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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Hike to the Fish

Two years ago I wrote an article on one of my favorite ways to experience nature and fly fishing: trail running.  Along with the exercise and the challenge, it gets me deeper into unfished and wild places quickly. That post generated a lot of interest, and there is a link below. Running into the woods to fish isn’t what I do all the time, and understandably it isn’t for everyone.

This summer I didn’t do it at all. Due to a pretty severe ankle injury I’m not even running on a treadmill. An uneven surface like a rocky, rooty New England path is pretty terrifying at the moment. However, I am moving well enough to get out and have wanted to get to some of my favorite mountain trout streams. What I’ve realized is that my temporary limitations reflect others’ normal limitations; my season matches up with others’ preferences.

Recently I mimicked the fishing trip that I used as the backdrop for the article “Run to the Fish.” I used the same trails. I fished the same rivers. I even went around the same time of the year. This time, I slowed down. It wasn’t quite a brisk jog, but my pace was quicker than a leisurely stroll. Since I wasn’t running, I didn’t need the lightest and most streamlined load. But since I required a little more support, I had to take a few more things on my back. My packing list changed, as did my approach.

Maybe you want to get deeper into the wild to pursue fish that haven’t seen a fly or worm in a while. If trail running isn’t up your alley, but you don’t mind putting in a few miles, check out what I did and why I did it:

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Podcast Ep. 98: Nostalgia, Losing, & Rock n’ Roll

Where have you fished the most?

Do you remember the first time you went? Was it a remarkable success or a tragic comedy of errors? Regardless, I’d wager that you can remember the first time you went fly fishing on your favorite river, stream, or lake.

In this episode I recount my first trip to a beloved spring creek. I came to know it very well, but the first time I tried to lure out a brown trout was hardly successful. Still I remember it – and I remember it fondly.

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

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Kickstarter: On The Fly Rod Holder

There are days when I leave my car in the morning and don’t see it again until I’m ready to call it quits. Those are good, long days of fly fishing. Just as frequently, I’ll fish a little bit here and then head over there to fish that hole. Maybe I’ll leave the river to grab a burger, just to head back while I’m eating in the car. Or I’ll fish on this freestone in the morning, just to hop over to the spring creek half an hour away once the day warms up.

On these days – my typical days – my rod doesn’t get broken down and un-rigged. The tip gets shoved to the windshield and the reel sits on some random gear in the cargo area.  It works, but it isn’t ideal. A rooftop rod rack would be huge… but I don’t think I fish multiple rods enough on a regular basis to justify the expense and the addition to the vehicle.

A lot of people are in the similar situation. This includes the designer of  On The Fly, an inexpensive and effective solution for transporting your rigged fly rod.

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The Right Tools, Even for the Small Jobs

I have a few core beliefs about tools:

  • A tool should have enough flexibility to be used in a number of situations, or…
  • A tool should perform a singular and necessary task well enough to justify it’s presence
  • A tool should be priced so that it can be used without too much concern or thought
  • A tool should be somewhat pleasurable to hold and use

These simple maxims apply to my garage, shed, kitchen and fly fishing closet. I have the same standards for what goes into my sling back and tying bench as I have for what is hanging over my workbench. Gear matters, but unless it plays a pivotal role in my actual fishing it is “simply” a tool.

I’ve come to appreciate tools from Loon Outdoors, as they generally align with the four specs listed above. Recently Loon released a few new products for the bench and stream. Here’s my quick take on each – why all four fit my criteria and how you could put them to use:

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