We all know these simple facts: Fish eat bugs. Most of the bugs fish eat are underwater bugs. Still, we struggle with getting imitations of said bugs in front of these fish. This is a recurring challenge when prospecting for trout and dialing in presenting the fly. Thankfully, we have equipment that can help us …
I do talk about fly fishing gear a lot on Casting Across. But there is something that will trump equipment nine out of ten times: skill. Within reason, your proficiency with equipment will overcome not having that rod, fly, or gadget that is designed specifically for a particular task. This is a good thing. Because …
Let me start off by saying that fly fishing downstream is not my method of choice. It is harder. It is a lower probability approach. It is less than ideal. But sometimes it is necessary. Today I talk through three situations that might demand a downstream presentation. Even though all those caveats are probably still …
Under, over, around, and (if you’re feeling lucky) through. Trout absolutely love cover. Downed trees, overhanging vegetation, and undercut banks are just three examples of places fish like to safely fin and eat. But how does one get a fly into these locations? Sometimes the path forward presents itself. Other times, you have to get …
Fly fishing minimalism is not just about throwing things out of your pack willy-nilly. In fact, jettisoning necessary items doesn’t score you any virtue points. If anything, it is simply bad practice. Today I’m sharing three mentalities, paradigms, or reasons why you might want to slim down your angling load. There are other resources on …
Perhaps this is a little pedantic, but it is worth saying: You don’t need to wade to fly fish. What do I mean? Well, I think a lot of anglers wade too much. We get in the water where we don’t need to. We move too close to where the fish are. We disturb things …
No one has ever seen a body builder and thought, “I bet he’d make an excellent angler.” Similarly, there is no inherent association between the physique of marathon runners and fly casting ability. Why is that? Because while there is absolutely nothing wrong with being in shape, athletic prowess and fly fishing success only share …
Today’s episode is a snippet from one of the presentations that I give at The Fly Fishing Show. It is about a third shorter and you don’t get the benefit of PowerPoint slides, but the content promises to be quite helpful for the small stream angler. Why? If you primarily fish small streams, there might …
After perusing a handful of books about tying and fishing midges, and in anticipation of turning to these tiny flies for much of my winter angling, I thought I’d share a potpourri of midge information today. While even tying them on might seem like a chore, the part that midges play in most trout diets …
Today’s podcast features a question, an accusation (maybe), and a response to a dozen or so comments. All in less than 25 minutes! I discuss “traditional” nymphing tactics and encourage you that you already fish this way. Then, I field a statement made about how we cut the tag end off our knots. Lastly, I …
