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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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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