VIDEO: Trail Running X Fly Fishing

While fly fishing might be my favorite way to enjoy the outdoors, it is hardly the only way I spend time in nature. Camping, hunting, and paddling are all fun on their own; but I also find ways to mix fishing into each of them.

My favorite combo has to be fly fishing and trail running. Why? Aside from the great exercise, I’m able to get farther into remote locations faster.

Even if you aren’t going to be adding a 10k on the front and back end of your day on the water, what I’ve learned in packing for trail running will undoubtedly help you as you consider moving more efficiently to your fishing spot. Carrying less, choosing smarter, and streamlining gear are essential when running. At the same time, they’re certainly beneficial for all backcountry anglers.

Check out a quick synopsis of the what, why, and how of gear and packing for trail running and fly fishing in the video below:

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Podcast Ep. 301: Fly Fishing Accusations, 30

Well, I’m breaking with tradition for this one. I’m not calling it “Fly Fishing Accusations XXX.”

That said, there are some interesting segments in this episode. I get a little fired up about how people feel the need to police the fishing gear designed to solve problems. I also circle back to fallfish, tenkara, and remote fishing ethics. Standard fare, if you’ve been around here long enough.

As always, thanks for listening and writing in!

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

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Casting Across’ Greatest Hits

Looking back on 300 podcast episodes, I am not surprised at which  shows saw the most downloads. Everything is right in line with the kind of content that people love to ingest. These are, according to you, the “greatest hits” of Casting Across:

  • 3 Steps for Introducing Fly Fishing If Casting Across does one thing well, I hope it is to encourage people to share their passion for creation and fly fishing with others. This episode shares three no-nonsense ways of going about that worthy endeavor.
  • 5 Strike Indicators A classic gear selection episode with a perfect bit of minutiae thrown in for good measure. The indicator section of the fly shop can be overwhelming. I walk through some pros and cons of different options.
  • 7 Dry Fly Prep Essentials This winter podcast  is all about redeeming the time. Even though bugs weren’t buzzing around when it was released, it (or the anticipation of good weather) sparked a lot of interest.

Also, I had way too much fun creating an AI image for this post. Check out my favorite at the end.

Whether you heard them the first time around or not, I suggest you add them to your queue. Here they are, in  an easy click and listen format:

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Simple Versatility from Tenkara USA

Small stream anglers were some of the earliest western adopters of the equipment and techniques associated with tenkara. Collapsible rods and minimal gear fit right into the methods of those who like to move light and quick into remote places.

Tenkara USA was on the cutting edge of introducing Japanese fly fishing to Americans. With nearly a dozen rods of varying lengths and flex profiles, they’ve effectively covered any and all species and waters anyone would want to pursue. A few of their models utilize a segment-locking system where the angler can fish with a one or two of the last telescoping pieces still in the handle and butt of the rod.

The Rhodo, one such rod, is a perfect fit for the small stream fly fisher.

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Podcast Ep. 300: The Fly Fisherman’s Wife

300 episodes. That, my friends, is a lot of my digitized voice out there on the internet.

Today I’m breaking free from my rigid, one-note format. I’ve got a guest. In fact, I have the most special of special guests. My wife of 21+ years. Her perspectives on nearly every topic are worth listening to – take it from me. That said, enjoy this podcast.

And it goes without saying at this point: Thank you. Thanks for listening, reading, and being part of Casting Across as I hit this milestone.

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

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Studying Foreign Waters

Recently I spent an afternoon perusing used book stores in a local town. Along with the fatigue associated with bending over, craning my neck, and constantly shifting from reading vertically to horizontally, I noticed something else. There were a lot of intriguing fly fishing books. Twaddle aside, I appreciate and truly enjoy all angling literature. But these days, I’m used to getting titles that, more often than not, simply add something interesting, historical, or novel to my collection.

There is one kind of book that has been a notable exception. For the past few years I have really found a lot of pleasure as I’ve read individuals’ account of fishing their water. Since I’m one person who only has so much time to fish, most of their water is not my water. And because my resources are also limited, most of their water will probably never be my water – even if just for a brief moment. Yet these books have been quite pleasant to find and to read.

Why should you read books about rivers you don’t and may never fish?

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Watch Out: A Fly Fishing Podcast!

Not everyone does podcasts. I get that. And while the Casting Across Fly Fishing Podcast is a big part of what I do on here, there is a reason that written articles get the prime publishing days on the calendar.

Still, I do think the podcast adds something special to the content of Casting Across. Although not everyone taps into a podcast while driving or doing dishes, virtually everyone watches online videos once in a while. With that in mind, you can now “watch” the entire* Casting Across Fly Fishing Podcast back catalog on YouTube.

(*With the exception of one episode that features a soundtrack. You can blame Fleetwood Mac for its not being featured.)

This way, if you’re at your desk you can have a podcast playing in the background. There isn’t any video, so you can have it running while you’re doing any number of productive or time-wasting activities. Feel free to use as needed.

Here’s where you go:

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Podcast, Ep. 299: Judge Not, Fly Fisher

In case you’ve been living under a rock (like a caddis nymph, perhaps), I’m going to be the bearer of bad news and inform you that fly fishers have the reputation of being quite the opinionated group of individuals. And as the maxim states, opinions are like… well, they’re like waders that have been sitting in the trunk too long. We’ve all got them and they have the potential of stinking.

My purpose isn’t to simply offer counter-arguments. It is to point out the unnecessary nature of some of the more prevalent antagonistic perspectives in fly fishing.

Let that last cause sink in for a second: prevalent antagonistic perspectives in fly fishing.

The fact that such things exist is reason enough to talk and think about them for 20 minutes.

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

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A Trout You Won’t Catch (Today)

There are some fish that are very, very hard to catch. Some require the kind of travel and resources that the vast majority of anglers simply cannot muster. Others, for one reason or another, hole up in unreachable locations or behave with extreme wariness. There are plenty of fish that are a struggle to hook, play, and land.

And then there is the Paiute Cutthroat.

The Paiute’s range is in the California mountains, but it isn’t obscenely remote. In fact, the relatively close Pyramid Lake, just across the border in Nevada, is a popular fly fishing destination. The trout themselves aren’t any more discerning than other species. If anything, their high-gradient mountain ecosystem compels them to feed opportunistically.

But you’re not going to catch one today. And here is why:

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VIDEO: So About those New Costa Nose Pads

I’ve been an outspoken devotee of Costa Del Mar’s glass lenses for over a decade.  Needless to say, a few years ago I was excited to try out some of the new frames featuring their latest features. Along with sweat channels and venting, most recent models included adjustable nose pads.

Touting a customizable fit, the flexible rubber piece replaced smaller integrated pads. Reception to the upgrades was overwhelmingly positive. But there have been more than a few complaints about the fit and feel of the new nose pads. Truth be told,  I wasn’t impressed at first. But after playing around with a handful of different frames I found that a great fit is easily achieved.

Check out the quick way to fit Costa’s frames to your face in the video below:

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