Rusty Flybox: Maine

I am in Maine.*

*When this post is released, I will be/will have been in Maine.

The Pine Tree State is a spectacular spot for all kinds of outdoor enthusiasts. That is why my family and I are planning on catching some late-season hiking while camping in and amongst the changing foliage of northern New England. And, if all goes according to plan, I might catch a few brook trout.

Once more: Maine is thick with all manner of recreation in the woods and on the water. Today I’m sharing two articles and a podcast that are Maine-centric.

  • Brook trout are the same, but different, across Appalachian Mountains.
  • A Maine-bred conservationist has a lot to share.
  • You should fish Maine.

Click on the pictures or post titles below to read the whole articles:

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First Fly Fishing Plans for 2023

This past week, press releases about The Fly Fishing Show hit every nook and cranny of the angling internet. Dates, locations, and early ticket sales went live for the largest consumer exposition event focused on fly fishing.

Over the short history of Casting Across, I’ve written a handful of articles explaining why I recommend that fly fishers  make a reasonable effort to attend fly fishing events. A stop at The Fly Fishing Show will expose you to the latest gear, give you a chance to meet up with old friends,  and facilitate classes with some of the top names. You can ask expert fly tyers questions, take advantage of great equipment sales, and book your next expedition. At the very least, an afternoon walking around the convention center will get you really excited for the coming fishing season.

For the price as a movie ticket, you can get all of that and more. So I suggest putting it on your calendar sooner rather than later. Then, check out these three plans you might want to consider:

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Podcast Ep. 203: Finding Trout Just Hanging On

There are so many trout out there. Why care about one particular population of trout?

One of the most interesting aspects of conservation work is the cataloging, investigation, and protection of individual fish populations. Acknowledging species and subspecies demonstrates the understanding of a fish’s unique adaptations for it’s native watershed. There are also the benefits of environmental stewardship and historical preservation.

Today I talk about a few fish that fit these criteria. Hopefully it gets you thinking… and maybe out exploring.

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

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Greenbacks are Back: Trout in the News

CPW

If you’ve been even mildly aware of the greater fly fishing culture over the past few decades,  you’ve inevitably seen plenty about the greenback cutthroat trout. Oncorhynchus clarkii stomias has been the subject of countless articles, initiatives, and debates at the local and national level.

Because we all thought it was extinct.

Historically, the greenback was the easternmost strain of cutthroats. Due to all of the usual suspects, this finely-spotted fish was declared extinct in the early part of the 20th century. A few dozen years later, fish matching the description of the greenback were found, Fast forward to 2012, and those fish – fish that were being used to restore the native range of the greenback – were discovered to be genetically impure. The exception was a relatively small  population in a tributary of the Arkansas River.

This extinct/not extinct back-and-forth has long been front page fly fishing news. This week, following more developments in the greenback saga, the fish hit the  mainstream.

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Trout & Feather: September ’22

Digital media is phenomenal. Even for an activity as niche as fly fishing, there are streaming videos, eBooks, and a cornucopia of online options. The information is dynamic, engaging, and relevant. But a day will come when the power is out and the devices aren’t charged. Alternatively, you might want something that is a little more timeless… or simply quieter.

Thankfully, there is a rich literary heritage within fly fishing. The landscape of the sport would be unrecognizable without the works or Izaak Walton, Norman Maclean, and John Gierach. Generations of anglers have learned of far-off destinations, followed fly tying instructions, and daydreamed of rising trout through the pages of a book. Books are not only educational and entertaining; their ideas and the tangible items themselves connect us.

Even with all the digital resources out there, every fly fisher should consider curating their own analog angling library.

There is a link to the rest of the post, Analog Angling Library after the jump.

But before you do that, be sure to check out the two videos I’ve included in today’s post. In one, Tim from Trout & Feather makes a good case for starting from scratch with your nymph hook inventory. Then, in a throwback video from almost ten years ago, Tim walks through a fun variation on a popular pattern.

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

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Podcast Ep. 202: Concentric Circles of Conservation

Everyone says that conservation matters. But how can you show that you mean it?

You don’t need to dynamite a dam in the PNW or be the lawyer that puts Pebble Mine down for good. You can just be a guy with a bag of trash, a Saturday devoted to counting fish in a ladder, or a member of a town committee. Big stuff matters. So does little stuff. And any stuff that transcends online platitudes and bumper sticker-conservation is worth pursuing.

Today I share a few circles of action that are worth your time and energy.

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

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Be a Better Bad Caster

“Throw a tailing loop.”

I stared at Dave.  “On purpose?”  was my confused reply.

“Yes,” he urged, “cast with a tailing loop.”

My next cast was perfect.

“No. Again.”

My next cast was perfect.

“No. Again.”

Getting frustrated, I jerked my fly rod back and forth quickly.

“There it is! Good job!” His praise was real. “If you want to be good at casting, you need to be able to make all the casts, ” he explained. “You need to feel why the wrong things happen. If you can do that, you can replicate them so you’ll know what to avoid. And you’ll be able to explain it to others, too.”

I watched Dave throw tailing loops and open loops; casts that jerked right and others that curled left; casts that snapped back at him and casts that petered out well before they unrolled. “If you can do that, when you want to do that, you know how to cast,” he said.

And he was right.

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The Smiling Trout

“What do you do  in your spare time?”

“Ah guh higsing.”

“What?”

“Uh, I go fishing.”

Dentists asking questions while  their hands are in patients’ mouths is a well-worn trope. But this comically befuddling stereotype is as sure as a thing as being told to floss more.

“Yeah, there is great fly fishing around here. I like rainbow trout, myself.”

“Ugh hugh.”

“Spit.”

“Thanks,”

In this little Pennsylvania town, most people were aware of the local trout fishing opportunities. They knew that folks came from hundreds of miles to stalk spring creeks. Dentists, needing to be active members of the community, were no exception. All three dentist offices I visited in my years living there had, at the very least, a copy of Field & Stream in the waiting room.

“Keep up the good work. Try to make sure you floss more. Oh, and don’t bite your line with your teeth.”

Along with a $25 copay, I got a mixed bag of feedback. I brushed well enough to warrant a positive comment. Flossing that morning for the first time in the past six months obviously didn’t qualify as “regular flossing.” And apparently I was not supposed to use my mouth to clip tippet.

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Podcast Ep. 201: Fly Fishing Accusations, XX

There have been 200 episodes, and hundreds more articles, of my opinions and perspectives that you could call into question.

And every once in a while, someone does.

More often than receiving accusations,  I get questions and comments from readers and listeners. On today’s podcast, I interact with three (four, really) that I thought were worth sharing.

These editions are fun. Again, I get to respond to you. Also, it is a nice change of pace to discuss three or four topics in quick succession. I hope you enjoy it!

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

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Rusty Flybox: Sucker for Marketing

I’m a sucker for good marketing.

Before you judge, let me explain what I mean:

  • I appreciate a well thought-out sales pitch.
  • I gravitate towards people who are passionate about what they make and/or sell.
  • I like good more than I like bad. Can you blame me?

While hype and reality don’t always line up, hype can be the result of something real. Fly fishing gear is no exception. Some things might be overpriced. Some things might overpromise. Some things might simply be what the cool kids are using. But some things are both good and represented well by those responsible for selling them.

This makes me happy. And so I write about it. Here are three examples. Click on the title or the image to view the whole article.

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