Podcast Ep. 198: Seeing Life Beyond the Bank

You might prefer to find waters to fish that are far, far away from any and all civilization. But there are countless small towns and rural villages that abut some of the most prominent rivers in this nation. Up on the bank, there is a whole lot going on. Very little of it, for most people, involves trout, insects, or your presence.

Today I discuss some of the benefits of getting to know the area where you are fishing. It might lead to greater angling opportunities. It might lead to more enjoyment. Or, it might lead to something better that encapsulates both of those things.

All in all, I’m suggesting you take a moment to see what is happening around you while you’re fishing. That is always a good thing to do.

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

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Trout, Trout Everywhere; Nor any Rod to Fish

Family vacation. There are lots and lots of choices of where to go. As long as everyone has a good time and stays in good spirits, where is just a backdrop. Amusement parks. Big cities. The ocean or the mountains.

Or, somewhere you’ve spent time fly fishing.

Even though I’ve often advocated for squeezing even just a little bit of fishing into family vacations, that is not my plan this time around. But the backdrop of previous fishing excursions in and around Manchester, Vermont, led us to spend a week in the Green Mountains. Hiking, local cuisine, and a giant fly shop featuring enormous pellet-eating rainbows all make for a fun with a school of kids in tow.

Generally speaking, the kinds of places you want to fish are the kinds of places you want to be. Seeing them without a rod in hand and through the eyes of your non-fishing family is rewarding, too.

Anyway, I’ve got to get back to coffee and planning today’s hike.

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Music? While Fishing?

“What is that screenshot all about?” you might ask. Well,  this past weekend someone at the Washington State Department of Natural Resources tweeted it out of the park.

Take it in again. That is funny. Especially for a part of the country that is notoriously sensitive to people’s feelings and whatnot, it is incredibly funny. Good job, Washington DNR social media person.

No one wants to listen to your weirdo Phish or some underground hip-hop you found on Soundcloud under normal circumstances. The woods are the last place that such things can and should be considered acceptable. I’m not a “nature is sacred” or “music gives off harsh vibes” person. I’m a “use earbuds but even that is bizarre when you’re hiking” person. And I assume most people are with me. But again, good for the Evergreen State for reminding people not to be a clod.

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Podcast Ep. 197: New Old Fishing Etiquette

Do you know how to behave around others while fishing?

Chances are the answer is “yes.” Because even though common sense isn’t all that common these days, I have come to expect better of those who spend a good amount of time outdoors.

There are plenty of resources that articulate the formal, classic fly fishing etiquette codes. Those are great. But there are also some subjective elements that come into play depending on when and where you are fishing. In this episode I discuss how and why you can figure out how to be an upstanding member of whatever fishing community in which you happen to be wetting your line.

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

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Add to Fly Fishing: Observe & Identify

Do you see the critter?

Over the years on Casting Across I’ve advocated that fly fishers diversify their outdoor experience. The singular focus of catching trout with a dry fly is a stereotype that serves as a punching bag within our little culture. But I’d argue that only fly fishing is less than one standard deviation away from that stuffy caricature.

Hiking, running, camping, conventional angling, hunting, and paddling are all outdoor pursuits that I dabble in to one degree or another. You might find time for cycling, climbing, bird watching, foraging, or any number of other worthwhile activities in nature. Go for it. You and fly fishing didn’t make a monogamous covenant with each other. Your wading boots won’t be jealous if you lace up your hiking boots. Your flies won’t give you the cold shoulder if you take the time to organize your rubber worms. Activities don’t work like that. So don’t act like they do.

Whether you’re completely fine with being an outdoor universalist or if you’re begrudgingly moving in that direction, there is one simple hobby that you can integrate into your fly fishing: observation.

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Catch & Release (into Hot Grease)

If you’re throwing fish back, you never catch a mess of fish. You can catch a lot or a bunch. You might even have a great day where they were hitting everything you were throwing at them. Great memories, beautiful pictures, and stories that will last a lifetime: but you can’t say that you caught a mess of fish.

However, if you play your cards right, have a stringer or a live well, and aren’t afraid of a few scales or a little blood, you can catch a mess of fish.

Before I go any farther in this article, I do want to acknowledge the hard left turn that these ideas appear to be taking from the usual fare found on Casting Across. After all, you’re usually reading about the quarry and culture of fly fishing. Crappie are not the usual quarry and lithium-ion filet knives are generally not part of the culture. I’m not advocating for an incursion, per se. I do think that it is important to validate that such interests do lie within the borders of this great outdoor nation.

And I’m going to firmly plant my flag in the soil of fried fish.

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Podcast Ep. 196: Shopping From Scratch

Last fall I fell down a rabbit hole. More accurately: I fell down into a duck’s nest.

After decades of watching guys wade into swamps, dressed like trees, carrying fake birds  over their shoulders, I decided to do the same. And I loved it. But aside from some cobbled-together gear from my vast fly fishing arsenal and some random deer hunting items, I didn’t have the right stuff. I was a little wet, a little cold, and a little convinced that I’d have to do some shopping before this fall.

So I did. And I learned a thing or two I’d like to pass along.

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

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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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