I caught my first trout on a fly rod in south central Pennsylvania. The lush valley with its limestone streams was different enough from suburban Virginia to be aesthetically enchanting to an otherwise distracted teenager. Closer streams with less challenging trout were an option. But I was smitten. Without any ties aside from a few …
June. July. August. Summer means bass chasing poppers, stripers crashing in the surf, and long hikes to still-chilly mountain trout creeks. These three months have a lot going for them. I’m not too fond of the heat, but I’m quite partial to the fishing… and the vacations, the evenings on the deck, and the ever-so-subtle …
Decoration Day was the forerunner to the modern celebration of Memorial Day. A reunifying United States formally and corporately acknowledged the fallen. In steps through the decades and through other wars, Memorial Day as we know it came to be. Thaddeus Norris’ The American Angler’s Book was published in 1864. Although the war was still …
Anthropologists believe that a cave painting in the Czech Republic is the earliest example of a map that we have. The markings seem to represent local mountains, valleys, and rivers. The features on the map pointed to the fields they farmed and the forests they hunted. There was time, care, and investment represented on that …
“Everything that can be said, can be said clearly.” This quip from philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein should be taken to heart by politicians, lawyers, and anglers. A great gulf exists between common linguistics and the semantics needed in the tackle aisle at the local sporting goods store. And not even Merriam-Webster can help a beginner fisherman …
There is a lot that you can do at The Fly Fishing Show. Seminars, classes, and other educational opportunities are worth the price of admission. Booking trips or getting ideas for the upcoming season is a great way to kick start the year. But let’s be honest: looking at gear is one of the best …
The previous post on Casting Across explored a few quick ways to practice casting. Anyone and everyone should feel like it is okay to head out to the yard and work on fly casting. When it comes to form, there is some that is certainly better than others. When it comes to habits, there are …
There are certain tools that are indispensable in fly fishing. A rod and line are obviously important. You need flies, too. Tangible on-stream items begin to add up quickly. Often overlooked, but no less significant, are all the resources needed to be successful on the water. Casting instruction and reading the water aren’t automatically imparted …
How much can you say about wading boots? Well, at least 20 minutes. I’ve long maintained that wading boots are one of the pieces of gear that deserve your hard earned money. They keep you comfortable and they keep you upright. Or, they keep you fishing. In today’s episode I talk about some things to …
This week on the podcast I interact with some questions that are the most common interactions I receive month after month, year after year. Fly line for small streams and fly fishing books are two things that I’m (relatively) passionate about. Consequently, I get feedback about both topics. I also talk about the (legitimate) passion …
