So this weekend happens to be my birthday. And it isn’t any birthday. It is one of those birthdays. A big, round number that seemed decades and decades away only a matter of years ago is upon me.

But I don’t think it is going to be all that bad.

What it does give me an opportunity to do is share some older articles that reach back into time (not quite) immemorial. I guess that makes it time memorial. I digress.

Below, you’ll find stories that came out of:

• My first fish
• My first fish on a fly rod

& one other thing on the website that goes largely unnoticed.

Thanks for reading, and I’ll save a piece of pie (pie > cake) for you.

Click on the image or title for the whole post.

First Fish

Angling was just one of the activities I had the opportunity to experience growing up. There are other scenes from childhood that were more vivid; locations with richer memories. But I’m thankful I got to spend a few minutes here. I’m thankful that I could think about this place in the context of who I’ve become as a fisherman. And, to a certain degree, in the context of who I am. I love telling the stories of people who love fly fishing. It has been fun revisiting some parts of my own story this week. I don’t mean for it to sound all touchy-feely or even therapeutic. Going back to the places where you grew up might serve that purpose for you.

Not Quite on the First Cast

Initially, I liked the optics and the feel of a fly cast more than I appreciated the benefits of the technique. I enjoyed the aesthetics of a tiny dry fly more than actually fishing with one… or attempting to tie the thing. And I even loved walking the banks of a spring creek, even though the prospects of catching a trout were slim. For some reason, that was okay. Less fish and smaller fish were okay as I was figuring it all out. As I continued to fish and to learn, my attachment grew from surface-level infatuation to true endearment.

About the Author

My bio is hopefully the least interesting part of Casting Across. But its here for all to read. Maybe, as a number of people have reached out to share, we have something in common. Perhaps the only thing connecting us is fly fishing. Either way, getting to know a little bit about me will give you a little sense of what I’m bringing to the river and to the keyboard.