Podcast Ep. 87: Sneak a Little Fishing In

If you can negotiate some time on the water, then you should absolutely sneak some fishing into your family trip.

Want my advice? Don’t bring what you would normally bring on a fishing trip. Pack lighter. Be it out of necessity or simply to keep the peace, choose what you’re hauling along with coolers, strollers, and scooters wisely. Even if you are flying and going solo, there should be a minimized method to your madness.

Today on the podcast, I talk through fitting fly fishing into trips. Specifically, I discuss packing theory. (Packing theory sounds like a 21st century college major, doesn’t it? I think I could teach in such a program…)

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

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Fun in Spite of the Sun

I don’t like the sun.

…let me qualify that statement: I am very thankful for the  gravitational, thermodynamic, and myriad of other benefits that the sun provides to me and every other organism on this planet. However, I certainly don’t like sunburn and I’m not that fond of UV rays in general. Add to that the fact that I loathe sunscreen. I don’t like how it smells, feels, and stops working without warning. There might be detrimental health concerns for the stuff, too. That isn’t my top concern, but it isn’t helping it’s case.

That is quite the predicament for someone who enjoys fly fishing and the outdoors, isn’t it?

I want to stay outside, but I don’t want to get fried. I want to stay comfortable, but I realize that it is going be a relative comfort if I’m out in the elements.

So what do I do? Here’s five things. You know, in case you also have a hate/love relationship with the sun:

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The Bad Day Eraser

I’ve got the cure for a difficult day. And I don’t think it’s a presumptuous statement to assume that a lot of us are having difficult days. It isn’t anything chemical, expensive, or difficult itself. But what it does promise is some peace, some quiet, and some fun.

After work, after dinner, after the kids are in bed, go catch some sunfish.

Take your 3-weight, your 5-weight, or 7-weight. It really doesn’t matter that much. Forget packing up a fully loaded sling or vest. Just put a small box of poppers or foam dries in your pocket.

That’s it. That’s all you need.

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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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