Trout & Feather: September ’21

Let’s not kid ourselves or anyone else. Fly fishing is expensive.

It doesn’t have to be… but it often is. You can get by with only the essentials… but most of us want a few more odds and ends to make it easier or more fun.

That doesn’t mean that you need top of the line everything. There are some things that are worth a few extra dollars. Usually, upgrading some of the most important and helpful gear is going to cost you less than the tank of gas for your next fishing trip.

Here’s my take on three items worth spending a little more for, and three things that you don’t have to break the bank on for quality fly fishing.

There is a link to the rest of the post, entitled  Gear: Spend or Save? after the jump.

But before you do that, be sure to check out the two videos I’ve included in today’s post. One is streaming as I write this article! Another focuses on the flies they tie and use in Iceland.

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

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Podcast Ep. 150: Special Guests Q&A

“There’s no such thing as a bad question.”

Not true.

But you’re not going to hear any bad questions on this week’s podcast. Today I get grilled by two of of the most avid listeners of Casting Across Fly Fishing. Questions  range from fly patterns to bear encounters to on-stream nutrition.

Hear their questions, my answers, and our back-and-forth on this special 150th episode.

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

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Rusty Flybox: Fewer Flies

Picture your flybox. Close your eyes and do it.

Is it messy? Is it full? Does the messy fullness bring you joy?

Okay: now picture the last flies that you’ve used. Picture the flies that you turn to over and over again.

Is there a disparity between the first and second image that came to your mind? I’d wager that is normal for most fly fishers. There’s our fly boxes and there’s the flies we use. There are plenty of good reasons for countless tubs stuffed to the brims with every pattern that could be possibly used in any given situation. But that calculation gets run infrequently.

You’d be surprised how few flies you can get by with. It might force some efficient packing. It will definitely force clearer focus in presentation.

Below I have three articles. The first shares my top three trout flies (and why I chose them). The second expands the list to six. The final is a podcast wherein I explore the method behind the madness – and I branch out from trout.

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Fly Fish out of a Backpack

Most anglers turn to tried-and-true options for carrying their essential gear on the water. Vests, chest packs, and slings have been standard fly fishing equipment for generations.

But there are other options that folks have used to great success that might fit you or how you fish.

For a number of reasons, fly fishing out of a backpack could be perfect for you. Multi-liter capacity packs aren’t just for overnight hikers, gearheads, and people who can’t leave a single box of flies at home. A backpack might make the most sense for certain people and the way that they pursue fish.

Below I explore why the capacity, versatility, and comfort of a backpack make it a great option for fly fishing. I also answer the biggest question people have: but how do I get to my stuff?

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Podcast Ep. 149: Fly Fishing, Come Fall

Fall is, without question, the objectively best season of the year. In my opinion.

Whether you are mourning summer or waiting for the water to freeze over, you have got to admit that fly fishing really shines in September, October, and November. Depending on where you live in the country you might experience some of the best fishing of the year.

In this episode I discuss four things that you can and should think about when fishing in the fall. Included is a refresher on avoiding redds – something that we should all be aware of.

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

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Costa Untangled: Good for You & the Oceans

Let me be clear: I’m not saying that you should but a pair of Costa Del Mar sunglasses because of what the frames are made of. I think you consider Costa Del Mar sunglasses because their glass lenses are, by far, the best money can buy. In my experience, they’re clearer and more durable than any other lenses I’ve worn in decades of fishing.

However, if a pair of frames from the Untangled Collection happens to fit your needs or your face? All the better.   Here’s how Costa describes this series of sunglasses:

Every year, an estimated 640,000 tons of discarded fishing material makes its way into our waterways. Discarded fishing nets are the most harmful form of plastic pollution in our oceans. But, in partnership with Bureo, we’re helping to change that. Made of 97% to 100% recycled fishing nets, our Untangled collection of sustainable frames includes Core Performance and Beach Lifestyle options that are as good for fishing as they are for the ocean.

Long story short, instead of random plastic frames they’re using repurposed plastic recovered from the ocean. These sunglasses aren’t saving all the whales or sea turtles. Costa and Bureo aren’t salvaging anything close to 640,000 tons of nets and garbage. By purchasing these premium shades, you don’t automatically become a better person.

But they’re great sunglasses that  are doing something.

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Fly Fishing towards the Illogical

This time I wasn’t simply fishing. I found myself explaining why  I was doing what I was doing. Not how to cast. Not why a dry fly. Why. The reason why I was fishing. For someone who writes and talks about that very subject three times a week,  and who has been doing so for nearly six years, I found it surprisingly difficult in the moment.

He’s astute. So I shouldn’t have been surprised that he was asking such questions. Furthermore, he’s well aware there are bigger fish in more accessible locations. But I had driven him two hours away and lead him four miles into the woods for these fish. Smallish fish; and small fish manifesting a rare discerning palette. And I had just told him that I was about to scale a cliff and drop down into a cave to make an attempt at one of these picky, diminutive brook trout.

Again, I can’t blame him for asking the obvious question. My fly fishing has the tendency to dangerously veer towards the illogical.

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Podcast Ep. 148: Late Summer Fly Fishing Whatnot

So, how did you spend your summer break?

To be fair, most of September is still summer. And there is a lot of great fly fishing to be hand well into the fall. But the natural flow of the seasons means there is a hinge between the 8th and 9th months in the calendar.

This week I discuss where I’ve been fishing and what I’ve been using. I also talk about my recent reading, listening, and social media habits. I’d be interested to hear what you’ve been up to, too.

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

This episode of The Casting Across Fly Fishing Podcast is brought to you by MANSCAPED. Use the code CASTING at checkout for 20% off your entire order and free worldwide shipping.

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Fly Fishing Gear: When Bigger is Better

This spring I bought a new pair of running shoes. Unbeknownst to me, they’re considered “maximalist.” Instead of the stripped-down and barely there shoes we’ve grown accustomed to see on the feet of marathoners, this trend overbuilds a number of shoe components. While still lightweight, these shoes provide a ridiculous amount of support and cushion. But they look, feel, and perform very different from a minimalist running shoe. For some people, this alternative footwear choice might be the perfect way to go.

The same is true when it comes to fly fishing gear.

By and large, fly fishing, running, and all outdoor equipment has gravitated to smaller and lighter over the past few decades. Participants push themselves further and further. Technology, usually borrowed from sectors that depend on innovation, continues to open  doors and create options. As a result, we’re able to pack more or move with less encumbrances. No one argues that those are both good things.

However, sometimes less isn’t more. Sometimes you need a little more bulk, a little more capacity a little more substance. Thankfully, there are some options that fit those criteria out there. Here’s three big items that I think are worth considering:

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Fish Together for More Fish

From time to time I like fishing alongside a friend. Being in the woods and on the water is often pursued for the purpose of solitude. But there are plenty of reasons for being within earshot of another human being that you happen to know.

Yes, you get camaraderie and all of the good things that accompany shared angling experiences. There are also reasons why you might want to not be alone, even if you want to be alone. You can also problem solve with twice the efficiency. Pragmatism might not be your first reason for fly fishing with a companion, but it should be something you capitalize on.

At the simplest level it looks like this: “How about you fish a dry and I fish a nymph?”

An arrangement like that allows a team of people to ascertain what fish are interested in eating. If angler A has more success than angler B, B can snip off his fly and follow A’s lead. With even the most rudimentary and limited communication an incredible amount of information can be relayed. The trial and error of depth, color, and speed can be accomplished twice as quickly.

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