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 …
Roughly two years ago I received a package from Castaway Customs. Based out of coastal Florida, they specialize in SeaDek fabrication and installation for boats. Basically, they help protect your boat while keeping you safe and comfortable on the water. I don’t have a boat. But I did request the package. Inside was a handful …
The last neon lights for about thirty miles signal the last opportunity for a hot meal for at least a half hour. For years, that gas station was my first stop out of town and my last stop before getting on the water. Spring creek brown trout, big river small mouth, and mountain brookies; the …
Most people in the world think that fishing results in harvesting. And, across a wide spectrum of concerns, non-catch-and-release anglers are the allies of fly fishers. We’re largely fighting for the same things. Definitely keep advocating for our fish, our waters, and our environmental concerns. But also keep in mind that we’re part of a …
One of the biggest drawbacks to the last year has been the significant reduction in organic conversation. Sure, there are still opportunities to get together. It just isn’t as easy. However, I’ve had an uptick in online interaction with listeners and readers of Casting Across. I’m always happy to get messages, and I do my …
“Hey Matthew, what do you think about…” I’d be lying if I said that my inbox was inundated with questions about my opinion on various things in the fly fishing community. But it does happen. Moreover, it happens quite often when hanging out with angling acquaintances. Between Casting Across and my own general interest, I’ve …
Most fly fishers are different. Its the long rod and the thick line. Its the flourished casting such gear requires. Its the trappings and the stereotypes (and the counter-culture trappings and stereotypes within fly fishing). Day to day, we blend in with most normal folk. But on the water? That is where we’re different. We’re …
