Casting Across Fly Fishing

Time. Money. Frustration. And the things on the table in front of you look more like debris from the lint trap than anything that a fish might eat.

I've been there.

Early in my fly fishing, I had some missteps and fruitless moments. Somewhere along the line I got into a groove. And while I'm no expert or display-tier tier (yes: not tyer), I am much happier now. And this breeds confidence and  competence.

Today I'm sharing the four things I'd do if I had to start fly tying from scratch today. If you're getting into it, perhaps this will give you a potential roadmap. If you are an accomplished tier, this might provide some food for thought as you encourage others.

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Patience is a virtue. And while we should strive to be virtuous for many more important reasons, it pays off when trying to catch trout, too.

Today I work through three ways in which fishing smarter will almost always trump fishing harder. And, to be fair, there is nothing wrong with fishing intensely while fishing intelligently. But there is a priority.

And at the end of the day, there is something to be said for figuring out the problem presented in any particular fly fishing situation before you start casting. Patience is the key to see a little more and do a little more before you toss out your fly.

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Flannels, pumpkin spice, and... slowly swung streamers?

Just like the changing colors of the leaves, there are some inevitable alterations we make every fall in our fly fishing. Dropping temperatures and shorter days cause cold-blooded creatures to act differently. If we want to see them in our nets, we need to respond accordingly.

Today I share three changes I make in my fly fishing as the season transitions from late summer to early fall. I touch on presentation, approach, and equipment modifications that have been helpful and productive over the years.

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You might not fancy yourself a teacher. But if you're going to be a "fly fishing guy" there is a good chance you're going to need to pass along some essential knowledge to a friend, coworker, or brother-in-law. And casting is about as capital-E essential as there is in fly fishing.

Today I walk you through what I focus on in my first 45 minutes of any fly casting lesson. The basics are basic, but we all to often fly past them in order to get on the water or into a hula hoop. Hopefully my process will be helpful to you as you prepare to help someone else get out on the water with a fly rod in hand.

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So you want to buy and fish with an old fly rod. Not a collector's item or a rare antique: just a regular, old old fly rod.

Great. I'm a fan. And this week, I've been writing and talking about that very thing.

After putting together an article and video about fly fishing with old rods on small streams, I figured I'd keep a good thing going and explain a few things about the enterprise. In particular, in this episode I discuss finding a fishable rod and pairing it with the right modern fly line. There is much more to it, of course... but that will get you out on the water at least.

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"But why?"

This can be a very obnoxious question. Or, it could be a very revealing question. Do you know why we do what we do when we fly fish?

One of this week's questions was posed to me by a student in a casting class that I am teaching. Innocently, he asked why we  reel with our non-dominant hand. So I explained it to him.

And I'll explain it to you... along with two other viewer, listener, and reader pieces of feedback. This includes one that could be considered an accusation!

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So you're getting skunked.  All that expensive gear, all that planning, and all that podcast information you consumed... and for what! You're failing fly fishing.

Not so fast.

Sure, catching up on yardwork or taking a nap is all fine and good. But it isn't over until it is over.

Today I share three ways to approach what you're doing to see if you can pull the nose up before a crash landing. There are some days that just don't go your way (I recently had such a day). But with a little patience and conscientiousness, we'll try to get you closer to a fish.

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"I don't fly fish to compete."

That may be. But tell me, if you will, aren't you trying to outwit and then physically overtake the fish?

Even though you may not be into tournament angling (and I am not), we all have goals and challenges that we impose upon ourselves when we fish. In today's episode, I use a familiar angling motif to talk through some of the ways you can push yourself in your normal fishing or to augment your time on the water.

And I promise: you don't need a fancy, sparkly boat  to appreciate what I have to say.

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The first half of the show this week is a little different. I share some unfortunate news about the podcast on one of its major platforms. This does present an opportunity for me to explain why the podcast operates the way it does, and it serves as a good reminder for why certain content gets pushed (while others get pushed aside). Also, I talk about the kind of media that thrives on controversy. Spoiler: I say it is not good.

I do end up getting to terrestrials. Ants, hoppers, and their friends are some of the best patterns for anyone to fish in the summer. Not only do they present a great chance to build confidence on the water, but they also build confidence behind the vise.

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We all know these simple facts: Fish eat bugs. Most of the bugs fish eat are underwater bugs.

Still, we struggle with getting imitations of said bugs in front of these fish. This is a recurring challenge when prospecting for trout and dialing in presenting the fly.

Thankfully, we have equipment that can help us overcome this small (but real) obstacle. Today I talk about four things you can do to get your fly deeper. I share the pros and cons of each. And, in a remarkable move from most "how to"  content, one of these things isn't going to cost you a dime.

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