For the last 24 hours, I've enjoyed some very aggressive bass and panfish. And while I have no reservations using streamers, I'm more than happy to toss topwater flies if they're what is on the menu.

Today I share some topwater fly tactics for warmwater fish. I discuss some of my preferred approaches to gear, to casting, to presentation, and to setting the hook.

But at the end of the day, getting out there and getting after these fish in the summertime is worth doing any way you want to and are able. So wherever you are, grab a handful of cork poppers and spend an evening at the local pond.

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I am not an expert in swinging flies in the most orthodox sense of the concept. In fact, I've never made any kind of presentation to steelhead in the Pacific Northwest or Atlantic salmon. However, I have swung wet flies in ways that might not draw the ire of purists.

But none of that is what I'm talking about today. The weird uncle of that noble tactic, swinging streamers and nymphs for bass and trout is  a little less dignified but a whole lot of fun. And, if you're more about pragmatism and less about fun, it is more efficient.

Today I share three ways to swing flies at your local river. It doesn't take any special gear or a lot of practice. Just get out there and swing away.

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Perhaps this is a little pedantic, but it is worth saying: You don't need to wade to fly fish.

What do I mean? Well, I think a lot of anglers wade too much. We get in the water where we don't need to. We move too close to where the fish are. We disturb things  as we wade and then wonder why the fish aren't interested in our fly.

Today I share a half-dozenish thoughts on wading. Some have to do with safety and equipment. But more importantly, I discuss how less wading might be a good idea.

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Last week I did my darndest to debunk three big lies about fly fishing that keep people away from this wonderful pursuit.

Today I'm coming at it from another angle. In this episode, I'm addressing three misconceptions about fly fishing that get people into the sport.

Thankfully each of these three items have good news/bad news components. So I'll start with the bad and then cycle over to the good. After all, everything worth doing does entail a little challenge and a little work.

Note: The team (me) is aware of some audio issues in the past few episodes. The audio engineer (me) and quality control manager (me) are keeping a close eye on the situation. Thank you for your patience.

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You've probably heard them yourself. There are some myths about fly fishing and fly fishing culture that keep people away from either giving it a try or sticking with it after a little bit of frustration.

I'm here to tell you that three of the most common reasons people steer away from fly fishing are just not true.

Today I address this triad of lies. If you're considering fly fishing, hopefully this clears up any  misconceptions. If you've tried fly fishing and hit some roadblocks, perhaps this will encourage you to stick it out.

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Today's feedback is pretty interesting.  The second segment is about tying flies and and approaching trout in a way that will yield many more fish.

But the first and the third? Those are all about the fly fishing community. But that whose conversation is a major part of Casting Across: the quarry and the culture of fly fishing.

As always, I am thankful for every read, listen, and watch you give me. And I'm also appreciative of all the feedback I receive. Thanks for being such an important part of Casting Across. And enjoy the  episode!

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This is not a podcast about using AI to find fish. Nor is this a podcast about building a social media presence.

I like to think of these four fundamental pieces of advice as the 21st century version of what was commonly practiced by anglers only a few generations ago. With the overwhelming quantity of information we have in our hands, sometimes it is hard to wade through that which is quality or not. On top of that, what data is useful for the angler?

Again: four quick tech tips that will inevitably help you fly fish - whether you're new or have been doing it for generations.

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Whether I'm in the market for new gear or not, I like to keep my finger on the pulse of what is new and noteworthy in fly fishing. For a few years The Fly Fishing Show has held the Consumers Choice Awards. While not exhaustive, it does feature that which is often new and that which is somewhat noteworthy. And   that alone warrants a few minutes of my time.

And I'd wager, based upon your interest in this podcast, my talking about it warrants a few minutes of your time.

Today I discuss a handful of the Consumer Choice Awards selections that I think are interesting. It may or may not surprise you that the one I find most intriguing is also the least expensive.

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Long live fly fishing elitism.

In a different sort of podcast episode, today I talk about why the stereotype of the old, stuffy, tweed-jacketed fly fishing elitist isn't really valid anymore. In his place a new figure has emerged to stand as arbiter of what is "authentic" fly fishing.

And while I'm always interested in your feedback, I'm particularly interested in your thoughts on this topic. After all, this has been a big part of fly fishing culture for as long as I've been chasing trout.

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Opening Day. For generations, this was a high holiday among anglers. With the success of resource management programs and special regulations, year-round fishing is available for most of us. Still, there are some reasons to circle a particular date on the calendar.

In this Cast1 episode, I walk through some of the reasons why opening day should still be held in high regard. I also list a few things new (and seasoned) fly fishers should pay attention to before they hit the water and a couple of things they should be thinking about when they encounter spring conditions.

Regardless of if you're  just getting into fly fishing or you can remember "when opening day meant something," you'll find something in this episode to enjoy.

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