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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The Fishing Library You Didn’t Know You Had

Nothing beats a good copy of a good book. There is a sensory aspect to reading words off a tangible, printed page. Furthermore, that is the way that it has been done for nearly three millennia.

But a digital book is not only the next best thing; sometimes it is more convenient.

I can say with great confidence that, if you live in the USA, you are within the geographical designation of a library system. There is also a very good chance that said library offers digital resources like Hoopla or Libby. If you have a library card, you’ll have free access to these services and the innumerable ebooks and audiobooks.

For our purposes, it is pertinent to mention that there are quite a few quality fly fishing titles available.

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Podcast Ep. 192: Storing Fishing Gear, part 2

If you don’t care about taking care of your stuff for the sake of your stuff, at least take a little bit of energy for the sake of the resources you have and your gear’s performance.

Today I share three more gear storage tips that are especially helpful in the middle of the season. An ounce of prevention is truly worth a pound of cure. When boots run upwards of $200 and rods can quickly near a grand, a few minutes spent making sure everything is where it is supposed to be can save you money, heartache, and from adding to the local landfill.

As always, if you have tips or ideas that I don’t share feel free to send them my way!

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

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Bad Habits & the Same Streams

We’re all creatures of habit. If, like me, you happen to be a fly fishing creature, you probably possess a certain set of idiosyncratic habits.

One of my bad habits involves lacking the self control to break habits. For example: I often talk a big game about exploring new water. It’s fun, I say. It’s a challenge, I say. I say those things. But if I only have a few days to fish on a certain period of time I usually default to the same flies in the same pools in the same stream.

At a recent angling opportunity I was all ready to take a fun, yet cowardly turn to a tried-and-true creek. It would have been a safe choice. As I was plotting my course to the water (read: picking where I was going to get breakfast and lunch) I noticed another creek.

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And there is Only One Fish Pic

It is impossible to capture the experience of being outdoors in words. Well-written prose will communicate a lot. However there will always be moments that get left out, or, more likely, moments that words can’t adequately describe.

Similarly, photographs are good but limited. While a picture might be worth 1,000 words, an image devoid of context can’t really share the precise words intended by the one who saw the moment in reality.

But in trying, we are able to revisit moments ourselves and share something of what stands out as we head into the woods and waters.

…like that fantastic, unparalleled, invigorating first cup of coffee as you head out in the early morning hours.

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Podcast Ep. 191: Fly Shop Stories, I

There are a lot of people out there that put their blood, sweat, and tears into fly fishing. Most of those folks are fly shop owners and employees.

While I only put a few years into working fly fishing retail, I really accumulated some invaluable know-how, experiences, and gear. Lots and lots of gear…

I also have some good stories. Again, my time selling rods, reels, and dog beds is only a drop in the bucket compared to most folks. But I think you’ll appreciate some of what I have to share. There are some stories, a few tips, and even some awkward moments.

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

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Redington Butter Stick: Staying Gold

Five years ago, I fished my first contemporary fiberglass fly rod. The Redington Butter Stick had just received an update. The new rod featured an adjusted taper and a new, soft white color scheme. I fished the 4-weight, and was pleased with how approachable the casting stroke  was after years of faster graphite rods. A few years later I came to own the 1-weight, which has a prominent place in my rod rotation for small-stream trout.

This year, Redington relaunched their popular fiberglass rod series. Along with a new handle and reel seat, the rod returns to the popular yellow color scheme. Also, the rod now comes in a convenient four-piece configuration. Those aspects are all fine and good, but what really matters is how it fishes. I put the new Butter Stick through the paces that any respectable 4-weight should see: panfish and mountain trout.

If the last fiberglass fly rod in your hands was built in the 1960s or cost less than $25, the warm yellow aesthetics might be familiar. But you’ll really be impressed with the responsiveness of this blank and how it casts.

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Red, White, and Brookies

Tomorrow morning I’m waking up early and going fishing.

I’ll get to drive on well-maintained interstate highways and state roads. A wide assortment of breakfast options will be available for me to choose from. The forest that I’ll be walking into is public and free to access.

Freedom has its perks; even in the small things.

Of course, the freedom that I experience as a citizen of the United States of America wasn’t cheap. It was costly. Countless lives were lost, and perhaps even more were spent securing a way of life that is unlike anything known in history. That is worth celebrating, appreciating, and acknowledging.

Fly fishing for brook trout in the Commonwealth of Virginia seems like an appropriate way to do all of those things. So that is what I’ll do.

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Podcast Ep. 190: Fly Fishing Accusations, XIX

In this Q&A episode, I share some of the best questions and comments I’ve ever received.

Feedback (of any kind) is always exciting. Today, I talk about rod choices, guide recommendations, and favorite gear. These are things that I like discussing on my own. When you’re the reason I get to elaborate and pontificate on these topics, it makes it even better.

As always, don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions, comments, or… accusations.

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

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Rusty Flybox: Outside the Fly Shop

I’m sure there is a fly shop out there that will sell you anything and everything that you would need to go fly fishing. But I doubt it.

Reason being, there is a lot of non-fly fishing stuff that I need to get to the water and stay on the water. If you’re engaged in any other outdoor activities, there is a very good chance that you already pack some hiking, camping, and paddling gear as you fill your bag for angling. I’m not advocating cutting out fly shops. In fact, some of the best ones have already sought to diversify their offerings.

In this post, I’ve got three posts with some excellent non-fly fishing fly fishing gear:

  • My favorite fly fishing shoe
  • Three items worth adding to your angling load
  • Where and how to shop

Check out each article below by clicking on the image or the title:

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