We all have memorable fish that we have caught. Some of the most memorable might be fish that we didn’t catch right away. That is the story of this fish. This episode is a little different than most. Hear me talk through a season of chasing one particular brown trout. Along with some of the …
Tag: Spring Creeks
Podcast Ep. 98: Nostalgia, Losing, & Rock n’ Roll
Where have you fished the most? Do you remember the first time you went? Was it a remarkable success or a tragic comedy of errors? Regardless, I’d wager that you can remember the first time you went fly fishing on your favorite river, stream, or lake. In this episode I recount my first trip to …
Trout Quixote: Seven
I had the morning to myself. While on a family trip in Northern Virginia, I could have easily found my way to some amazing fly fishing opportunities. Feisty mountain brook trout. River smallies on topwater flies. Thick spring creek browns. While there is no such thing as a done deal in fly fishing, each of …
Spring Creek on Repeat
The Fuse – Jackson Browne: The Pretender, 1976 Singer-songwriters hit even better at 5 in the morning. Familiar lyrics accompany familiar highways. Alan and I were accustomed to the meandering route from Northern Virginia to South Central Pennsylvania. 7 to Leesburg, 15 north through Point of Rocks, past Big Hunting Creek in Thurmont, and then …
Podcast Ep. 75: 3 Angles of Short Fly Rods
In my experience, short fly rods are perceived as “small rods for small water.” While there is truth in that, a sub-7′ rod does a lot more than just measure a few feet less than your normal fly rod. This episode, I share three things that I think anyone using a short fly rod should …
Ed Shenk, 1927-2020
It was absolutely a leading question, because I wanted one. He had made dozens over the years. I had plenty of chances to buy them in the past. I had never pulled the trigger, but now I was ready. So I asked if he had any of the little fiberglass rods available. “Oh no,” he …
Brown Trout & Fly Fishing Ghosts
Most nights I’d time leaving home so I could gear up right as the frogs began to sing in earnest. That wasn’t the event I was targeting, but the amphibian chorus corresponded with the evening hatch. Trout could be taken all evening long. But the action intensified once the sulphurs started hitting the water. Seeing …
The Brown Trout with the Bright Red Patch
I remember kneeling in the snow. I can recall the exact spot. It was right at the apex of a gentle bend. There was a log jutting into the water that covered the entire stream’s width but for a few feet. I held the trout firmly. I did so because I didn’t want it to …
Podcast Ep. 58: Trout Quixote I
How far do you have to drive to get to trout? How far do you have to drive to get to native trout? The second question is one that has been on my mind for as long as I have been fly fishing. There is something about wild fish, even if they’re teeny-tiny, that encapsulates …
Podcast Ep. 29: Why You Should Fish the Cumberland Valley
In 25 minutes, I only scratch the surface of this historic fly fishing region. Situated in south central Pennsylvania, the Cumberland Valley boasts some remarkable spring creeks. Who doesn’t like big fish in small, beautiful water? While the rivers aren’t what they once were, they are still worth seeking out. Moreover, a great opportunity for …