Reading the Water Out Loud

You’re not going to catch a fish here.

I said it out loud. There were dozens of people on the beach behind me, but the sound of the waves on the rocks drowned out my voice.

You’ve only got a little time to fish, so why aren’t you going  where you know there’s fish?

Again, I asked myself the question out loud. I didn’t answer audibly (that would be crazy), but I did reel in and walk out towards where I should have gone from the start. It was a longer walk. The rocks were bigger and sharper, and the waves were breaking higher. But it was where two currents were coming together to form a bait-trapping pocket. I was right. And I’m glad I listened to me. Because I caught fish.

We all have a finite time in which we fish. Existentially speaking, that’s a very sobering truth. More practically, we’ve got work and family and daylight to factor in. While you technically have a chance to catch a fish in any water, we all know that some is far superior to others. Certain spots are fishier. Cover, structure, etc. Thus, given these proven variables and limited time… why mess around?

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The Woods Should be a Little Scary

“I just go out there… by myself?”

“Yup. You’ve got your flashlight?”

“Yeah…”

“You can do it, bud. I’ll be right here.”

It was just a quick trip to go to the bathroom. But it was in the woods. And it was dark. And it was the first time he had done anything like that by himself. I was feet away inside the tent. Things like this are good for an eight year-old who’ll be a man sooner than I’d like to admit.

Plus, he wants to be able to do stuff like this. Recently he told me that he’d like our next house to have a lot of land. He wants trails and a pond or a creek. He said that he’d like to go for walks as soon as he wakes up in the morning when everything is still a little dark. He told me that he’d leave a note for us saying he’d be back. A quick trip to go to the bathroom while camping was good. Even if it was a little scary.

The first time I drove into the mountains to go fishing by myself started off in an unremarkable fashion. Interstates and highways, loud hair metal and greasy fast food. Roads I’d traveled numerous times before with friends didn’t feel all that different on a solo outing. But getting out of the car to only hear silence and to only see the settling dust from pulling into the remote parking lot felt different.

It was good. Even if it was a little scary.

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Podcast Ep. 92: Don’t Take Fly Fishing Too Seriously

“I’m in one of the most beautiful places on earth, and I’ve just caught an enormous fish. But I don’t give a crap.”

…at least that is what your face is saying.

That is just one example of how people take fly fishing too seriously.  Unless you are part of the <1% of anglers who depend on fishing to feed their families, I suggest taking a chill pill. In this week’s podcast, I talk about ways in which we all might take our fishing a little too seriously. Why? Because fishing is about fun. And if you’re not having fun why are you doing it?

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

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Trout & Feather: August

Most fly tying revolves around a few basic techniques. And these techniques are essentially all about you revolving materials around a hook. Figure that out, work on the nuance, and you’ll soon be tying and fishing good flies.

So where do you go from good?

Experience comes from trial and error. Feathers that look good on the vise might not perform underwater. Dubbing that feels buggy might trap so much air that it doesn’t sink. Colors might catch your attention… but not the fish’s.

This month I’m sharing three simple patterns from Trout & Feather. The techniques are familiar, but the nuance makes good flies better. Check out the three flies, and why I think you should give tying them a shot, below:

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The Big Trout of Bizarro World

All of the children came rushing into the kitchen. They were abuzz about the the bug they had found. It was big. It looked like an alien. It was dead. Quickly my wife corrected them. It is just the husk. The cicada got rid of this, shook it’s new wings, and flew away. Now there is a cicada shell on the window sill directly above the kitchen sink.

Washing dishes tonight, I started thinking about cicadas and the fish that love them. Giant trout that throw caution to the wind for these big, buzzing mouthfuls. Fish I’ve caught.

My first cicada “hatch” came the year after I moved to Pennsylvania. The fledgling fly fishing internet message boards tracked the bugs as their historic emergence happened across the commonwealth. Valley after valley, creek after creek, the cicadas would appear. Fisheries that usually required midges and tiny cress bugs were now tolerating 3X and size 2 foam flies. Most importantly, big fish were feeding with reckless abandon. The cicadas brought everyone out.

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Podcast Ep. 91: 3 More Fly Fishing “I Wish I Knew Thens”

Trivial mistakes and learning opportunities are a gracious reality of life, aren’t they? With the benefit of time and perspective on our side, we can see where we’ve erred slightly or completely missed the boat. This is true with the big things. It is also true in fly fishing.

A year ago I released a podcast entitled “3 Fly Fishing Things I Wish I Knew Then.” Believe it or not, there are more. In this episode I discuss why the new angler ought to consider some parts of fly fishing that might not be readily apparent. But with the benefit of time and perspective on my side, I can also say that anglers who have been on the stream for a while might need to consider them too. Me included.

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

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Eyes on the Trout Tchotchke

My first key chain came from Cabela’s. It was a Royal Wulff dry fly encased in an oval of resin. It accompanied the two or three keys I needed at the end of high school and beginning of college. It met its untimely demise when  I threw my keys out of frustration after blowing out two tires on a rainy night in Columbia, SC. I replaced it with a tiny red  Swiss Army Knife, complete with Orvis logo on one side.

It wasn’t a fly, but it was fly fishing.

Every sport and hobby has knickknacks. People like little to surround themselves with things that remind them of what they love. For whatever reason, fly fishing has more than most. Perhaps it is the nature of the pursuit. It is equal parts tangible, artistic, and nostalgic. Put those together and you’re going to get stuff. Some of it is worthless junk, others find their way into treasured keepsake status. Add in a little function, such as the ability to attach to keys, and the allure intensifies.

Why?

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VIDEO: How to Choose Your Wading Boots

Wading boots are a lot more than shoes that fit over waders.  The right pair of boots will help you stay safe and keep you comfortable, ensuring more time on the water.

But choosing a wading boot is about more than does it fit. It also goes beyond the kind of sole on the bottom and how much it costs. Companies that make footwear to use in the water have specific purposes behind their designs.  Based upon the kind of fly fishing you do, where you do it, and how long you spend doing it, there are some principles you can use when you’re picking a boot.

In this short video, I walk through three styles of wading footwear. I use all three for various fly fishing situations, and there is a good chance that your angling checks some of the same boxes.

Watch the video, and see some wading boot reviews, below:

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Podcast Ep. 90: Fly Fishing Accusations, IX

90 episodes in, and it is still a lot of fun!

On this installment of the podcast, I interact with three messages from listeners/readers. I discuss Euro rods on small streams, how to find water that is easy to walk or wade in, and a heartfelt response to a memorial article.

As always, if you have any questions, comments, or accusations please don’t hesitate to reach out. Use the comment form on the website or email me: matthew[at]castingacross[dot]com.

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

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Panfish: Sparring Partners for Your Dry Fly Game

1. Fly fishing for panfish is fun.

2. Fly fishing for panfish is a great way to prepare for fly fishing for trout.

These statements are both true, and they are not mutually exclusive. You can fish for bluegill simply for the joy that accompanies fishing for bluegill. And there’s no question about it: it’s joyful. But, you can also parlay some of that time on the water into a proving ground for some intermediate to advanced angling skills. Some hands-on skills require another party – a sparring partner. The best partners always make themselves available.

Panfish are great sparring partners.

Today, I want to talk about one specific exercise where they can help the angler out:

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