I like to think that I’m mature enough to make decisions for myself. Maybe it is prideful, but between my age, my education, and my intelligence, my actions shouldn’t be so easily swayed. Then I get a text message with a picture of a fish. My day takes a little bit of a right turn. …
About 10 years ago, I went bowling. Standing at the counter, waiting for my freshly aerosoled shoes, I noticed a brightly colored trifold brochure. “Stretches for Bowling.” A professional bowler (I assume) was featured on the cover, doing his best to not exert himself too much by pulling his left arm across his chest. The …
There are pieces of fly fishing gear that I leave at home from time to time. They are important, but they aren’t invaluable. Engaging in this lifestyle for nearly two decades, I’ve amassed quite the collection of rods, reels, and miscellany. Many of the various bits of tackle are uniquely created for use in a …
I just want to say this up front: I don’t know if coelacanth is singular, plural, or both. For the sake of this post I’m going to assume that the obscurity of this fish is going to hide my ignorance. Imagine catching a brook trout in an urban waterway in New York City. That would …
The angler must approach the river with the greatest of care. Being mindful of shadows, silhouettes, and sudden movements, one must proceed with great caution. Indeed, even the intensity of streamside footfalls ought to be considered. All the while, the fly fisher needs to be scanning the water. All the likely lies of the fish …
Fly fishing is serious business. You have to be buttoned-up, orderly, and kinda/sorta stuffy. If not, any fish you catch isn’t legitimate. Trout, as you are quite aware, are dignified creatures that wouldn’t condescend to consume the fly of some ragamuffin angler. Every once in a while, some johnny come lately writer thinks he can …
They say that smell is the sense with the closest connection to the brain. Olfactory stimulation can trigger responses, even memories, more than even sight or sound. It is remarkable, if you think about it. An infinitesimal quotient of particulate in the air can stimulate thoughts, emotions, or recollections. A smell, can quite literally, take …
For $70, you can buy a lot of things in this world. A month’s worth of cell phone service, a nice oxford dress shirt, or two tanks of gas for your sedan. Take the whole gang out for burgers and ice cream. If you’re shopping shrewdly, you can get a week’s worth of groceries for …
Most Fridays on Casting Across are devoted to other people’s contributions in the fly fishing community. Articles, pictures, social media accounts, videos, podcasts, products, and more will be featured on The Last Cast of the Week. Today, I’m sharing items from Pennsylvania Rod and Reel, Thin Air Angler, and Bill Dance. If you’d like to …
Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me. All of the places that he can fish, and this is where he’s going to do it. Right here. Right next to me. I mean, I could practically cast up to where he’s standing. What is it with people? Don’t they want peace and quiet? Solitude? I mean, …
