me in the winter. Notice I said for me. That doesn’t mean that they won’t work for you. In fact, I think that they will work for you. But I have a lot of confidence in these four patterns.

And confidence matters, because there is no silver bullet fly that you can use for trout in the cold months. But there are certain facets of some popular flies that will appeal to fish that aren’t as active or aggressive in the winter.

Hear what the four flies are, hear why I choose them, and hear how to fish them in this episode.

Also, use code CASTING right now to save 20% and get free shipping at manscaped.com.

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

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Firsts They’ll Remember

I shot  my first duck just over a year ago. I can still remember the anticipation, the excitement, and the moment. The freshness of that memory made watching him shoot his first duck all the more special.

He’s 10. All my boys caught their first fish as toddlers. All my boys caught their first fish on a fly rod as toddlers. Those are fun moments and great memories. But the moment is fun for them like pretty much any exciting moment is fun. That is the joy of being a toddler. And the memories are great for me. For them? The memories exist only as far as they are stories I tell them and pictures they see.

But for him, at 10, there was that anticipation. I didn’t have my license in a state in which he could hunt last season. He watched as friends got their first duck earlier this season. He sat through some early, cold mornings with high flying birds. He watched YouTube videos, helped my process birds I took, and practiced calling in the basement.

That big mallard drake represented something of a unique accomplishment in his decade of life. And it was great, as his dad, to watch it happen.

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Catch, Release, & Tip: Guides & Gratuity

In fly fishing, and in our culture in general, tipping is expected for many direct services. On top of payment, gratuity is part of the transaction. It is a way to thank the professional. It is a way to compliment quality service. And it is a way to round out that person’s compensation.

However, a  new angler may balk at the idea of tipping after he has the sticker shock that comes with seeing how much a guided trip costs. Yet the very same person wouldn’t object to tipping on a very expensive steak and bottle of wine.

So how much should a tip on a guided trip be?

Generally speaking, 15 to 20 percent is a good place to start. But why? And what about a trip that doesn’t yield many (or any) fish? But aren’t guides already expensive?

Here are five ways to think about tipping your fly fishing guide:

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Podcast Ep. 212: Tailwaters, part I

Tailwaters are a big part of fly fishing. So big, in fact, that this episode organically became a two-parter.

Today I talk about what a tailwater is, where you can find them, and why they are so important for fly fishers. More appropriately: why they are so important for trout. Of course, there is another side of tailwaters that is worth discussing as well.

Most of all, I hope that the 20 minutes of content in this episode get you thinking about dams, rivers, and some of the fishing opportunities that these interesting ecosystems provide.

Also, use code CASTING right now to save 20% and get free shipping at manscaped.com.

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

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Giving Tuesday is Never Over

On the heels of a long weekend of spending, Giving Tuesday has become a charitable foil to the post-Thanksgiving commercialism. Nonprofits of all stripes capitalize on the awareness that comes along with what has become an internet phenomenon. Initiatives backed with promotions, matching donations, and particular goals seek to bolster funding.

Nonprofit organizations within the outdoors community are no exception.

If you are interested in supporting a program that protects trout or natural resources, great. But you might also want to consider investing in an organization that is raising up the next generation to protect trout or natural resources.

Here are four great fly fishing and outdoors-related nonprofits that are helping kids get outside and learn to steward the world around them:

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