Podcast Ep. 106: A Fly Fishing Cornucopia

‘Tis the week of Thanksgiving. Which means all of the food and fun of Christmas without the stressful shopping, wrapping paper, and cold(er) weather. And, if you play your cards right you might get to sneak a little bit of fishing in.

On this episode of the podcast, I delve into a few topics:

  • Why check out holiday fly fishing gift guides?
  • Do you need to break the bank on your next gear purchase?
  • How can I start a holiday angling tradition?
  • What is a good way to prospect for fish at the end of November?

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

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Throwback Gear Review: St. Croix Avid

Fly fishing gear is a big part of Casting Across. I’ve always enjoyed the aesthetics, the marketing, and, most importantly, the function of fly fishing gear. Consequently, I’ll review new products on the site from time to time. But appreciating fly fishing gear shouldn’t only be about  the latest model or newest technology. The things that you’ve fished with for years – for decades ought to be celebrated as well.

It is in that spirit that I put together this gear review. Although some products are old or even out of production, their value compounds with use, experience, and familiarity. We should enjoy what we use when we fly fish, especially if we’ve enjoyed it for a long time.

I had been fly fishing two times. On the first outing, I broke the top section of my department store fly rod in half. On the second outing, I realized that it’s identical replacement was a little  long and cumbersome for the densely vegetated stream I was fishing. Like a seasoned angler, I set my sights on an upgrade.

Being a teenager at the time, it took some time to save. This meant I had time to shop. I flipped through Cabela’s, Bass Pro, and local fly shop catalogs every night. Price was my first criteria. Length and weight were second-tier issues. Out of youthful ignorance, I wasn’t concerned with the label on the blank one bit. The price was dictated by my patience. Impatience and saving $25 a week  put my budget around $200. Coming from a conventional tackle  mindset of  “lighter is better,” I zoned in on 3- and 4-weights. To address the canopied creeks in the area, I wanted something between 7′-8′.

The 7′, 3-weight St. Croix Avid was ordered over the phone and bought sight unseen. To this day, my first fly rod was the only purchase I’ve made in this manner. But I can confidently say that it worked out pretty well.

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Club in Their House: Tying Flies Online with Students

Beau, demonstrating tying technique for his middle school students.

Whether or not you agree with measures taken to handle COVID-19, it is clear that daily routines of students have been significantly affected. Depending upon age and location, children and teenagers may very well be spending the bulk of their day in front of a screen. While this impacts reading, writing, and arithmetic, there are a whole host of other parts of school that have been altered. Sports, field trips, and clubs generally face stricter regulations than the core subjects. Often, this means they’re eliminated.

Kids bear the brunt, but they can’t do a whole lot about it. Who can do something about it is invested teachers. Teachers like Beau Davies.

Beau teaches and coaches at a middle school outside of Denver. “It is a great school with a lot for the kids to do. Usually, we’re a really club-heavy school. Missing that has been tough. For the kids, but for the teachers as well.”

When he’s not teaching, coaching, or spending time with his family, Beau also likes to fly fish. It is a passion that he shares in the classroom. During the shift to online learning, he’s not only continued to talk about fishing but has invited his students to get involved. “To give them something to do we decided to get some virtual clubs going. It just made sense to give a fly tying club a shot.”

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Podcast Ep. 105: Semi-Perilous Wildlife Encounters

Who doesn’t like to see some wildlife when they’re out fly fishing? Majestic elk, brilliant songbirds, and delicate butterflies add a little something to your angling.

But there is a whole host of other critters that are less than pleasant to encounter. Some are downright awful.

In this episode of the podcast, I recount a few harrowing tales of my own. I also offer up a few words of caution. And while I strongly advocate a “live and let live policy,” I also encourage some of these varmints to do their living somewhere else.

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

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Redington Zero: A Little Goes a Long Way

There are some truly incredible fly rods on the market today. Modern technology, industry competition, and demanding anglers have pushed the envelope on what can be done with graphite and fiberglass. 12-weights  perform while maintaining all-day comfort. Multi-piece pack rods  cast beautifully. Across the board, fly fishers have access to some great tools across the price spectrum.

One area where resources and innovation have been making great strides is in the creation of small stream rods. 1- to 4-weights are being built as true casting implements. Furthermore, they are available in slow and fast actions; short and long lengths. Certain manufacturers are able to meet all of these criteria and produce a rod that weighs just a little bit more than the spool of line that it is meant to cast.

That total package – “castability,” flex profile, light feel – is what gets anglers so excited about their new rod. Of course, you can’t just fish with a rod and line. A reel is necessary. Even when the majority of fish get played on the line and stripped in, you need a reel. Even the smallest reels have some bulk to them. While a five-ounce reel was considered scant years ago, these days it causes  significant balance issues  with  ultralight rods. Bad balance doesn’t just mean you lose that light feel. A reelseat/butt heavy rod is less efficient when casting.

While I own a number of reels I enjoy on my 1- to 4-weights, the Redington Zero is my go-to for all of my delicate rods.

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The Best Time to Book Your Fishing Trip

Time gets away from us. Sometimes it is important things. Family, work, and necessary home projects need our attention. Getting away for a day or a weekend is important, too. And, if we’re honest, a  few more efficient weekends at home could probably free up at least a day to get away guilt-free.

For most people, fishing season isn’t the best time to make plans to  get away for a guided trip or a stay at a lodge. Between the aforementioned commitments, the expense, and a whole host of other factors it is difficult to be impulsive. The best time to plan is probably right now. The off season. The time when you want to fish the most. The time when you might be looking back on the past few months thinking about that trip you wish you would have taken.

Here are four reasons why you should consider planning (or even booking) next season’s fly fishing excursion now:

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Podcast Ep. 104: Chill in the Air, Trout in the Water

In many places the temperature is dropping. Still, trout are feeding.

If you’re there, you can enjoy some spectacular cold weather fly fishing.

In this episode I talk about a few tactics for finding fish in the colder months. The approaches aren’t revolutionary, but for many of us any kind of change takes some significant effort. I mention locations, flies, and other gear that I use when I’m diagnosing a river when it is chilly out.

Also, I share how I handle iced-over guides and make a recommendation on a nymph rod that punches above it’s price point.

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

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3 Easy Steps for Fly Rod Care

If you own a bamboo fly rod, you’ve probably spent a good amount of time reading various approaches to maintenance. The nature of the grass blanks and metal ferrules  leads to some necessary, extra attention.

If you own graphite or fiberglass fly rods, hopefully you’ve also put some effort into keeping your fishing gear clean. For decades, these mass-manufactured rods have been incredibly well built and durable. You might think that your $200 4-weight doesn’t need to be fussed over. But if your favorite rod is $900? Or if you absolutely love that $200 rod? A few minutes after a long trip or following the season can prolong its life and aesthetics.

Here are three areas you should focus on as you take care of your graphite or fiberglass fly rod. Nothing is difficult, time consuming, or that profound. But if you’re honest with yourself, simplicity or brevity doesn’t mean you always do those things. Right?

Take a look:

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Even After Tomorrow, Trout Will Still Rise

“No one knows what tomorrow holds.”

…but the sun is going to rise. There will be a long line at the popular coffee shop. Deadlines at work and school will come and go. Children will still require bedtime routines, and the same sitcom reruns will minister to worn-out parents. We know a lot of what that tomorrow holds.

And trout will still rise.

Fish don’t care much about politics. Neither do they pay attention to the latest academic journals, the stock market, or the obituaries. If it doesn’t have to do with survival today they’re not too interested. Without social media to burden them, they’re just occupied with picking out acceptable morsels from an endless barrage of potential foodstuffs. When the mood strikes them they look up. Why? It is in their nature. That is how they, along with the river they are swimming in and the bugs they are consuming, were designed.

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Podcast Ep. 103: Fly Fishing Writing, Speaking, & Voting

This podcast episode is really a 4-in-1. And you get to listen to it at your normal price – I guarantee it.

First: 5 years of Casting Across! I talk a little bit about why and how the website came to be.

Second: I explain why people are the greatest benefit I’ve received through my writing and speaking.

Third: Want a controversial take? Check out the piece I read.

Fourth: Vote! I don’t know if you have heard, but there is an election coming up.

As always, I appreciate you listening. I realize the podcast changes from week to week. Personally, that keeps it interesting to do!

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

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