One of my favorite things to do at fishing expos is to see fly rods I’ve only seen online or heard about on social media. Every once in a while, a company will even reveal a product in development at these events. Better than wiggling them or getting a sales rep’s elevator speech is actually …
I love my lightweight bamboo fly rods. I truly enjoy fishing with my older, wispy fiberglass fly rods. And one of my favorite graphite fly rods is a decidedly slow action 2-weight. This lines up with a common approach to fly fishing small steams. Since the water is small and the fish are small, many …
I enjoy putting together gear reviews. Not only is it interesting for me to think about how a particular piece of equipment works, but my perspective might help someone make a purchase that benefits their time outdoors. And in my humble opinion, there is no item more fun to review than fly rods. Today I …
Each winter, over the course of a few fly fishing expos I endeavor to cast many of the season’s new fly rods. Often times this exercise is about getting an idea of what is new and noteworthy. It is more about research than shopping. However, in the early months of 2025 two rods impressed me …
I own some positively diminutive fly rods for angling in the mountains. And I revel in the plethora of options when it comes to 9-foot 4-, 5-, and 6-weights. But every once in a while the right tool for the job is just a little bit longer. Today I share four reasons why a longer …
With small stream fly fishing getting a lot of attention on Casting Across, it makes complete sense that I get a lot of questions about the kinds of rods used in these applications. Below are five questions that are pertinent to small streams and the rods commonly used to fish them. It is not an …
I love questions about fly rods. And you love questions about fly rods. Guess what two of the three questions on today’s Q&A podcast pertain to? Along with this fan-favorite topic, I discuss downsizing. Yes, there is a time and place to get rid of things. Even fly fishing things. In just under 25 minutes, …
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 …
