Trout & Feather: October

Can you spot the steelhead in the image above? There are three fish, each over 20 inches…

There is a certain rush in the fall when the days get cooler, the leaves change, and 20 pound trout begin to show up where there was once only suckers and smallmouth. There is a culture, an industry, and a mythos that surrounds the lake run species from the UP of Michigan to New York State.

Often, the perception is that Lake Erie or Lake Michigan steelhead fishing means combat angling. That the only way to do it is to stand shoulder to shoulder, dodging weighted trebles and discarded egg cups. It can get that way. But it doesn’t have to be that way. It can be solitary. Yet it takes work. And then, of course, you have to trick animals that have been bombarded with flies, lures, and bait – and who have very little interest in actually eating – to get on the end of your line.

I haven’t perfected the Great Lakes steelhead game, but I think I’ve done it enough to offer up some principles that can make for a great day on the water.

That is an excerpt from Great Lakes Steel (aka, Adfluvial Rainbows), the article I wrote for Trout & Feather in October.

Also I share two great fly tying videos from Trout & Feather. If you have the materials, you’ll be able to tie both very quickly. Plus, you’ll learn a lot about the techniques that underpin both patterns.

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

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Fly Line Loop-to-Loop: Not All Are Equal

If you fish enough to wear out a fly line over the course of a season, you should absolutely tie a leader to your fly line with a nail knot. The result is a smooth connection that will not only slide through your guides with ease, but also facilitate the best transfer of energy. In other words, casts and presentations will be optimal because there is no hinge point between your line, leader, and fly.

However, if your fly lines last a few seasons or are used in a variety of situations, you’re better off with a loop-to-loop connection. These systems allow for replacing leaders, adding poly-leaders, and making quick  crisis management. If you’re prepared, fishing with “loops” means  no complex knots while on the stream.  All you have to do is thread a leader through two small loops and you’re ready to fish.

But not all loops are created equal. A bad loop will effect your cast and/or presentation. A bad loop will get hung up in your guides, leading to lost fish or damaged equipment. A good loop is a simple and great thing.

Also, I think this is important to mention: With minimal effort you can do better than tying your line and leader together with an overhand knot. I’ve seen it countless times. And I’ve heard the justification of “it’s easy and it works.” But your casting and fishing will benefit from a little extra work. Really, all you need is a few minutes and the knowledge of a simple knot.

Whether you are buying a new line or making a repair, it is worth considering how you’re going to attach your leader. Here are my thoughts on four common loop-to-loop methods:

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Podcast Ep. 101: Fly Fishing Accusations, X

Why have more than one pair of sunglasses?

Why spend a lot of time creating loop-to-loop line/leader connections?

Why listen to anything I say?

I answer those questions, and a few more, on this week’s podcast.

Thanks for listening and for subscribing. I always appreciate getting feedback, and have a lot of fun interacting with emails, comments, and social media chirps. Having that back-and-forth is a great aspect to Casting Across, and one of my favorite things about being a part of the fly fishing community. If you have a question or a potential topic for the podcast, don’t hesitate to reach out.

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

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Rusty Flybox: Steelhead

Okay, okay, okay. Lake-run rainbow trout. There. I said it. Now, on to the article:

When I lived in the Mid-Atlantic, fall meant trips up to the shores of Lake Erie. After my first time up, it became one of my favorite annual pilgrimages. The fish are great. But there is so much more to it. I won’t quite call it a “phenomenon,” but it is a pretty cool situation.

Today I have three posts from the Casting Across archives, all focused on steelhead:

  • A thumbnail sketch of fishing Lake Erie tributaries.
  • A story about a death in the family, a new vehicle, and a big fish.
  • A retelling of my first trip fishing  for steelhead.

Check out all three articles, along with a few more related links, below.

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Quasi-Ironic Trout

After hundreds of casts, dozens of holes, and double-digit miles, I caught the best trout right next to the parking lot. Add to all that the fact that I had no business being ready to fish. Why did it happen the way that it did?

I don’t know. But I’ve caught enough fish in quasi-ironic circumstances like this to just be content.

What do I mean by “quasi-ironic circumstances like this”? Well, note the hyperbole in the first sentence of the article. What I was trying to communicate was that I had been fishing all day. A lot. Miles and miles and hours and hours into the wilderness of New England, and I had caught a handful of decent fish. I was content: bright, sizeable brook trout had come to hand earlier in the day. It was a great way to spend an unseasonably warm fall morning.

The fish weren’t coming that easily. After a summer of fast and furious dry fly action, a few cold snaps will bring you back to angling reality. Trout are trout. Even small stream mountain brook trout are trout (char, but… you know). They have a biological flowchart which dictates when they’ll rise to dry flies. Water temperature, flow rate, sunlight, and a host of other variables have much more bearing on these fish than my ability to pick the right fly. Plus, I have to pick the right fly. Then place it in the right place.

Stated like that, fly fishing is simple. But it isn’t always easy.

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Podcast Ep. 100: Special Guests for #100

100 episodes.

That is a lot of my voice.

So, this week I have a few special guests that join me on the podcast. All three have been fishing for their entire life, and I think that you’ll appreciate their perspectives. I can honestly say that they keep it simple, keep it real, and keep it fun.

Also, I wanted to convey a big thank you to all who listen. Thanks for making these 25 minutes part of your week. I truly appreciate it!

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

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Fish Live Under Things (Now, How to Get There?)

Some fish are hard to catch because they are spooky. Others are just too far away. Others still have a chronic case of lockjaw. Then, there are fish that are perfectly willing to see and take your fly… you just can’t get to them. Because they’re under things.

Rocks. Logs. Culverts. Rhododendron tunnels. If there is water, these are prime places for fish like trout to set up shop. They get all the benefits of running water and a steady stream of food, plus they don’t have to worry about overhead predators.

This is a problem for anglers, as we are overhead predators.

How do you get a fly into the tightest spots? Which presentations, casts, and approaches work the best? There are some options, and some are much better than others. Special situations call for unique techniques. Whether it is a typical scene on a mountain stream or an isolated spot on a big river, these are challenges you want to take on. These are fish you want to try to catch.

Here are four ways you get get in underneath, from least to most efficient/effective:

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NEW: Fly Fishing Books

Whether they contain classic short stories, pages of fly  diagrams,  or detailed descriptions of where to find trout, fly fishing books  have  been a part of the culture for centuries. As long as anglers have  been angling, they have returned from the water to put thoughts down on paper.

For five years, I’ve enjoyed sharing some of my favorite fly fishing books on Casting Across. Through various articles, I’ve passed along dozens of very different works that I think you’ll enjoy. Recently, I’ve compiled all of the book reviews on a new page on the  website called Fly Fishing Books. It will join the other list-based pages, such as Small Stream Fly Rods and Conversations & Reviews. As I share more books, they’ll make it onto that page. I hope it will be a helpful resource. More than that, I hope it will encourage you to check out a rich part of fly fishing culture.

Take a look at my quick intro video, and then check out the new part of the site, below:

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Podcast Ep. 99: Why You Should Fish Manchester, VT

Where can you go to get some fly fishing history, beautiful scenery, fun for the whole family… and a few trout?

Nestled in the bottom left corner of Vermont sits the little town of Manchester. Orvis is there. The American Museum of Fly Fishing is there. They’re there because the Battenkill River is there.

While the area isn’t going to offer the kind of fly fishing that is going to blow you away, the total package is absolutely worth it. If you find yourself wanting to spend a long weekend in the region, you’ll not be disappointed.

Hear more about Manchester, and why you should fish there, in this week’s podcast.

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

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When to Stop Fishing

This was probably my last New England brook trout of the season. The conditions were right on an unseasonably fall weekend and I got out after them. The water was warm and the fish were willing to play ball.

I caught almost every one out of deep, slow water. I avoided riffles and runs – both when casting and wading. It was a matter of preference, but it was a preference that was based upon sensitivity to what might be happening in those spots. The brookies weren’t spawning in that creek. I am virtually sure of it. However, I wanted to provide a buffer in the chance that I was wrong. So I targeted certain fish in certain spots.

And I’m not conflicted at all.

It isn’t as though I’m flippant. These brook trout matter to me. Their population and their well being is important. I did my due diligence even before I thought about which flies to use. I did my research before I left and while I was on the water. I have a few decades of experience to lean on when it comes to figuring out what fish are doing. So, at least for that day, I kept fishing.

When should you stop fishing? Here are three things to consider:

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