Casting Across Fly Fishing

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 be familiar with. I talk about casting, presentation, and fighting/landing fish. I also make the case for why you sho...

Depending on how you look at things, a lot is happening... or not a lot is happening. Still, I have a few things to share. I got an interesting email from a handful of entities within the fly fishing industry that I wanted to talk about. Also, I have a tip on how to pack your gear in light of quarantine once this is all over. I've had some great feedback over the past few weeks, and I'd encourage...

How are you redeeming your time? Obviously, in a crisis there is great suffering and hardship. But there are always blessings in disguise and silver linings on clouds. Often times those things only come in hindsight. However, when you have a lot of time on your hands there are definitely some opportunities at hand. Even if you're stuck at home you can cast. You can read. You can tie. And you can g...

A remarkable and diverse trout fishery is within a half day's drive of most of the US population. And, you can thank these rivers for those famous bagels and pizzas in New York City. The Upper Delaware River system consists of multiple waterways featuring a diverse group of fishing opportunities. The trout that inhabit the rivers are strong, big, and plentiful. Whether you haven't tapped into this...

There has been so much said about what we can't do, but there is truly so much that we still can do. For fly fishers, and anyone who enjoys the outdoors, the world is still pretty much wide open. This week on the podcast I talk about three things I've thought about and done during this weird turn of events: what do do before you go fishing, how to go fishing, and maybe even what you can think abou...

What do fly rod material debates, bad tying equipment, and a little county in Pennsylvania have in common? These are the topics i discuss in this episode. And I'm discussing these topics because you have emailed, commented, and chirped on social media about these things. I get a good amount of feedback, and I enjoy being able to answer questions and comment. Also, I talk for a bit about fly fishin...

How would you rate your favorite fly rod? 5 stars? 2 thumbs up? Are you not into rating things? Regardless, people rate, review, and chime in on rods, reels, nippers, marabou feathers, fly shops, guides, and even moderately interesting websites and podcasts. This all begs the question: What do you do with this information? In this episode of the podcast I talk all about ratings and reviews. I also...

Some people fish in places where access isn't a problem. By and large, most anglers are content to drive up to a state maintained parking lot or a well-used pull off. However, there is a lot of fishable water that isn't so convenient. In this episode I talk about a different kind of map that is useful for finding all sorts of fishing access. Not only might you be able to find new ways into public...

There are plenty of reasons to mix camping and fly fishing. Sure, there are some that are all about nature and the experience. But what I am talking about is the pragmatic things: proximity, cost, and a bad night's sleep helping you wake up early to hit that trico hatch. In this episode I explore a few reasons why I'll often eschew the hotel room (and sometimes even the tent) when I am going on a...

I'm not an expert fly tyer. ...so why listen to 20 minutes of what I have to say on the subject? While I'm not an expert, I am proficient enough to tie what I need. But I've taken the circuitous route to get to this point. I've started and stopped. I've used the wrong materials and tried to do things the hard way. I've made frustrating mistakes. And with all that, I can look back on some of the th...

Big flies catch some of the big fish, some of the time. But small flies catch most of the fish, most of the time. And you can't get much smaller than midges. In this episode I give a brief primer on one specific facet of midge fishing: using dry flies sized 20 and smaller. Getting comfortable with and dialing in this technique can be very beneficial. If you can present a size 24 well to a rising f...

Every January I spend a few weekends at The Fly Fishing Show. There is some networking, shopping, and top-shelf people watching. Above all, it is good to see people I might only talk face-to-face with a few times a year. But  this episode isn't a review of the show or a run down on the latest industry offerings. There's a lot happening, and I think there are some conclusions that you can draw abou...

If you're not using weight, you're not fly fishing right. But split shot is just the tip of the weight-option iceberg. Weighted flies, poly leaders, and sink tips - what a time to be alive. In this episode, I discuss some of the pros and cons of these options. I also talk a little bit about some nontraditional ways to think about adding weight to your fly rigs. Learn more about your ad choices. Vi...

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 all the miscellany to make it a store. But it is the people, and what they offer, who give it soul. On this episode of...

Of course you know which weight you want for your next fly rod. Or do you? I'm only questioning you because I've had to question myself. Sometimes we get stuck thinking about what the marketing, or our fishing buddy, or our biased presuppositions tell us we need in new gear. While there are countless great articles out there that give some tips on buying your next fly rod, I wanted to come at the...

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 me or leave a comment on the website. Here I talk about neoprene waders, getting kids excited abou...

*This is the second installment of a two part series ; listen to episode 58 for part one.* My first grand scheme was met with mixed results. I was at the point where the chase was as attractive as the catch. I wasn't going to stop until I found trout nearby. With dozens of top-notch trout options within a few hours, why go through the hassle of a long hike and a quasi-clandestine fishing trip? And...

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 so much of why I do what I do. And I'm not alone. This is the first of a two-part narrative of my wild-eyed quest for local, na...

Reading maps is a lost art. Creating maps might be all about precise science, but interpreting maps is much more nuanced. Even if you don't think about maps, most fly fishers rely on maps in some way. You need to find the stream, the special regulation section of the stream, & the place on the stream where the fish are supposed to be. In this episode I share some map-centric memories, & give 3 tip...

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, actually. Hear me talk to two of the people who have impacted my fly fishing  the most....

What are you thankful for? We ask that question a lot, especially towards the end of November. This is also a natural time to ask what in fly fishing you are thankful for. The heart of the season is wrapping up. This week, I mention a handful of things that I am thankful for. While I doubt our experiences are exactly the same, there is enough commonality within fly fishing that I know you'll be ab...

Even when it is frigid outside, the fish have to eat. Which means you can go out and catch them.  The only problem is that going out entails being out. Thanks to modern technology and a little common sense, it is actually pretty simple to stay warm in even the coldest situations. Whether you're in the below-zero conditions of the Great Lakes tributaries, or a brisk 40 degree day on a North Carolin...

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 caught a lot of fish in a lot of places since then, but I can honestly say that the three...

Fly fishing is 90% mental, the other half is physical... or something like that. Truly, having the right mindset when approaching the stream and presenting your fly matters. You have got to be reasonable in what you're doing and how you're doing it, but having confidence counts for a whole lot. I quickly cover 3 things you can have confidence in as a fly fisher, and how this can be helpful as you...

This week marks 4 years of Casting Across; 4 years' worth of articles about the people, places, and things that go into the pursuit of fish. Even though the fly fishing community includes an incredibly diverse array of experiences, there are two common denominators that make fly fishing what it is. And fish is only one of them. 20 minutes doesn't do 4 years justice, but in this episode I talk abou...