Fly fishers are notoriously difficult to shop for. Picking out a rod is both pricey are personal. Flies are nice, but ones that will be used have the tendency to be quite specific. Floatant and split shot are serviceable stocking stuffers, but hardly under-the-tree fare. So what to do when the holidays come around? Is …
Assuming ten dollars a pound, I’m quite a few ducks and geese away from paying off my new shotgun. But that is okay. Why? Well, for one, I can’t even begin to think how in the hole I am when it comes to fishing gear. I have killed some fish over the past few decades. …
You can absolutely nab some excellent deals if you shop sales, wait for next year’s model to come out, or trawl auction sites. This can be a lot of fun and you can certainly find some amazing things. But you can also strike out a lot and damage your eyes from staring at a computer …
Recently I’ve been thinking through backup and/or redundant fly fishing gear. What should I own? What should I bring with me? What should be on my person when I’m on the water? Ultimately, these are not the most important questions. I get that. Casting skill, the ability to read water, and presentation trump gadgets and …
Giving and getting gifts are both good. But in an arena like fly fishing, things usually need to be just so. This makes shopping for fly fishers hard at Christmases, birthdays, graduations, Father’s days… year-round. But there are a few things that ought to be a hit for anyone, any time. And in today’s podcast …
It isn’t easy to buy surprise gifts for a fly fisher. Sure, you can ask which fly rod he wants. You can simply request a list of the gear she needs. But you probably aren’t going to walk into a fly shop and pick out a reel because it is pretty or a pair of …
Last week I rolled out the Casting Across Fly Shop Box. This online resource is intended to be a growing, dynamic, comprehensive list of all the fly shops in the lower 48. Even after scouring the internet, I’m aware that there are shops that I’ve missed. The call was put out to readers of Casting …
Since February of 2017, the Vedavoo Beast Sling has been my go-to pack for fly fishing. Other gear storage options enter into the picture when I’m wading deep in the salt or moving quickly in the mountains, but the Beast functions as a flexible and all-purpose pack that fits into nearly every other fishing scenario. …
It is never too late to do better. Two of the three things I mention on this episode; I’m really still working on them. But all three are real examples of aspects of fly fishing that would have been great to be keyed in on when I started. This fourth edition (six, if you count …
Anyone who has spent significant time in a great fly shop knows that a lot more happens in these eclectic small businesses than buying and selling. Fishing tips are given. Cups of coffee are shared. Friends are made. But obviously, the transactions are what keep things humming along. I continue to champion the value of …
