Casting Across Fly Fishing

200 episodes! First of all, thank you for listening. Whether this is your first or 200th download, I truly appreciate that you take a few minutes out of your week to hear what I have to say about the quarry and culture of fly fishing. As I've done every 50 shows, today I break away from the traditional format. While I'm usually a solo outfit, today I bring in three experts to talk. We discuss fly...

Don't let your phone become a distraction. That is true for everyday life, and it is also true when you're fly fishing. Of course, your phone can be an incredibly useful tool that can enrich your time outdoors. In this follow-up podcast, I share a handful of apps that I use when I'm outdoors and preparing to get outdoors. Some are free and some come with a small fee. Every one of them can be usefu...

You might prefer to find waters to fish that are far, far away from any and all civilization. But there are countless small towns and rural villages that abut some of the most prominent rivers in this nation. Up on the bank, there is a whole lot going on. Very little of it, for most people, involves trout, insects, or your presence. Today I discuss some of the benefits of getting to know the area...

Do you know how to behave around others while fishing? Chances are the answer is "yes." Because even though common sense isn't all that common these days, I have come to expect better of those who spend a good amount of time outdoors. There are plenty of resources that articulate the formal, classic fly fishing etiquette codes. Those are great. But there are also some subjective elements that come...

Last fall I fell down a rabbit hole. More accurately: I fell down into a duck's nest. After decades of watching guys wade into swamps, dressed like trees, carrying fake birds over their shoulders, I decided to do the same. And I loved it. But aside from some cobbled-together gear from my vast fly fishing arsenal and some random deer hunting items, I didn't have the right stuff. I was a little wet,...

Actually, it is one way to read water with four parts. But that is way too long for a podcast title. After sharing an anecdote about my failing to read water well, I go into my four-pronged approach to approaching rivers. While not remarkable or novel, I believe that this multi-tiered technique is a great paradigm to help new anglers grasp the concept. It is also a great reminder or teaching tool...

It might have been last month, it might be today, or it might be next week: eventually you're going to experience dry, low-water conditions where you live and fish. Today on the podcast, I'm not going to delve into the science (or politics) of the conditions. What I do want to explore is how fish react and what we can do about it. Here's the long and the short of it: maybe you can fish and maybe y...

We're living in a pretty sensitive day and age. So please know that I'm using the term "trash fish" in the most respectful and endearing way possible. (But fish can't read, so I shouldn't be too concerned about offending any of them.) Chances are, if you fish for some of the less desirable and non-traditional species, you're used to the sideways looks when you mention your excitement. I am with yo...

If you don't care about taking care of your stuff for the sake of your stuff, at least take a little bit of energy for the sake of the resources you have and your gear's performance. Today I share three more gear storage tips that are especially helpful in the middle of the season. An ounce of prevention is truly worth a pound of cure. When boots run upwards of $200 and rods can quickly near a gra...

There are a lot of people out there that put their blood, sweat, and tears into fly fishing. Most of those folks are fly shop owners and employees. While I only put a few years into working fly fishing retail, I really accumulated some invaluable know-how, experiences, and gear. Lots and lots of gear... I also have some good stories. Again, my time selling rods, reels, and dog beds is only a drop...

In this Q&A episode, I share some of the best questions and comments I've ever received. Feedback (of any kind) is always exciting. Today, I talk about rod choices, guide recommendations, and favorite gear. These are things that I like discussing on my own. When you're the reason I get to elaborate and pontificate on these topics, it makes it even better. As always, don't hesitate to reach out wit...

When is your next trip? Where are you going? ...and I don't mean the big, fancy fly-in fly fishing excursion that you do (or don't) have planned for next year. I mean when is the next time you're going somewhere. There is a good chance that there is fish in that somewhere. And you can certainly have a good time chasing those trout, bass, carp, or fallfish. This week I talk about how to plan for fi...

Today's podcast content takes a significant detour from our normal programming. That said, it represents what I truly think about more often than not. At the time of recording, the flooding in Yellowstone National Park is headline outdoors news. Why does that matter? How should anglers think about it? More importantly, how should we react to it? I ask a lot of questions, attempt to bring in some p...

It sounds like a dad joke; I know. But think about it. Fish are used to water. It is us that are the problem. That being said, there are absolutely some things to consider when fly fishing in the rain. Fish, what fish eat, and what fish swim in all change a little bit based upon the precipitation and its effects. Still, you can have some stellar days on the water in a light drizzle or even a stead...

In this episode, I use words like impressive, remarkable, and excellent more than I usually do. But those adjectives are necessary when describing Maine and her fly fishing opportunities. Maine could (and does) have a whole podcast dedicated to exploring fly fishing from coast to mountains. Between the stripers, the landlocked salmon, and the brook trout, there are more rivers and fish than an ang...

I know not everyone can move quickly. And I know not everyone wants to run. But if you can? And if you want to? Lace up your shoes, strap on your pack, and get out into the woods fast. In this episode I discuss why I like to engage in light hiking and trail running to get farther into the woods faster. Along with getting to fish that don't see most anglers or their flies, it is a way to combine tw...

This week I found out that a man who was instrumental in my taking up fly fishing passed away. I can say that he played a big part in my appreciation for fishing even though he and I never were on the water together once. He mentored and helped along one of my best friends, and that relationship led my friend to introduce me to fishing. Today I briefly share that story, and talk a little bit about...

I know a few people who have flip phones. They're the bamboo rod enthusiasts of the tech world... or something like that. For the rest of us, the futuristic computer/camera in our pocket goes with us wherever we go. That often includes the rivers and woods which we enjoy. There are plenty of pros and cons that come with using a smartphone in particular, technology in general, for your fishing. Tod...

We've all had this experience: You're fishing in a stream that is loaded with trout. You've caught fish there. Others are catching fish there. But today, you're not getting any action. There are some very specific reasons why this might be the case. I've found that the issues aren't so much about my casting, my fly box, or the weather. I've come to terms with the problem being my approach. Specifi...

Anyone can catch a bluegill. But catching big, dinner plate-sized, rod bending bluegill? That takes a lot of luck, or better yet, a good amount of skill. On today's episode I walk through three things that will help you find, hook, and catch the biggest sunfish, pumpkinseed, and warmouth in the pond. There are some fly and gear considerations, but a lot of it comes down to locating where bigger fi...

We've got four topics to cover this time on the audience Q&A podcast. And the Qs are good! Hopefully the As are as well. This week I'm talking about the hook barb debate, fly suggestions, John Gierach, and what to do with the silica packets that you get with a new pair of shoes. I'm confident that at least one of those items will pique your interest and potentially get you going down a fly fishing...

If something is said enough times for enough time, it just becomes assumed. But that shouldn't be the case. On today's podcast episode, I break down my opinion on three fly fishing lies. Notice, I said my opinion. You might think that the angling mistruths I'm addressing are fine and good. I'm willing to admit that each of these sentiments is right for some people. What I am contesting is that the...

Salmo trutta. It shouldn't be here. But it is. And last time I checked, not many of us are up in arms about it. Today I talk briefly about brown trout. Where they come from, why they're here, and why fly fishers are willing to give them the "non-native pass." There is so much to say about this fish species and how we pursue it with the fly. This episode might be an introduction to a well-loved qua...

Admittedly, I get more excited about rods than I do reels. In fact, I think I geek out more over fly line than I do reels. But that doesn't mean I relegate reels to the category of nippers, knot tools, and wading boot shoelaces. Today I cover a handful of reel-centric topics. Whether you've got a wheelbarrow tire-sized saltwater reel or a tiny line-holding trout reel, it plays an important role in...

Every one of us has our favorite kind of spot to fish. Riffles, runs, pools; banks, boulders, ledges. There is a reason why you'll gravitate to such spots regardless of which river you're on. One of my favorites is creek mouths; where smaller rivers run into larger rivers. These are intersections for fish and bodies of water. There are enough dynamics going on here to keep things exciting in every...