Trout & Feather: March

Do you enjoy the game “Would You Rather”? A hypothetical scenario is given, and you must choose between two, often quite different options. Here’s a good fly fishing would you rather:

Would you rather only have weighted streamers or weightless streamers in your fly box?

Maybe you answered right away. But maybe you see why this is a bit of a tricky question. There are great reasons to fish both light and heavy streamers. Each has a very long pro list, and only a few cons. However, the game forces you to pick just one.

My pick?

If I have to?

Find out this month in my contribution to Trout & Feather.

But before you do that, be sure to check out the two videos I’ve included in today’s post. First, there is a great breakdown of the major styles of vises. Second, a quick look at a common strike indicator.

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

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The Fly Fishing Show 2021: In Your Home

Have you heard of Zoom Fatigue? It is a COVID-era phenomenon that explains how people are getting quickly burned out by meetings that occur in little boxes on their computer screen. Having participated in countless Zoom meetings, seminars, and even an 8 hour a day/4 day long class  – I get it.

But I’ve also quickly hopped onto calls where I’m truly looking forward to having a conversation. I’ve logged on well before Trout Unlimited meetings have started. My fly tying YouTube consumption certainly hasn’t waned in the slightest. For me, and for a lot of other people out there, the fatigue is more about the content than the medium.

Quality fly fishing content snaps me out of screen-based malaise.

This week The Fly Fishing Show announced a slate of virtual classes. Fourteen different live sessions will be available, starting on March 19th and running through April 30th. There are courses aimed at beginners and experts, with topics spanning the spectrum of fly fishing. Fly selection, angling photography, casting, and nymphing tactics are just a few of the classes that are available (check out the full lineup below).

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Podcast Ep. 122: Streamers Don’t Need Weight

Don’t burn me at the angling stake for the title of this episode!

(If anything, you’ll find that I’m guilty of being slightly misleading.)

In a day and age where big, heavy, articulated streamers get a lot of publicity, it is important to remember that there are similar flies that accomplish  slightly different tasks. There are a number of fish and fishing situations that benefit from or necessitate using weightless streamers.

Today I walk through four main reasons why you should have some bead-less and cone-less baitfish imitations in your fly box.

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

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Catastrophic Creek Circumstances: Curse? Coincidence?

I don’t think that the stretch of stream was cursed, per se.

If I had to address the phenomenon that I experienced while fishing along this particular section I might use the term coincidental. But I’d say it with a wince and sideways glance. So, not a curse: just a really unfortunate set of circumstances that just so happened to have some cartographic similarities.

What happened? Nothing too dangerous. I did lock my keys in the car, lose the felt off my waders, tear a gash in the side of a book, get stalked by two mountain creatures, and endure a handful of other less-than-desirable moments. It is hardly the Bermuda Triangle. But it is suspicious.

Why did I keep going back? That is a good question. But there is a simple answer:

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VIDEO: Redington Landing Pad

There are a lot of ways to store waders and boots in the back of your car. Some prioritize accessibility, while others cater to ventilation.

There are many approaches to getting in to and out of your waders and boots. All of the good ones protect your gear, but most leave you with a wet mat in the back of your car.

The Landing Pad from Redington is an inexpensive storage and changing solution that doesn’t force anglers to compromise. Not only does it provide  nearly 8 square feet of surface area for your to stand on while pulling your waders on or hopping back into your shoes, but it serves as a waterproof barrier between your gear and everything else in your car.

Sometimes a simple piece of gear will make your trips to the water easier. I’m confident this one fits the bill. Check out my short video review, along with a couple of pictures, of the Landing Pad below:

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Podcast Ep. 121: 5 or 6? The Weight Debate

A fly fishing debate as old as the rivers themselves: Which weight should you fish if you want the quintessential trout fly rod?

First of all, there is no right answer. That doesn’t stop me from trying to answer, though.

I go through a handful of categories and considerations that lead me to answer this question. I suggest that you listen, think through each of the situations/scenarios I discuss, and then come to your own conclusion.

And, of course, there is nothing keeping you from buying (at least) one of each…

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

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Getting the Value Out of Your New Fly Rod

So, you’ve just purchased a brand new fly rod. Congratulations!

You’re probably holding the tube right now. It feels good, doesn’t it? But go ahead, open it up. Take the butt section out of the sock. Remove the plastic from the cork. Okay, now you can’t return it. Maybe that is for the best. Because right about now the reality that you’ve paid five hundred dollars for a graphite fishing pole is setting in.

Oh I’m not judging you. In fact, I’m a little jealous. But this isn’t about feelings or emotions or anything qualitative like that. We’re going to engage in a little cost analysis. Nothing complicated, mind you. No spreadsheets or graphs. No fancy words like amortization or… well, I don’t know a whole lot of fancy money-words.

The purpose of this conversation is to establish when your fly rod has paid for itself. That might sound awfully un-fly fishy. Not romantic at all. Still, if you need to justify this (or the next) purchase you need to be an informed consumer. You need to realize what that money is actually going towards. Ready? Get out your graph paper and slide rule. The following guide will explain how to know that every penny of that $500 was well spent:

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Grabbing the Right Forceps for Fly Fishing

Forceps or pliers should be found on every angler on the water. They cut line, crimp barbs, adjust split shot, untangle knots, tighten knots… and release fish.

It is a plus that you can get functional forceps for under $5. I’ve owned plenty of $5 forceps over the years, and many of them have served me well. At the same time, you can get some really good forceps for between $15 and $25. Those extra few dollars will not only often get  you better performance, but it will probably buy you a couple of helpful features.

Below are over five considerations worth thinking about as you browse the fly shop – either online or in person. Chances are that any pair you pick up will work. But if you take a few minutes, you might be able to find that almost-perfect pair of forceps or pliers for your fly fishing:

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Podcast, Ep. 120: Fly Fishing Accusations, XII

One of the biggest drawbacks to the last year has been the significant reduction in organic conversation. Sure, there are still opportunities to get together. It just isn’t as easy.

However, I’ve had an uptick in online interaction with listeners and readers of Casting Across. I’m always happy to get messages, and I do my best to respond in kind.

As I have done since the beginning months of the podcast, I’m taking this “10th” episode to read and interact with some emails. I touch on flies, forbearers, and faith.

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

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Fly Fishing Controversies: A Media Statement

“Hey Matthew, what do you think about…”

I’d be lying if I said that my inbox was inundated with questions about my opinion on various things in the fly fishing community.  But it does happen. Moreover, it happens quite often when hanging out with angling acquaintances.

Between Casting Across and my own general interest, I’ve made it a habit to read, watch, and listen to a lot of what goes on in and around fly fishing. There is so much good. There are so many positive things. I’d wager that an overwhelming number of fly fishers just love to grab their rod and go catch a few fish… and that is the sum of their experience. So I keep Casting Across pretty upbeat. Even when I am critical, I try to keep the door open for education or redemption.

Still, there are a handful of controversial topics. These days they pop up online for mass consumption. But they’re not any different than what was discussed at the fly shop counter or lodge bar years ago.

Today I’m quickly commenting on 8 current hot topics within fly fishing. I’m not the authority, but I do have a few thoughts:

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