Podcast Ep. 126: A Wider World of Fishing Gear

Where do you shop for your fly fishing gear? Which brands do you consider?

Today we have the modern convenience of buying  not just rods and reels, but socks and undies, from fly fishing companies. For some that is a great option. For many, that might not be the best fit (size, preference, and/or budget).

While fly shops should get a good amount of your business, there are plenty of “outside the industry” options for everything besides the core fly fishing gear. Plus, you never know what you’ll find in the camping, automotive, or  exercise section of the store that improves your time in and around the water.

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

read more

Time Flies: 2 Years of The Flybrary Project

Roughly two years ago I received a package from Castaway Customs. Based out of coastal Florida, they specialize in SeaDek fabrication and installation for boats. Basically, they help protect your boat while keeping you safe and comfortable on the water.

I don’t have a boat. But I did request the package.

Inside was a handful of stickers and a gray rectangle the size of a paperback book. The stickers quickly found their way onto the side of a Yeti. They assimilated into the fly fishing collage on the big cooler. The gray rectangle  would need more consideration. It was also a sticker, but it had as much function as it did form. It was a Flybrary.

read more

Fly Fishing’s Most Important Meal of the Day

The last neon lights for about thirty miles  signal the last opportunity for a hot meal for at least a half hour. For years, that gas station was my first stop  out of town and my last stop before getting on the water. Spring creek brown trout, big river small mouth, and mountain brookies; the destinations varied but each one necessitated a large coffee and a breakfast sandwich from Sheetz.

I could have woken up five minutes earlier and had a bowl of cereal. I could have eaten a protein bar from the glovebox. I could have just not eaten anything.

Maybe. But would any of those choices have yielded one more fish? What, if anything, would I have gained? More appropriately, what would I have missed out on?

Generally speaking, you could argue that breakfast is not the most important meal of the day. When it comes to fishing, I believe that oft-quoted maxim is incontrovertibly true.

read more

Podcast Ep. 125: Another Introduction

If you’ve been fly fishing for any length of time, there is a good chance that major life events are bracketed by rivers and trout.

I can certainly say that. And in this episode of the podcast, I do say that.

Although Casting Across has a lot of me in it, I don’t usually get too autobiographical. However, I think there are some pretty valid reasons to share a little bit about myself. I’ll share where I’ve been, how I’ve fished, and what else I do. Because believe it or not: I do more than fishing and writing about fishing.

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

read more

Gear Outside the Angling Aisle

It is important to remember that companies creating gear and clothing for other outdoor activities have a lot to offer the fly fisher. Your interests, your particular needs, or your budget are all good reasons to shop around.

Your local shop and your favorite fly fishing brands should still get the bulk of your business. They’ll certainly be your primary supplier for angling staples. However, there are plenty of pieces of gear that aren’t explicitly fishing-related. If you stop and look in your gear closet or the back of your trunk, you’ll probably notice that some of the things you rely on haven’t come from fly shops.  Some of those things really improve your experience, and by extension, your fishing.

Here are three reviews of products from “outside the fly fishing industry” that I’ve enjoyed on the water:

read more

Gear Outside Fly Fishing

For the devoted fly fisher, it is easy to be incredibly focused on and in fly fishing. Attention is given not only to the pursuit, but also the corresponding media and retail. It is easy to forget that fly fishing is a small part of the greater angling industry.  Other segments, such as freshwater lures and offshore  boats, dwarf annual fly rod and travel revenue. Beyond that, angling is just a fraction of the of outdoor industry.

Hiking, camping, paddling, and countless other recreation opportunities exist. And they aren’t in competition with fly fishing. They often complement and augment an experience on the water. Beyond that, companies creating gear and clothing for other outdoor activities have a lot to offer the fly fisher.

This isn’t meant to detract from fly fishing brands or retailers. For something as specialized as reels, tying equipment, or guided expeditions, you should look within fly fishing. Loyalty and support for shops and companies is good. But these days, many fly shops are carrying other outdoor gear. Fly fishing brands are partnering with outdoor brands outside of the fly fishing industry. There is recognition that consumers, across all demographics, appreciate a diverse  experience in and around the water.

Here are three reasons to explore the greater outdoor industry when looking for gear to take fishing with you:

read more

Podcast Ep. 124: 4 Things for Starting the Season

There are dozens upon dozens of things that would be a good idea to do before you being your fishing season in earnest.

Even if you have been getting out on the water over the winter, now would be an opportune time to take inventory of some of what you have and what you’re doing. On this episode of the podcast, I discuss four things that you might overlook as you prepare for all of the fishing that lies ahead. Two have to do with stuff; two have to do with planning.

You may very well be totally fine to just tie on a fly and get after it. But it might also be good to stop, think, and prep for a few minutes.

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

read more

The Choice Trout

This trout came to hand as the result of a lot of choices.

I chose to do some work to find this fish. There are plenty of times when I just want to catch something. Bass, sunfish, and even trout will fit the bill. And they can be found with relative ease in water bodies all around me. While I’m not above stocked trout by any stretch of the imagination, the decision to find this fish was about one thing: wild.

I chose to research to find this fish. Guidebooks are helpful. The fly shop is a phenomenal resource. Because the authors of the former and the proprietors of the latter are anglers, they’re not going to divulge all their secrets. And while the state knows a lot, they only broadcast that which has a direct tie to tax dollars. Where are fish stocked? Where are fisheries protected? Getting into the nitty-gritty of the conservation data is where the truly interesting information pops up.

read more

3 More Flies

When it comes to fly fishing, I’m a disciple of the school that teaches that fly selection is less important than presentation. There is always a place for matching the hatch. More often than not? Size, silhouette, and drift win the day.

Because of this, I’ve honed in my fishing and my fly box. It is more about how than what. If I’m fishing a mountain stream or if I’m prospecting new water, I fish a Humpy, a Parachute Adams, and a Woolly Bugger over half the time. They’re my confidence flies, but they’re also flexible and adaptable for different waters and insects.

But what about the rest of the time? I haven’t performed any sort of actual data analysis. I do know that there are three other patterns that I will quickly tie on. And as you’ve probably noticed, my first list leaves off a significant type of fly. Of course, if there is hatch or some other seasonal opportunity I’ll carry what needs to be carried.  But more often than not I’ll stick to what I know and what has brought me success.

Check out why I picked those flies, and what you’ll find on the other side of my box, below:

read more

Podcast Ep. 123: When to Kill a Fish

Most people in the world think that fishing results in harvesting. And, across a wide spectrum of concerns, non-catch-and-release anglers are the allies of fly fishers. We’re largely fighting for the same things.

Definitely keep advocating for our fish, our waters, and our environmental concerns. But also keep in mind that we’re part of a culture that is bigger than us. There is a lot we have to offer, but there is a lot that we can learn. Sometimes, that means killing a fish. After that? Then comes filleting it, rolling it in breadcrumbs, and frying it to a golden brown.

Want to hear more about where I’m coming from?

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

read more