This was my first fly box. Things were pretty simple then. I don’t remember how I came across the “Plano Micro Magnum.” There is a good chance that I bought it at The Sports Authority. I can say with great certainty that it was inexpensive, that I didn’t deliberate over the choice, and that I …
A lot more goes into a good fly shop than some big-name decals on the windows. Sometimes, a good fly shop has faded sign with a cartoon worm underneath the words “live bait.” I’m not kidding. What makes a good fly shop is all about the soul on the inside. You need flies, rods, and …
Questions, questions, questions. I am well aware that my writing and speaking might leave you with a few things you’re still wondering about. Which is great. Go out and experiment. Open a book and read. Show up to a TU meeting. Bend the ear of your local fly shop proprietor. Or you could always email …
Casting Across isn’t an interview- or discussion-based podcast. There are plenty of those out there, and I encourage you to listen and subscribe. There are some great ones. But as this is the one-year mark of the podcast, I thought I’d break out of the mold and into an interview for an episode. Two interviews, …
The first time we fished this creek, it was magical. The fish weren’t especially large, but they were plentiful. They attacked flies with vigor. They fought with ferocity. Above that, finding and accessing the creek was an adventure. That made the fishing better. Generally speaking, our experience was delightfully repetitive. Lots of fish. Fish willing …
Your first months and years of fly fishing will probably produce some of your most treasured moments. You won’t have all of the knowledge, experience, or gear, but every cast will yield something new and wonderful. This week I look back at three things that made my first few years of fly fishing matter. I’ve …
Can we fish in your creek? “Sure. Um… what’s in there?” I don’t know. But there has to be something. *** We had passed by the creek countless times. It was always just scenery. It was never the destination. If anything, as a small tributary, it was an afterthought. The Potomac is a big river. …
I had never casted my fly rod before. I felt like the right thing to do was to wait until I was on a trout stream. All or nothing; all for a $25, boxed rod, reel, and line from a department store. But wouldn’t you know it, I caught a fish on my second cast …
Contrary to popular Hollywood tropes, you can’t go back in time. However, others can learn from your mistakes. And hindsight can also help you make better decisions going forward. All of that is true in the big, important parts of life. It is also true in fly fishing. In this episode I talk about three …
You’re never to young to begin fly fishing. You just need to learn how to cast first. Learning how to feel the line load a rod, as well as what you’re supposed to do with your body in response, is a challenge for most new anglers. If an adult can struggle, a child can struggle …
