Small stream anglers were some of the earliest western adopters of the equipment and techniques associated with tenkara. Collapsible rods and minimal gear fit right into the methods of those who like to move light and quick into remote places. Tenkara USA was on the cutting edge of introducing Japanese fly fishing to Americans. With …
You need a fly rod to fly fish. Whether it is one hundred or one thousand dollars, you’d do well to have a good idea of which fly rod is best for you and your fishing. The absolute best way to do this? Go to a fly shop and cast. Before you take that step, …
How light of a fly rod should you use if you want to feel fish? What is the perfect dry fly rod? Will a broken rod make casting harder? (Yes, I’ve heard this a number of times.) I love questions. And I enjoy thinking through and talking about fly rod questions. In my years writing …
For most fly anglers, the most exciting piece of gear to shop for and purchase is the rod. Any conscientious buyer will understandably go through a relatively rigorous process of determining what to trust with his money and his prospective fish. In my years writing Casting Across, teaching casting, guiding, and selling rods, questions about …
The fly rod. It is a beautiful, functional, and essential part of fly fishing. But if you’re new to the pursuit, the hundreds of options (split into different weights, lengths, actions, and even materials – mind you) can be a lot to take in. Add a reel and line on top of it? That is …
One of my favorite parts of Casting Across is interacting with readers and listeners. It is always exciting to see the emails come in, whether they contain comments, questions, and, every once in a while, accusations. Also, I feel like if someone has taken the time to hear what I have to say and then …
So I messed up. To my knowledge, I have never deleted an email from a reader or listener. But just today, right before recording, I did. So whoever you are, this week’s podcast starts off with my heartfelt apology and an answer to your question. Along with that little bit of Q&A, I interact with …
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question “what line weight should I use for trout?” The same holds true for smallmouth, pike, striper, panfish… you name it. Every species, and any circumstance you might find yourself in while fishing for that species, can be pursued with a range or rod and line weights. While …
One should carefully approach the trout stream and objectively read the water before tying on a fly, stepping into the current, or making a cast. The alternative is to assume that what has worked for you before will work again this time. The latter is my inevitable default. Particularly when I’m feeling pressured to catch …
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 …
