Art of Appreciation

There are many talented fly fishing artists out there. I am always impressed at the diversity represented in the depictions of something as simple as a brook trout flank. Light spots on a dark background. Orange bellies and white tipped fins. Vermiculated backs leading to square tails. But they are presented using different media, different techniques, and different visions. One fish, many interpretations.

Trout in particular, but fish in general, inspire people to depict them in some way, shape, or form. There were cave paintings of fish. There are fish adorning the walls of the great art museums of the world.  There are countless Instagram accounts featuring digital and physical angling artwork. Whatever the next thing might be, fish will be in it because fish demand portrayal. Their color, their shape, and their lines move our hands and minds.

Even someone like me, with a modicum of talent, can put something halfway presentable together.

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National Parks: Fish Your Water

Less than a decade after he accepted Robert E, Lee’s surrender at Appomatox, Ulysses S. Grant signed a law making Yellowstone the first national park in the United States. In the following decades, more landmarks and wild places were protected by the federal government. In 1916, Woodrow Wilson signed the National Park Organic Service Act. With  that action, the USA now had an  agency that would “promote and regulate the use of the Federal areas known as national parks, monuments, and reservations hereinafter specified by such means and measures as conform to the fundamental purpose of the said parks, monuments, and reservations, which purpose is to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.”

For fly fishers, it is good that “the wild life therein”  includes fish.

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Podcast Ep. 145: Mid-Season Maintenance

Most fly fishers do a decent enough job of looking over, cleaning, and organizing their gear before the season starts. But if you have been fishing hard (or intermittantly) there are a few things that you should take a look at before you head into the fall.

Today, I share three different things that I look  at throughout the season, with a special emphasis as summer wraps up. Along with these tips, I discuss a few of my product and technique preferences.

Maintenance isn’t about being obsessive. It is about keeping your gear from failing and potentially keeping a fish from escaping.

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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Trout & Feather: August ’21

If you’ve been fly fishing for any amount of time, I hope you’ve come to the realization that most outings aren’t going to look like the centerfold of Gray’s Sporting Journal. There’s a few reasons for this:

  • the fish
  • the river
  • and you

Let’s start with you. Never, ever do you fantasize about untangling the nymph rig that has somehow spiderwebbed itself into a cat’s cradle. Yet there you are. You had a few long, picturesque casts. But the last one had a little something off. Maybe it was your wrist. Maybe you were distracted by a fish rising upstream. Maybe your phone buzzed in your front wader pocket. Regardless, you’re no longer shadow casting like Brad Pitt. You’re spending four times as long unweaving your bespoke furled leader as you would if you’d just admit defeat and tie on the streamer you’ll end up using.

There is a link to the rest of the post, entitled Fish Ugly after the jump.

But before you do that, be sure to check out the two videos I’ve included in today’s post. Tim of Trout & Feather talks Euro Nymphing in both: the why, the how, and the what. They’re definitely worth the watch!

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

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Fly Fishing Museums

Fly fishing is treasured by so many because it is a multifaceted activity. On one hand, it is a solitary pursuit. Yet it always takes place within some sort of community. Today’s contemporaries follow old paths walked by countless anglers that have come and fished before. Some were remarkable because of their contributions in conservation, fishing technique, or ability to capture the sport through art.

Across the country, fly fishing museums celebrate the individuals and communities that have contributed to regional or global angling.

These museums are often situated only a cast’s-length from renowned water. There might be a couple of simple exhibits or room after room of collections. Dedicated volunteers labor to preserve and present the stories that give items value. Like fly fishing as a whole, these centers are all relatively humble. However, each represents the unique community and waters that ties it all together.

For the person visiting a destination river, a museum offers up an excellent  opportunity to better get a sense of place. For the local angler, museums can be hubs for social gatherings, fly tying sessions, or conservation fundraisers. Whether stopping in to peek around or joining through membership, even the solitary fly fisher will appreciate the history and community featured in these museums.

Here is a listing of fly fishing museums in the United States:

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Podcast Ep. 144: Be An Amateur Angling Historian

Latest and greatest had to start somewhere. Often, that place had a lot going for it too.

Having a preliminary knowledge of the history of fly fishing might pay off in really good fishing. More often than not, the reward is going to be in what you learn and how that impacts your time on the water… regardless of if you’re catching fish or not.

Today I share three reasons why digging into the history of fly fishing will be beneficial, and three great ways to get started.

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

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Fly Fishing & Fouling Fowl

I don’t want to ever make an excuse for a seagull. However, the fly line was transparent.

Casting 60 to 70 feet of line into the surf becomes a little monotonous. But it is monotonous in a good way. When you get into a rythm, the double hauling becomes effortless. The only interruptions are strikes from striped bass; which are delightful, as far as interruptions go. Good, long casting does require a bliders-on focus. That is why it is good to stop, intentionally assess your surroundings, and then start back up again.

The seagull (referenced earlier) was a part of my surroundings that unintentionally became a significant part of my focus. Gliding along at a pretty good clip, it ran into the belly of my sailing fly line. The density and force of the shooting 9-weight line was too much for the shorebird to overcome. Its flight path took a sharp arc downwards into the calm ocean below. Well, it was calm before the surprised bird frantically attempted to regain its bearings and dignity.

Don’t worry. The seagull was fine. If anything, that little ordeal with my 9-weight line was better for it than eating McDonald’s french fries and cigarette butts. As seagull do.

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5 Things to Think When Netting Fish

Fooling fish gets a lot of press. In the grand scheme of angling, it is  definitely the most complex variable in the entire system. Still, once you manage to trick a fish and fight it in you better know how to seal the deal.

While many situations and species don’t call for the use of a net, this piece of gear is still ubiquotous. Trout anglers in particular rely on a little help landing fiesty fish on light tippets. Nets save flies, help release fish quicker, and complete the entire pursuit of your quarry.

Just like everything else in fishing and in life, it isn’t safe to assume that everyone knows how to perfectly employ a net. Here are five things worth doing, not doing, and knowing when reaching for a fishing net:

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Podcast Ep. 143: Head to Toe Summer Fly Fishing

There is something special about wet wading in the warmest months of the year. It is a pretty unencumbered and carefree way to cast flies to fish.

That being said, there are some choices that you’ll have to make about what you wear. In this episode, I talk about everything that you’ll need to wear from your head to your feet. I give some of my suggestions on what I’ve found to be helpful. More importantly, I think that this discussion will get you thinking about what you take on the water: is it because it works, or because it is just the way you’ve always done it?

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

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Rusty Flybox: People

Try as you might, you’re not going to fly fish without running into people every now and again.

We all like solitude. Getting out into the river often provides that. But if we all like solitude and we all like rivers… well, I think you see the conundrum that we’ve found ourselves wading in.

Interactions can be bad. Let’s not kid ourselves. But they can also be good. Very good, even. In fact, there is a lot we can learn about fishing, people, and ourselves from the momentary interactions that we experience while in the woods. Some of my most memorable angling recollections include human contact.

Below are three stories of people. They’re all different, but they’re all real. I’m sure that you’ll be able to draw your own similar parallels to times you’ve bumped into other people looking for solitude. Click on the images for the full articles:

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