Fly fishing is treasured by so many because it is a multifaceted activity. On one hand, it is a solitary pursuit. Yet it always takes place within some sort of community. Today’s contemporaries follow old paths walked by countless anglers that have come and fished before. Some were remarkable because of their contributions in conservation, …
For two weeks, the world comes together to witness the athletic prowess of the best among us. We watch gymnasts contort, fly, and balance with exquisite muscle control. Runners sprint at speeds that defy our expectations of human physiology. And then there are a bunch of random sports that don’t seem particularly athletic, but do …
Where and how do you get your fly fishing content online? That might sound like a loaded question. A dozen anglers might give you thirteen different answers. Just like the last generation had allegiences to authors or magazines, today’s anglers swipe to the same digital providers with devoted thumbs. And there are a lot of …
I was 14 years old the first time I went fly fishing. This means that I’ve been fly fishing for well over half my life. Also, fly fishing has been something that has been part of my life more, from a cumulative perspective, than I lived with my parents, that I’ve known my wife, or …
I’ve never carried a scale or a tape measure on the river. At one point in my life, when I fished primarily with a single fly rod, I knew the length of the rod butt to the cork and to the stripping guide. Even then, the inconvenience of laying a trout alongside my rod made …
Once, as a younger man, I got into an argument. This isn’t to say that I hadn’t quarreled prior to or since. That has happened plenty of times. This particular squabble has pertinence to our discussion today: fly fishing. An opinionated fellow was trying to say that there was one way to cast a fly. …
Maybe, just maybe, your idea of hiring a fly fishing guide simply entails fish. Big fish, lots of fish: fish. While I don’t think anyone would object to catching fish (and big ones, and a lot of them), there are a few other things that separate the good guides from the not-so-good ones. More importantly, …
I’ve reviewed a lot of fly fishing gear on Casting Across. But I’ve read exponentially more than I’ve composed myself. In the past 20 years, I’ve bought gear based upon positive reviews. I’ve also decided against equipment because of negative reviews. My life (and shopping) is one piece of evidence that demonstrates the power of …
In those days it was the fastest, unhealthiest, loudest way out of suburbia. McDonald’s double cheeseburgers and the biggest Gatorade money could buy. Gas station cigars and The Allman Brothers or The Scorpions or The Police at 9 miles over the speed limit on winding state highways. The same jokes about the same road signs, …
For those who fly fish, enjoyment comes from the little things. That is very true in the existential and metaphorical senses. For me, and for a lot of you, it is also applicable when it comes to literal little things. In the following three articles, I explore fly fishing items that fit in the palm …
