Fighting Supernatural Nature

On a warm, overcast fall morning the fish were jumping all across the pond. With every stroke of the paddle, there was a flash under water or ripples on the surface. Baitfish skittered. Lazy insects disappeared in loud slurps. Fish shot out of the water, presumably for the joy only comprehendible to the simple mind of a fish. It was a beautiful sunrise scene.

Except for the fact that I didn’t have a fly rod. I did have a shotgun. And there were no ducks.

Animals are smart. But they’re animal smart. That is totally different than human smart. Their brains are, biologically speaking, basic. They can’t do math, conjugate verbs, or form opinions on geopolitical matters. They can stay alive, though. That is more important than algebra. Dare I say that it is more important than most of what is discussed on cable news.

So even though I routinely anthropomorphize trout, I am completely aware that they’re empirically vacuous. I know their IQ is unmeasurable. I also know that they possess some supernatural sight beyond sight wherein they can sense my intentions when I enter the woods. Here’s what I mean:

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Podcast Ep. 210: Fly Fishing Accusations, XXI

This week on the podcast I interact with some questions that are the most common interactions I receive month after month, year after year.

Fly line for small streams and fly fishing books are two things that I’m (relatively) passionate about. Consequently, I get feedback about both topics.

I also talk about the (legitimate) passion surrounding nippers.

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

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Rusty Flybox: Seasons Changing

The calendar says that winter doesn’t arrive until late December. The frost on my windshield and the ice on the edges of the streambank say otherwise.

Cold weather means flies can be tied and deer can be hunted. But it also means that there are aspects to fly fishing that open up to us. Taking advantage of the change in seasons can reveal angles of angling that would otherwise be missed.

Today I share three articles that consider the joy of fly fishing amidst the seasons changing from fall to winter. One has to do with football; another shares why fishing might be better in bad weather; the last is about being thankful for fly fishing.

Click on the title or the image below to read the full post:

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Stop the Clocks: Fall Bass

Bass are unaware of Daylight Savings Time. They don’t have an emotional response to the first frost or “sweater weather.” They certainly aren’t swayed by the pumpkin spice-ification of the world. This does not mean that bass, like any other fish out there, are not impacted by the temperature shifts that accompany the change of seasons. What it does mean is that these fish might not be as seasonally sensitive as we are.

The action isn’t going to be the same as post-spawn and summer fishing. The days are shorter and the water may very well be lower. The thermal fluctuations of the water will have an influence on the metabolism of fish: which, in turn, influences the way in which they feed. But they will still feed. And, depending on where you live, there might actually be an uptick in action on warm(er) fall days.

So while trout streams may become more active and attractive in the fall, don’t sleep on your local bass water. The fish are there, are active, and are willing to chase a fly. Here are four things to consider as you bundle up for bass this autumn:

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Podcast Ep. 209: Tributary Time

Even though the footprint of the Great Lakes’ tributary system is relatively small, its’ opportunities are significant and easily accessible by most people in the US.

Whether you’re chasing steelhead in Pennsylvania, lake run browns in New York, or salmon in Michigan, you have the opportunity to tangle with huge fish in smaller rivers. Some days are incredibly hot, while others might make you wonder if you’re completely in the wrong place.

While there are certainly some situation-specific techniques that will put you on fish, being there and putting in time is the most important thing. It feels like “you should have been here yesterday” is a common refrain in Great Lakes tributary fishing. Today I talk about getting on the water. Take that first step and yesterday can be today (you know what I mean).

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

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A Clean Fly Rod is a Happy Fly Rod

Whether you are putting your fly rod away for the winter or you finally realize that your cork handle is what has been stinking up your truck’s cab, you should definitely take the time to clean your gear.

Just like anything else, fly rods need maintenance. While they are not technical or complex by any stretch of the imagination, there are certain components that can get damaged by repeated, routine use. Simple and commonsense steps are all that is needed. Sometimes, we need to be reminded of commonsense and simple things. Thankfully, that is all it takes to keep a $100 or $1,000 fly rod in action.

Here are five things that you can do to keep your fly rod happy and keep yourself on the water:

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What is Worse than Losing a Fish?

For a split second, my brain doesn’t comprehend the implications of the sensation. Where there was once tension – a pulsing fish pulling against the line and the current – is now simply slack. It takes a moment to wrap my head around the fact that the fish is gone. Next comes frustration. It might be a few choice words. It could be a whip of the fly line. It may simply be an empty stare.

The frustration is the result of there being no payoff. No fish in hand. No follow through on what was started. The reasons are myriad: a bad hook set, too much slack, too much pressure, a bad knot, a submerged log, or perhaps even a fish that happens to be really big/smart/strong. It is hard to nail it down. Some combination of human error, trout nature, and general circumstance conspired to the end that there is nothing at the end of my line.

It doesn’t feel good. It is part of fishing (that is why they don’t call it catching, etc.). It happens to everyone. It gets to swim away to fight another day.

But when an animal doesn’t get to swim, walk, or fly away and you lose it, that is worse than losing a fish.

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Podcast Ep. 208: 7 Year Fi(t)sh

Casting Across is a lot more than written and spoken words.

For 7 years, Casting Across has been the vehicle for my interaction with the people, places, and things that go into the pursuit of fish. Today, I talk about a few aspects of this past season of my life that you might find interesting.

The core of Casting Across is just that: my desire to share something interesting about the quarry and culture of fly fishing with you. Hopefully one of these topics will resonate and get you thinking and fishing.

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

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The Gift Guides… They’re Coming

The neighbor to one side of you still hasn’t removed all of the fake spiderwebs from her bushes, and the neighbor on the other side is staking illuminated reindeer down in his front yard. Thanksgiving (the superior holiday, mind you) is a turkey and pie speedbump that simply launches our culture headlong over Black Friday and towards Christmas. And there is no stopping it.

You may have already received the emails. If you are on a fly fishing distribution list, if you have ever bought something angling adjacent, if you have ever stepped foot in or near an outdoor establishment; know that your @whatever.com is squarely within an entire horde’s sights. All you are is another credit card number susceptible to clever marketing.

They’ll offer you free shipping. They’ll offer you 12 days of percentages off. They’ll offer you the world. And like a farm-raised turkey used to being greeted by the friendly farmer, you’ll yield.

Because it is fly fishing stuff. And we all want it under the tree.

Here’s how to navigate the coming onslaught of ads masquerading as gold, frankincense, and myrrh:

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7 Years of Casting Across

In early October, 2015, I grabbed up the domain name and social media handles for “Casting Across.” For that month I fumbled my way through website design, font choice, and how the internet really works. I polished up some rough drafts I had kicking around on my hard drive. I began to go through my digital photo library. By the end of the month, I had launched a little website where I planned to explore the quarry and culture of fly fishing.

This past weekend marked the 7th anniversary of Casting Across.

Casting Across was created for these main reasons:

  • I wanted to share the minutiae of fly fishing: the small experiences, pieces of gear, and moments that we all appreciate but don’t get a lot of recognition.
  • I wanted to write without inhibitions. Vocationally, as a pastor, I am joyfully constrained by my  subject matter. Fly fishing writing allows me to say whatever, however I want.
  • I wanted to keep a foot in the fly fishing world. After working at a fly shop and running a camp for years, I missed being involved with a diverse group of great people.

Over the past seven years, I can say for certain that all of those goals have been accomplished. And I look forward to how they continue to be met in the future. Today, I want to share some of the most popular articles over the history of Casting Across. I also take a stab as to why they’ve been well-received by you.

Here are some highlights from over the past 7 years, and a few of my thoughts on each:

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