Podcast Ep. 86: Spinners, Scum Frogs, & Fly Fishing

I’m pretty confident that my audience is beyond the “fly fishing is the only kind of fly fishing!” thing.

Don’t get me wrong: I love fly fishing. 9 times out of 10, I’m fishing with a fly rod. But that “1” makes for plenty of opportunities. And I can honestly say that all of my time fishing with a fly has made me a better angler when I’m using spinning or baitcasting gear.

In this episode I talk about three ways that fly fishing techniques have honed and improved my time on the water… including using the wonderful lure that is the scum frog.

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

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Long, Light Fly Rods

Earlier this week I wrote about fishing long, light fly rods. Writing it  got me thinking about how incredibly practical and fun something like a 9′ 3-weight is for certain situations in trout fishing. Moreover, these are length/weight models that aren’t as common as shorter lightweight rods. Consequently, they’re not usually discussed.

I wanted to continue to explore ultralight rods that aren’t compact. I paged through the catalogs of all the major fly rod manufactures and compiled a list of all the available models that are rated for a 3-weight and under while also being at least 8′. They range in tapers, actions, and lengths (including some that are 10′!). They also range in price. You can add a rod like this to your arsenal for as low as $149 and as high as $975.

First, here are some questions that I wanted to address:

Aren’t 10’+ rods built for 2- and 3-weight lines common these days? I am aware that there are dozens upon dozens of 11′ and 12′ 3-weights out there today. But they are nymphing rods. They are designed for drifting weighted, subsurface flies and not for general fishing. Can you cast and drift a dry fly with these rods? Sure. But it isn’t what they’re  for.meant to do.

Why is 8′ the cutoff? I admit that it is arbitrary. But in my personal experience, casting and mending really start to improve at the 8′ mark. And in my research, most 2- and 3-weights are shorter than 8′. That makes those longer rods listed a little more unique.

Aren’t 4-weights light, too? Yes. In fact, I am sure that there are excellent 4-weights out there that feel “lighter in hand” and outperform some of the 3-weights listed. Two things: First, I’d suggest casting some 4’s alongside 3’s. There are a lot more of them out there, and a 4 might give you what you’re looking for. Second, 3 was another arbitrary cutoff. It is based upon the line designation, but also corresponds with a drop-off in availability.

Where are the glass rods? With a few minor caveats, every fly rod listed is made from graphite. Fiberglass is incredibly popular among ultralight aficionados. However, as a material it becomes more difficult to balance with longer weights and narrower tapers. It can be done, and some small-batch blank manufacturers achieve it. But among  the major fly rod labels, only two mix up the blank components: Blue Halo uses a graphite/glass mix, and Winston uses boron.

Below is an assortment of long, light fly rods available as of June, 2020. If there are any glaring omissions (with dozens upon dozens of small-batch rod makers, I know there are omissions), feel free to let me know. Also, if you own or have fished with one of the rods listed please share your experiences.

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3 Places to Fish Long, Light Fly Rods

Not every river yields twenty-inch trout with consistency. Especially in smaller waters, footlong fish are the norm. As contentment in fly fishing is subjective, trout like these are targeted and celebrated.

It is for good reason that fly fishers love to use light line weights for these trout. 4-weights and under are preferred when angling in medium to small creeks. They aid in casting and presentation.  Fighting smaller fish is also a more engaging experience. Often, light line weights are accompanied by short rod lengths. In the tight conditions of mountain creeks or headwater tributaries a 7’6″ rod (or much shorter) can come in handy.

Consequently, people buy short rods for their light lines but opt for lengths around 9′ for 5- and 6-weights. Depending on where you fish, you might want to consider adding a longer lightweight rod to your arsenal. Contemporary technology allows for well-balanced rods such as 8’9″ and even 9′ 3-weights. These rods are built to cast. They can still be used to flip a fly into a tight spot or dap in a plunge pool, but they’re uniquely capable of unrolling 50′  of light line. Plus, in the hands of a skilled angler they are able to handle a surprise twenty-inch trout.

Here are 3 situations that warrant a longer lightweight fly rod:

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Podcast Ep. 85: Taught by a Twenty-Inch Trout

A benefit of fishing a lot is the ability to be a little choosy.

Instead of splashing at every chance at a big fish, it allows for a more measured approach. With a lot of fly fishing comes an increased sample size to consider. There are more experiences, more insights, and more observations. Most importantly, it is a lot like the feeding habits of a big trout: just be there, and opportunities will present themselves that require very little of you.

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

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Fly Line: Clean, Replace, or Upgrade?

Fly line is the underappreciated member of the fly fishing gear trinity. Rods and reels get all the hype. A lot of that is deserved. But your rod is really only as good as you can cast it – and you can’t cast it without fly line.

“Any old fly line will work” isn’t a good mantra. The reality is, good fly lines run from $60-$120 dollars. That is a fraction of a fly rod.  Finding the right line and then taking care of it is as important as anything else.

Improving your casting distance and accuracy might be a lot easier and economical than buying a new, top-of-the-line line. Cleaning helps a lot; you just have to do it and do it right. Finding a line you love and grabbing a replacement when it is on sale is a great idea. Or, finding that a new (maybe top-of-the-line) line could very well make enough difference to warrant a purchase.

Here are the benefits of all three approaches, along with a video where I go into more details:

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Fly Fishing Books, VIII

“What is the best fly fishing book?”

That question is just as absurd as someone asking what the best stream or best fly might be. In literature, as in fishing, there is a lot of room for subjectivity. So fishing literature? There are as many opinions as there are titles.

Still, some books have had staying power. A title that sticks around in the community’s collective consciousness for 10, 25, or 50 years might be worth reading. A book like that might have some dated elements, but they are overshadowed by the quality of the content.

In this entry in the Casting Across book review list, I am offering up books published in 1960, 1999, 2004,  and 2020. They are all a part of my library, and I have enjoyed each one. (In fact, I have enjoyed one of them so much I have sought out multiple editions! I am sure it is easy to figure out which that may be…) They might not be the best fly fishing book, but they are all worth readying.

As I’ve done for all of the entries in my “Fly Fishing Books” series, I’ve spread the selections over three rough categories:

  • Guide (regional, site specific)
  • Technical (methods, locations, fly tying)
  • Literature (novels, biographies, history)

Check out one kind of each book, why I suggest it, and a bonus read below. And follow the links in the headings to get a copy for yourself.

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Podcast Ep. 84: The Right Fly Box for the Job

You can keep your flies in anything. At the end of the day, it is how you fish your flies – not where you store them – that ends up catching fish.

Of course, for only a few dollars you can get the right fly box. It might lead to better organization. It could even mean your flies stay protected. And, it could be argued, both of those might mean catching more fish.

In this episode I walk through the styles and types of fly boxes I think are most beneficial for a number of patterns and uses.

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

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Leaving Fish to Find Fish

“What’s wrong with the creek?”

It was a legitimate question. We were catching fish. We always caught fish. Not dozens, but a dozen maybe. Although it was a pretty pressured fishery, it consistently produced trout.

“We just want to try something different,” I said.

The man behind the counter gave us a mildly exasperated look. I think he knew. He knew that what we had was pretty good for where we were. That our experience was nothing to sniff at. He was often the one we went to for information. What have they been hitting? Where were people catching them? Simple stuff that we appreciated, and needed, as teenagers. Now, we wanted something else. Not more, necessarily. Just different.

He pulled out a DeLorme Atlas. The edges of the maps were frayed and the cover looked as if it had been folded over on itself daily for the past decade. He opened the map to the area where we were currently standing. Then, he turned the map toward us. He leaned over the counter a bit so that we had the same perspective. Using a finger, he traced a route back into the mountains. We’d go over a ridge, through a small Appalachian crossroads, and into a hollow.

“That’s probably your best bet for big fish. Well, second best. The creek out back is as good as it gets.”

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Floatant: Before & After You Cast

To fish dry flies right, you need floatant. A little dab from these tiny tubes will keep bugs riding high and looking natural.

But like anything else in fly fishing, there are various kinds of floatant products that have been created. These other tubes, tubs, and bottles do a lot more than just float your flies. Some dry them off. Some help your leader float. Some aren’t just for dry flies. Some even add a little sparkle to your presentation.

In two short videos, I walk through nine different floatant products. Some are intended to be used primarily before you start casting, while others are designed to help your fly after you’ve been fishing for a bit.

Full disclosure: I never carry nine kinds of floatant on my person while I’m fishing. But based upon conditions and preferences, I’ll always have two or three items in my pack. By thoughtfully using a few different products in tandem, I’m able to achieve the desired results. Most often, that means efficiently and effectively keeping my dry flies right where fish want to see them.

Also, all the products featured in the videos are from Loon Outdoors. You can absolutely find similar floatants from other companies, but I personally use Loon and appreciate the diversity of their offerings.

Check out the two floatant videos below:

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Podcast Ep. 83: Cabins, Covid, & Casting

What makes a good fishing cabin?

Maybe, just maybe, it doesn’t have to be a cabin to do what you need it to do. Today, I talk about how I’ve been finding fly fishing trip lodging for a while now.

Also, I start of the podcast by talking about healing, documentaries, and another podcast. It is a little bit of everything, but it touches on a diverse range of fly fishing experiences.

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

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