Casting Across Fly Fishing

300 episodes. That, my friends, is a lot of my digitized voice out there on the internet. Today I'm breaking free from my rigid, one-note format. I've got a guest. In fact, I have the most special of special guests. My wife of 21+ years. Her perspectives on nearly every topic are worth listening to - take it from me. That said, enjoy this podcast. And it goes without saying at this point: Thank yo...

In case you've been living under a rock (like a caddis nymph, perhaps), I'm going to be the bearer of bad news and inform you that fly fishers have the reputation of being quite the opinionated group of individuals. And as the maxim states, opinions are like... well, they're like waders that have been sitting in the trunk too long. We've all got them and they have the potential of stinking. My pur...

*Trigger Warning* I know some people have Tenkara Derangement Syndrome. Breathe deeply, you'll get through this. Whether you've dabbled in this Japanese style of angling or not, it has made a modest splash in the American fly fishing scene. Depending on where and how you fish, it may be a good fit for your gear collection. Although only a fraction of my time on the water includes using Tenkara gea...

I wouldn't say that I get too worked up about what people say in and around fly fishing. But the extreme ends of gear perspectives bug me. One says that the most expensive gear is the only way to go. The other says that whatever you can find is all that you need. As is the case with most situations, the moderate middle wins the day. Today I'm taking through how a recent shift in how I shop for run...

There is a good chance that you have some habits when it comes to approaching certain types of water. After a few decades of pursuing brookies, browns, and cutthroats in mountain streams I have developed a simple little scheme for identifying what they're keying in on. Today I share the three dry flies I use to decipher how to get on the most and the biggest trout. It isn't foolproof and there are...

Happy Independence Day from Casting Across! On today's episode, I'm sharing a tangentially-related collection of topics. While I do discuss giving trout some space in the hottest weather, the bulk of the podcast is about the great situation we find ourself in the United States. Things aren't perfect. They're far from it. But that is the human condition, after all. That said, our angling opportunit...

Thousands of aquarium aficionados concerned about the stress levels of their tropical fish can't be wrong. And from an anecdotal angling perspective, I agree with them. You can gain insight into what a fish is going to do by watching it's body language. While it isn't an empirical exercise, there are some tells in fish behavior that can clue you in as to when to keep going, change tactics, or just...

I'm not being dramatic. Nor am I being flippant. You can truly get yourself in some serious moral peril while fly fishing. Waist deep in moving water miles away from other people? Yes, it is fun. But yes, it is not without risks. Today I cover four areas of danger worth thinking about as you head outside. They may be common sense or well known to you, but they also might not be. If that is the cas...

We are back with another entry in the Cast1 series. Today, the discussion is all about small stream fly fishing. For many, pulling up to a tiny cascading creek is the epitome of an angling adventure. But until you've had that experience, the idea of fishing in a veritable trickle might not only be intimidating; it might seem ridiculous. While there is so much to share regarding this topic, this ep...

Allow me to modify a common saying among preachers. Every angler has three fishing trips: the one he plans, the one he goes on, and the one he wished he would have had. Not super smooth, but you get the gist. On a recent four day fishing trip, I thought about the preparations and plans that I had going into things. Some were much more helpful and practical than others. Four of those are the topic...

10 episodes away from 300, and I couldn't have done it without you. And when it comes to these regular "Accusations" podcasts, I literally couldn't do it without you. Because every 10 episodes, I interact with questions and comments from listeners and readers. Emails have been coming in fast lately. It was hard to pick just three, so I went with a relatively mixed bag: gear questions, fly suggesti...

All you need to fish is one rod, one reel, one line, and one fly... but it is better to have a few dozen... boxes of them. That said, it isn't the worst thing in the world to have some other gear that can serve a similar purpose. Along with performing in a slightly different manner, this gear can also be a solid backup for if/when something goes wrong on the water. Today I'm sharing my approach to...

There is only so much fly fishing practice you can get on your front lawn. And while the surface tension of your pool might help with improving your cast, your children won't take kindly to being asked to pretend to be fish. Thankfully there are rivers filled with fish. And some of these fish are much more likely to play ball than trout are. I would go out of my way to catch panfish. But they can...

I'm not talking about how you can throw buzz baits and frogs with your 5-weight. But I'm also drawing a distinction between dry flies and another way to chase trout. Think about fishing with mouse patterns, and you'll understand where I'm going. While I do discuss mice, I cover three other active ways to fish for trout on top of the water. When the hatch isn't on, or the fish don't want your dead-...

You need a fly rod to fly fish. Whether it is one hundred or one thousand dollars, you'd do well to have a good idea of which fly rod is best for you and your fishing. The absolute best way to do this? Go to a fly shop and cast. Before you take that step, it is good to have a bit of a foundation to work with. To that end, I've put together a new page on Casting Across entitled "Fly Rod FAQs." Toda...

Yes. I know it is a long title. But I like the way it sounds. Today I'm in the midst of planning a fly fishing excursion of my own. So I figured I would share some of the most practical advise I have amassed over the years related to lodging. If you have the means, it is a wonderful experience to stay at a full-service fly fishing resort right on the water. But there are plenty of reasons, economi...

Trout don't live in ugly places is a cute little phrase. But it is not true. I have caught trout in some ug-ly places. Busted concrete abutments, shopping carts, and the growl of engine braking are not what you think when you daydream of fly fishing. But out of necessity or adventure, this alternative ambiance certainly is an option. Today I give an ever-so surface level primer of how to figure ou...

Guides do a lot more than put fish on the end of your line. In fact, putting fish on the end of your line is one of those things they can't do. So when they ask questions, give ideas, or encourage the trip to go in a different direction, their expertise is worth leaning into. Today I'm sharing four guide stories. Two are from my perspective as a client, one as a guide, and the last is from a frien...

...and a few of them are pretty inexpensive, too. For one reason or another, you might find yourself fly fishing in the kind of weather that isn't found on catalog covers. But there is also a very good chance that such outings yield experiences that you won't forget. By and large, the gear that you have will work when water is high, fast, and coming from the sky. But there are a few things that ar...

I was blessed to get a week and a half of vacation in one of my favorite places in this world: Virginia's Blue Ridge. Along with general rest and a lot of family time, I was able to get out and do a little bit of fishing. In this week's episode I talk through why this region is special, how I spent my time on the water, and some tactics that you might find useful. On a related note, I usually get...

This installation of "fly fishing accusations" is all about dogmatic opinions. Included are convictions regarding: wading boot soles angling literature the exclusivity claims of Christianity Does that last one sound like it might not fit in with the others? Well, if the feedback I received from a recent article is any indication: it certainly does. Enjoy, and don't hesitate to reach out with your...

The initial Cast1 podcast series is wrapping up this week. The response to the first batch of episodes has been great, and I promise that there will be more podcasts along these lines in the future. Today's episode presents you with some next steps. Whether you're just getting into fly fishing or you've been on the water, rod in hand, for decades, I believe that this advice is equally valid. As al...

Is fly fishing just you, a rod, and a fish? In one sense, it is. But in a much broader, more realistic way of thinking about things it certainly is not. There are a lot more people doing what you do, and being a part of that culture is not only unavoidable but enriching. Today I cover some important subject matter in the periphery of the fly fishing image. Things like literature and conservation a...

Yes: you can fly fish for panfish and bass. Before the seasoned and refined fly fisher scoffs at this question, it is important to realize that this is actually a very common query among new anglers. In an incredibly cursory manner in today's show, I go over how and why the trout angler can and should spend some time on their local pond. The benefits include honing skills. Not to mention, catching...

If you fly fish for trout, you can fish 12 months out of the year. There are a handful of very important caveats to that statement, but it is true nonetheless. Exceptions aside, it is key to understanding some of the reasons why fishing changes throughout the year and why. In another surface-level introduction, I walk through winter, spring, summer, and fall. Covering what you will encounter and h...