Fish On TV (& Phones, Too)

I’ve gone through periods of time in my life where my feeling towards “fishing shows” have vacillated.  As a teenager, they were one aspect of my hungry outdoor education. When I was spending an inordinate time in the woods and on the water in my 20’s, all they seemed to do was make me antsy to get outside again. Today, they’re a great low-key distraction amidst the business of everything I’m reading and doing.

You might find yourself somewhere close to one of those three poles. If so, and you are interested in some good content, you should definitely check out Waypoint TV.

Last year I started hosting and promoting the Casting Across Fly Fishing Podcast through Waypoint TV. Not only does it take some of the legwork off my plate, but I get to be clustered with a great cadre of similar people. One of the auxiliary benefits I’ve come to enjoy is the diversity of outdoor video content that is on the platform. There are traditional “fishing shows,” exotic hunts, and educational series. Scrolling, tapping, and watching is pretty simple. And the vast majority of it is free.

Below I’ve embedded three fly fishing videos. Again, there is a lot more out there. But this is a good taste of what is available. So kick back and enjoy on your lunchbreak, as you’re winding down at night, or if you’re simply daydreaming about being outside.

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Reading the Water, Top to Bottom

What is reading water?

At the most basic level, it is the process by which an angler determines where fish are most likely to be. By assessing a number of variables, it is possible to figure out which parts of a river have the highest percentage of holding fish. But what becomes an intuitive process after years and years of fishing isn’t necessarily innate. There are some spots, such as deep emerald pools, that do call out to anyone with a rod. Others, such as seams, undercut banks, and riffles, require a bit more experience and discernment.

Again, reading water well includes factoring in countless variables. Prominently, a fish’s desire to eat and be safe must be taken into account. Applying those criteria to a creek, pond, or coastline is where the work comes in.

A simple, fourfold method can help anglers read water. This top-to-bottom approach is a quick and comprehensive way to survey a stretch of fishable water.

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Podcast Ep. 195: 4 Ways to Read Water

Actually, it is one way to read water with four parts. But that is way too long for a podcast title.

After sharing an anecdote about my failing to read water well, I go into my four-pronged approach to approaching rivers. While not remarkable or novel, I believe that this multi-tiered technique is a great paradigm to help new anglers grasp the concept. It is also a great reminder or teaching tool for those of us who have been at this fly fishing thing for a while.

Instead of just getting out there and flailing away at the deepest pool, take a minute to read the water. There might be fish there.

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

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Rusty Flybox: Angling Alliteration Absurdities

I do enjoy writing funny fly fishing stuff. To be honest, it is a lot harder than how-to and gear review writing. In large part, this is because people don’t have a good senses of humor. (Good senses of humor are defined, you see, as that which is relatively similar to the sense of humor that I possess.)

Often I resort to tried-and-true schemes: observational comedy, self-deprecation, and subverted expectations. I’m also not above using alliteration in an article title.

Like a good news headline from the 30’s, there is something inherently smile-inducing about an alliterative title. But again, maybe that is just me. It is me enough that I’ve apparently done it numerous times over the years here at Casting Across. I’ve picked three posts that fit this arbitrary criteria.

Read the three posts in full by clicking on the image or the article title, below:

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Fly Fishing Show 2022: Consumer Choice Awards

There are a lot of reasons why The Fly Fishing Show is on my calendar every winter. Between learning from accomplished anglers, generating content for Casting Across, and catching up with acquaintances, the time spent in convention centers is always worthwhile. But something else that is always a high priority is checking out the latest gear offerings from around the industry.

At The Fly Fishing Show, you’ll see everything from bluewater rods to midge-ready hackle. Purveyors range from the biggest names in fly fishing to small start-ups. Across the hall floor, people believe in what they’re selling and they believe it will help you as you pursue fish.

This year, partnering with Angling Trade and Fly Fusion, The Fly Fishing Show held a vote for Consumer Choice Awards. Show attendees were able to vote for which products impressed them most from across 32 categories. Of course, not every single product across fly fishing was represented. And you may certainly disagree with the result in any category. However, if you are doing some shopping research or are simply interested in what new gear is out there, this list of Consumer Choice Award winners is worth checking out:

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Podcast Ep. 194: What to do with Low Water

It might have been last month, it might be today, or it might be next week: eventually you’re going to experience dry, low-water conditions where you live and fish.

Today on the podcast, I’m not going to delve into the science (or politics) of the conditions. What I do want to explore is how fish react and what we can do about it. Here’s the long and the short of it: maybe you can fish and maybe you can’t. What you can do is be observant and flexible. It will be good for the ecosystem, the trout, and you.

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

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How to Fish: Classic Angling Cinema

If you’re only attending  fly fishing film festival screenings, you’re missing out on some top-notch angling media.

If you’re only watching Star Wars and Marvel on your Disney+ subscription, you’re also missing out on some top-notch angling media.

Because one of the finest short films to document the fisherman is the 1942 picture entitled, How to Fish. It features Goofy. Yes, that Goofy: the anthropomorphic dog.

Along with How to Fish, there are a number of other excellent entries in the series: How to Play Baseball, How to Play Football, and How to Swim being standouts. But How to Fish is truly worth every fly fisher with the streaming service’s time. In a short 7 minutes, it successfully communicates some timeless truths about the pursuit.

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Trout & Feather: July ’22

How do you talk about fly fishing?

Over the years I’ve sold fly fishing gear, taught fly casting, and instructed teens in fly fishing. Recently, I’ve taken a few opportunities to write about fly fishing and talk about it on a podcast. The more I talk about fly fishing, the more I think about how I talk about fly fishing.

There are different situations, and people, that you’ll encounter. In my humble opinion, there are some tried and true tactics for communicating what fly fishing is and how it works. Here are three common circumstances:

There is a link to the rest of the post, Talkin’ Fly Fishing after the jump.

But before you do that, be sure to check out the two videos I’ve included in today’s post. In the first video, Tim interviews a smallmouth guide about line choice. In the second, Tim shares some suggestions on cameras if you’re interested in demonstrating your own tying skill.

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

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Podcast Ep. 193: Trash Fish?

We’re living in a pretty sensitive day and age. So please know that I’m using the term “trash fish” in the most respectful and endearing way possible.

(But fish can’t read, so I shouldn’t be too concerned about offending any of them.)

Chances are, if you fish for some of the less desirable and non-traditional species, you’re used to the sideways looks when you mention your excitement. I am with you. There are some great fish out there that transcend the bass and trout circles. They eat flies, they fight hard, and they might even taste pretty good.

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

Coffee for Fly Fishing

I’m convinced that I’ve discovered the best cup of coffee you can have.

It is the cup of coffee you have when it is the only cup of coffee you can have. Flavors, origins, and brewing techniques are all second-order variables compared to the situation in which you are drinking the coffee.

While some people don’t drink coffee, I’m confident that it is a small percentage of the population. In my experience, this is an even smaller minority within the fly fishing community. But there are a lot of different directions you can go with coffee as you incorporate it into your fly fishing routine. No one says that there is only one right answer, but understanding your options can increase your appreciation. Or maybe at least justify your actions.

We’ll take a look at five cups of coffee, in no particular order:

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