Casting Across Fly Fishing

"There's no such thing as a bad question." Not true. But you're not going to hear any bad questions on this week's podcast. Today I get grilled by two of of the most avid listeners of Casting Across Fly Fishing. Questions  range from fly patterns to bear encounters to on-stream nutrition. Hear their questions, my answers, and our back-and-forth on this special 150th episode. Learn more about your...

Whether you are mourning summer or waiting for the water to freeze over, you have got to admit that fly fishing really shines in September, October, and November. Depending on where you live in the country you might experience some of the best fishing of the year. In this episode I discuss four things that you can and should think about when fishing in the fall. Included is a refresher on avoiding...

The natural flow of the seasons means there is a hinge between the 8th and 9th months in the calendar. This week I discuss where I've been fishing and what I've been using. I also talk about my recent reading, listening, and social media habits. I'd be interested to hear what you've been up to, too. This episode of The Casting Across Fly Fishing Podcast is brought to you by MANSCAPED. Use the code...

I know. I talk about light fly rods a lot on Casting Across. In all seriousness, in today's podcast I talk about the versatility of a shorter and/or lighter fly rod. They're not just gimmicks. They're really helpful for casting line, presenting flies, and playing fish. This episode of The Casting Across Fly Fishing Podcast is brought to you by MANSCAPED. Use the code CASTING at checkout for 20% of...

There are two schools of thought when it comes to sleeping on a fishing trip. Some people want comfort; some people want quick. But the benefits of quick are cost, effort, and proximity to the river. Today I discuss why you'd (potentially) want to sleep in your car, as well as how and when I choose to go that route. This episode of The Casting Across Fly Fishing Podcast is brought to you by MANSCA...

Most fly fishers do a decent enough job of looking over, cleaning, and organizing their gear before the season starts. But if you have been fishing at all there are a few things that you should take a look at before you head into the fall. Today, I share three different things that I look at as summer wraps up. Maintenance isn't about being obsessive. It is about keeping your gear from failing and...

Latest and greatest had to start somewhere. Often, that place had a lot going for it too. Having a preliminary knowledge of the history of fly fishing might pay off in really good fishing. More often than not, the reward is going to be in what you learn and how that impacts your time on the water… regardless of if you’re catching fish or not. Today I share three reasons why digging into the histor...

There is something special about wet wading in the warmest months of the year. It is a pretty unencumbered and carefree way to cast flies to fish. In this episode, I talk about everything that you'll need to wear from your head to your feet. I give some of my suggestions on what I've found to be helpful. More importantly, I think that this discussion will get you thinking about what you take on th...

If you can get your fly to a fish, you're casting good enough. However, if you want to cast with a little more accuracy, distance, or reduce fatigue after a long day on the water you might want to think about how you can tweak your cast. In this episode I talk about three simple things that you can do to change up your casting stroke. ...okay, two simple things and one somewhat contrived and weird...

Getting a fish to bite is a lot harder than fighting it to your hand. Still, there are some things that should be thought about when you're playing a fish. From the hook set to the release, there are a couple of bad maneuvers that anglers should avoid. Furthermore, there are some things that will make the entire process less stressful for both you and the fish. Today I go beyond the basics and tal...

You've got questions, I've got (my own stabs at) answers. This week, I've got three great emails to share on the podcast. Two have to do with gear, one pertains to the small and coincidental world that is fly fishing. As always, I appreciate getting emails, messages through the website, and interaction through social media. Casting Across isn't a fly shop or trout town pub, but it is always fun to...

Is fishing for trout off limits in July and August? Are bass and carp the only fair game in the heat of summer? (As if these fish don’t have temperature thresholds…) As is the case in most circumstances, if a “smarter not harder” mindset is employed the fly fisher can absolutely still fish for trout throughout the warmest times of the year. Here are three things to consider. Learn more about your...

Whether it be due to location or preference, some anglers routinely pursue species like bass. Additionally, the waters they frequent aren’t the typical wide smallmouth rivers or vast largemouth lakes. Our nation is covered with small steams that contain robust populations of bass and other warm water fish. If your local creek is where you’re going to be spending a lot of time, isn’t the right rod...

Part of this year's Father's Day gift was "a day to go fishing." (Note: this is a great gift to give someone.) Now, I get to fish a lot. But this gifted day was special because it was to be used while we were on vacation in Virginia. Picking a spot to fish wasn't easy, as I have plenty of local favorites and there are countless great opportunities. However, I was able to nail something down. Well,...

Rocky Mountain National Park provides plenty of fantastic fly fishing opportunities. Rocky Mountain is one of the most visited national parks in the country on an annual basis. It boasts numerous visitor centers, hundreds of miles of trails, and most of the iconic species of the region. All that, and a lot of trout. Moreover, there are plenty of options for the angler. Listen as I talk through whe...

Who doesn't love a good fly fishing trip? Whether it be exotic locations on the other side of the globe or premier destinations across the country, most anglers long for exciting water in which to fish. But what about the creek down the road? The trout might be stocked, the ponds might only hold sunfish, and the ambiance might not be pristine. But there is value. I also discuss how staying local i...

Aside from my rod, line, reel, and flies, there is no more important piece of fishing gear than sunglasses. Yes, they keep the sun out of your eyes. But a good pair of sunglasses will help you catch fish and keep you safe. There aren't many gadgets that you can slide into a vest pocket that you can say that about. In this week's podcast I talk about how to choose frames, how to select lenses, and...

Giving gifts to a fly fisher isn't always the easiest thing to do. Admittedly, we're a pretty particular bunch. I mean, we have preferences on which kind of nippers we use to cut millimeters of tippet. In this week's podcast, I do give some specific ideas. However, I also talk about a few kinds of gifts that you can give (or ask for) that are virtually foolproof. There are some gifts that anyone,...

Why keep a fly rod in the back of your car at all times? If you can tolerate it rolling around, you'll set yourself up for some good to great fly fishing at a moment's notice. And if you haven't fished for a while, any fly fishing is good to great. Recently I had a meeting fall through. It turned into an hour of fishing for brook trout in a brand new beaver pond. The results and the experience wer...

Maybe your idea of hiring a fly fishing guide simply entails fish. While I don't think anyone would object to catching fish, there are a few other things that separate the good guides from the not-so-good ones. More importantly, there are some things that separate the great from the good. If you're going to be spending hundreds or thousands of dollars? Great is probably what you're looking for. Le...

In this week's episode, I answer questions about rods, reels, and leaders. But they're some awfully specific questions. That being said, I'm confident that you - the fly fisher - will appreciate and benefit from the scenarios that elicited these questions. What pushes us to experiment and innovate is questions, problems, and curiosity. Hopefully what I talk about today gets you thinking and trying...

I've written a lot about fly fishing with kids over the years. However, this is my first podcast on the topic. In just under 20 minutes, I go over three ideas that will probably be helpful as you fish with your own children or the kids in your life. I'm not an expert, but I am a dad who is trying to get my boys to love and take care of the outdoors. Also, if you don't have kinds in your life: You...

This week's episode is a hodge-podge of topics in and around fly fishing. I talk about choosing between two rod weights, which bug sprays you shouldn't use while fly fishing, and how we should think about conservation in light of COVID. The only thing that ties any of these things together is that they've been on my mind recently. But chances are, at least one of these brief conversations will get...

Fly fishing for trout with a mouse fly is a really exciting way to revisit your favorite water. It also may very well yield some of the biggest fish... fish you didn't even know swam in your well-known holes. Using mice is also a pretty straightforward and easy way to fish. But there are a few things worth knowing before you give mousing a shot this season. I talk through three simple things that...

We have the convenience of buying not just rods & reels, but socks & undies, from fly fishing companies. For some that is a great option. For many, that might not be the best fit (size, preference, and/or budget). While fly shops get a good amount of your business, there are plenty of "outside the industry" options for everything besides the core fly fishing gear. You never know what you'll find i...