I know. You like your flies. Dozens of patterns; hundreds of individual fish catching pieces of potential. But really, how many do you actually use? While it isn’t for every angler (or every situation), cutting down the flies you carry on the water can actually streamline your fishing. It will certainly make packing and organization …
Who hasn’t seen a Mickey Finn? The fly has a history that goes back at least 100 years. It has enjoyed staying power for the simple reason that it catches fish. Consequently, it is a fly that you’ll find in assortments sold to beginners as well as on the vises of seasoned experts. Living in …
You care about your flies. More than that, you care about the organization of your flies. You spend time, energy, and effort to tie or buy your flies, so it only stands to reason that you should be concerned about where they go. Of course, you can put flies in anything. An old Altoid tin …
Merry (early) Christmas from Casting Across! I’ve got something fun for you to unwrap today. Three things, to be precise. Whether you’ve been naughty (bobbers?) or nice (strike indicators!), feel free to crack into them a couple days before the main event. The first item is a new spin on an old holiday classic. Instead …
Gift-giving season is upon us. When done right, it is a very special opportunity. Strip away the stress and the commercialism and the price tags. What are you left with? A chance to find something that will make somebody smile. If that person is a fly fisher, flies may very well do the trick. Flies …
Whether or not you agree with measures taken to handle COVID-19, it is clear that daily routines of students have been significantly affected. Depending upon age and location, children and teenagers may very well be spending the bulk of their day in front of a screen. While this impacts reading, writing, and arithmetic, there are …
I have a few core beliefs about tools: A tool should have enough flexibility to be used in a number of situations, or… A tool should perform a singular and necessary task well enough to justify it’s presence A tool should be priced so that it can be used without too much concern or thought …
Many a fly shop counter has heard the debates and the arguments. “Those aren’t flies.” “If it is within the law, it is a fly.” “That’s a lure.” “You’re just jealous you can’t catch as many fish.” …and so on. In this episode I take a brief look at the spectrum of fly authenticity. I …
This month on Trout & Feather, I’ve contributed an article titled Learn from Your Ancient Angling Ancestors. It focuses on one of the most valuable tips I can give new and experienced fly fishers. It has to do with how you approach the river… before you even approach the river. A thousand years ago, without …
Don’t be a hero. The fish aren’t going to be impressed that you waded into the surf with a 6-weight. No trout is going to eat your articulated streamer with more ferocity because you chucked it using a 3-weight. Plus any fish you’ll be catching with either of these approaches is going to put up …
