Back to (Fly Fishing) School

When it comes to learning fly fishing, there is nothing like in-person, on the water instruction. But if you are unable to find an opportunity to schedule coaching, or if you want something to refresh or reiterate what you’ve already learned, online resources can be invaluable.

It is even better when online resources are high quality. Such is the case with Far Bank Fly Fishing School.

No one has the false impression that Far Bank doesn’t want you to buy their gear. But most of the people at Sage, RIO, Redington, and Fly Water Travel are fly fishers who want you to use their gear. As part of the company’s renewed branding, they have included a significant education and engagement facet. Along with the videos, they have a site that features recommendations for new anglers from across their labels. The six episodes of the Fly Fishing School are at the center of the whole initiative.

The initial batch of videos is called “New to Fly” and covers the following topics:

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FishDay Prepping

Bimini twists are easier at the kitchen table than on the tailgate.

There are some things that are better done before you leave to go fishing. Whether you’ve got a handful of random trips to local streams in your immediate future, or you’re going on that big-ticket trip, your home is the ideal place to prepare for the water.

It might seem romantic to simply throw  your rod, flies, and waders into your trunk on Friday after work for a spontaneous weekend in the woods. But that weekend will go much better if Thursday night included checking knots, ensuring flies have been reorganized, and replacing any used gear. Showing up and having to tie, organize, and hunt down an open outdoors store is not the same as a carefree day’s worth of fishing.

You don’t need to prepare for any sort of angling doomsday. But running through a couple simple mental checks can really keep you fishing once you get your feet wet.

Here are four reasons why you should be a fly fishing prepper at home, as well as one of my top priorities for before I leave my house:

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Podcast Ep. 175: Antique or Old? Fish It!

Do you have a crusty, old, fly rod sitting up in the attic? Or how about in Grandma’s attic? Assuming that you have a decent relationship with said grandma, maybe you should take it out for a spin this season.

There is a lot of fun and functional angling value in acquiring and using antique fly fishing gear. If you know where to look, what to use, and what you’re using, it can actually add a whole other facet to your fly fishing.

This episode is really only a primer, but hopefully it will get you thinking about what you might find as you peruse fishing shows, drive by yard sales, and (eventually) shop a premier tackle auctioneer.

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

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Trout & Feather: March ’22

Let’s face it: We’ve become all too comfortable sitting in front of our laptop in our sweatpants. Even prior to the pandemic, YouTube and other streaming options have spoiled us. Whether it be business meetings, online classes, or fly tying demonstrations, our commitment level has become commensurate with the quality of our Bluetooth headset.

Snap out of it, people. Don’t get sucked into this dystopian cyber-reality. Power down your screen, put on a pair of chinos, and get out with other real people. Someone tying flies, and a few dozen other interested anglers, for example.

 “Why?” you may ask. “I can pause online videos. And they’re free. And, as you mentioned, sweatpants.”

Listen. I am not discounting the value of all of those. They have their times and places. But there is something (somethings, actually) that come with a live fly tying demonstration.

There is a link to the rest of the post,  Better than YouTube 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 walks the beginner tyer through where he or she should start.  Then, Tim conducts an interview with Devin Olsen. The topic? Detecting strikes while nymphing.

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

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Cast Hope: Fly Fishing Commitment

Across the country, there are dozens of programs that cater to exposing kids to the outdoors. All of them want kids to have a good time fishing, paddling, or camping. Those programs that want to add a little bit more desire to pass on an  ethos along with an activity. There are a select few that not only present what the woods and water have to offer and explain why it is special, but also commit to the kids in a long-term manner.

Cast Hope is  committed to  the kids in their program, and Directing of Marketing and co-founder Hogan Brown was excited to share why: “It is pretty clear that people protect what they derive pleasure from, And if the next generation doesn’t appreciate those places, we’re not going to  have places to fish. Basically, conservation is only as good as the generation that picks it up and cares. So we’re really focused on attaching kids to the places and things that are in the outdoors.”

Just over a decade ago, Cast Hope had its genesis in the kind of place and at the time of day that isn’t usually associated with great ideas. “(Co-founder) Ryan Johnston and I were sitting in a taco bar after the day out guiding for steelhead,” Brown says. “Ryan brought up the idea as something that was going to be a project for his MBA. A lot more work and time was put into it, and then it became reality.”

Today, kids in California and Nevada are on the river and catching fish with Cast Hope. But with this program, there’s so much more than just catching fish.

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Podcast Ep. 174: Storing Fishing Gear, part 1

Your stuff shouldn’t own you. But if you own stuff, at least take care of it.

Fly fishing gear is meant to be outside, get wet, and pushed to the limits that wild animals and wild places require. That doesn’t mean that it will be happy if it has to endure a difficult life in your trunk, closet, or garage.

Today I walk through a few things that I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) about storing fly fishing gear. An ounce of prevention is worth a leader that doesn’t snap, a reel that doesn’t seize up, and little peace of mind.

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

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Fly Fishing Level 1,000

On Friday, I’ll post for the 1,000th  time on Casting Across.

I’ve written about the quarry and culture of fly fishing three times a week, for 333 weeks, over the course of nearly six and a half years. There are plenty of gear reviews, outdoor stories, and articles on technique in the back catalog. There are some real winners and some posts that probably could have used some more editing, thought, or inspiration. But what is here is here.

And while I don’t know what the future holds, my plan is to keep writing and talking about fly fishing. Why? Well, I have at least five solid reasons for keeping Casting Across going. Some have to do with me. Some have to do with you. One of them actually has to do with fishing.

Here is why I still enjoy writing about fly fishing:

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Is Fly Fishing Too Expensive?

We have all heard it before. Fly fishing is too expensive.

Well, let me tell you something: Maybe it is. But there are plenty of other popular activities that cost as much, if not more, money.

How do I know?  I’ve been looking to upgrade my duck hunting gear. By that I mean I’ve been looking to buy duck hunting gear because last season I used a combination of deer hunting and fly fishing equipment. I shot ducks. But as the season went on I realized the limitations of my stuff. My camo didn’t quite blend in. My stocking foot waders weren’t super warm. My (wife’s) neon green kayak wasn’t exactly inconspicuous. Since around Christmas I’ve been hopping online to price out a modest jacket, pair of insulated waders, and watercraft.

And people think fly fishing is expensive?

I’m just thankful I own a decent shotgun, or I might be discouraged enough to call a peace treaty with all ducks and geese. Seriously, things aren’t super affordable; even on the low end of things. This got me thinking: How much does it cost to get started up in some other  activities? If you’re curious, I’ve got 6 outlined right here:

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Podcast Ep. 173: Better, Cheaper Streamer Fishing

Streamer fishing. The ways in which people think about it are much  more diverse in the 21st century, but at the core it is still all about imitating a baitfish to trigger a predatory response.

Whether you want to throw a six-inch, weighted, articulated fly with a PG-13 name or a size 10 gray ghost, there are some gear choices that might make your fishing a little bit easier. As usual, gear is no substitute for experience, skill, and that “it” factor of fishiness. However, you can help yourself a little bit by using some gear that you already have to cast and retrieve streamer patterns better.

Today I share some gear recommendations along with some tactics for streamers.

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

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Your Own State of Fly Fishing Address

If ever there was a trope in commentary, it is to riff on a State of the Union speech. Without fail, in the days immediately preceding and following the actual address and the resultant coverage you’ll see something wherever you may look. The State of Baseball. The State of the Church. The State of Knitting in Eastern Kentucky. Someone, somewhere is writing every one of those headlines as I write mine.

But I’m not writing The State of Fly Fishing Address. Obviously. You can scroll up and see the title of the article for yourself. I’m riffing on the riff. And I’m putting the onus on you.

How do you think fly fishing is going?

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