Casting Across Fly Fishing

By CastingAcross.com

What's Casting Across Fly Fishing about?

The Casting Across Fly Fishing Podcast explores the quarry and the culture of fly fishing. Each episode, I'll discuss some aspect of fly fishing - the people, places, and things that go into the pursuit of fish.

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Casting Across Fly Fishing episodes:

05.24.2024
A Backup Gear How-to
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...
05.17.2024
Using Fish
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...
05.10.2024
Topwater Trout... Not Dry Flies
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...
05.03.2024
Your Fly Rod Questions
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...
04.26.2024
6 Cash Saving Tips for Fly Fishing Trips
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...
04.19.2024
Urban Fly Fishing 101
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...
04.12.2024
Guide Stories & Insights
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...
04.05.2024
Nasty Weather Fly Gear
...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...
03.29.2024
Fly Fishing VA, 2 Ways
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...
03.22.2024
Fly Fishing Accusations, XXVIII
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...
03.15.2024
[Cast1] Your Next Step in Fly Fishing
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...
03.08.2024
[Cast1] The Culture of Fly Fishing
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,...
03.01.2024
[Cast1] Warm Water Fly Fishing
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...
02.23.2024
[Cast1] The Seasons of Trout
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...
02.16.2024
[Cast1] Casting & Presenting Flies
You've got a fly rod. You've wrangled a few dozen flies into a box. You've even managed to get a hot tip on where some trout might be found. ...now what? Having all the gear and all the intel won't amount to...
02.09.2024
[Cast1] Finding & Reading Water
Water, water everywhere... but is it water worth fly fishing? Today we're asking the question: "Where can I find fish?" The answer has two parts: First, how do you find fishable water? Second, where do you look once you've found a river worth fishing? Books...
02.02.2024
[Cast1] All that Fly Gear
"How do you put a fly on that thick line?" "Can I just wear my hiking boots over my waders?" These are perfectly honest questions that I've been asked by new fly fishers. Multiple times. Today I talk through some of the other...
01.26.2024
[Cast1] Rods, Reels, & Line
The fly rod. It is a beautiful, functional, and essential part of fly fishing. But if you're new to the pursuit, the hundreds of options (split into different weights, lengths, actions, and even materials - mind you) can be a lot...
01.19.2024
[Cast1] How Fly Fishing Works
The Cast1 series of the Casting Across Fly Fishing Podcast is all about exploring the fundamentals of fly fishing. In each episode, there will be plenty for newcomers and seasoned anglers alike. Today we're answering these important questions: What makes fly fishing...
01.12.2024
Fly Fishing Accusations, XXVII
Oh I've got some good emails this week. All thanks to you. I mean, it wouldn't be nearly as entertaining if I read emails I sent to myself outloud, would it? This time around I talk about spacing out your fly...
01.05.2024
Dumbing Down Fly Tying
I mean that in the absolutely most positive way possible. Heck, I had to dumb down my fly tying when I started (and restarted) so that I didn't get so frustrated that I threw my vice through the wall. So, apologies...
12.29.2023
2023 in the Backcast
What better for a final podcast episode of the year than a curated retrospective on 2023? While I touch on other subject matter, this is what I get rolling with on this final episode of December. You might be surprised what...
12.22.2023
Fly Fishing Storytime '23
While this episode is being released in late December, it isn't a holiday episode by any means. However, I'm reviving something from a few years ago that was a part of the podcast around this time of year. The public domain is...
12.15.2023
Fly Fishing... From a Boat!
Watercraft and fly fishing go together. But which watercraft are best suited for the job? And, consequently, your hard-earned money? Today I dip my paddle into the wide, deep river of watercraft that one can employ in his pursuit of fish....
12.08.2023
Fishing Gifts For All!
Giving and getting gifts are both good. But in an arena like fly fishing, things usually need to be just so. This makes shopping for fly fishers hard at Christmases, birthdays, graduations, Father's days... year-round. But there are a few things...
12.01.2023
3 Fly Fishing Lies
There are a lot of misconceptions about fly fishing out there. Some of them are repeated enough with such careless disregard for the truth that I'm comfortable in calling them lies. Today, I address three of them. Two have to do...
11.24.2023
Fly Fishing Thanks, 2023
It is Thanksgiving. And I am thankful. Today's episode is all about what I'm thankful for. It is about fly fishing. And it is personal. But as is the case with a lot of what I put out on Casting Across, I...
11.17.2023
The End of Your Fly Line
What's on the end of your fly line? It isn't a fish. It is a leader. Which, as you may well have surmised, is essential for getting your fly to a fish. And getting your leader onto your fly line isn't...
11.10.2023
Cold Fly Fishing Encouragement
The weather outside is frightful. Or, at least it will be. And you're all ready to fish in it. Right? If you have the gumption and the warm socks, there is no reason why you can't fish in the coldest months out...
11.03.2023
Fly Fishing Accusations, XXVI
So I messed up. To my knowledge, I have never deleted an email from a reader or listener. But just today, right before recording, I did. So whoever you are, this week's podcast starts off with my heartfelt apology and an...
10.27.2023
The 3 Top Gear Reviews
Casting Across is not a "gear review site." But it does feature quite a few gear reviews. And, apparently you like them. My gear reviews receive thousands upon thousands of views every year. I usually keep those opinions confined to the specific...
10.20.2023
Death on the River
Sometimes it takes something jarring to get you to realize that you're not as safe as you thought. While fly fishing isn't a risky or dangerous activity, the fact of the matter is that it has elements of risk and danger....
10.13.2023
How to Read Big Rivers
My introduction to fly fishing was on small, intimate rivers and streams. The first time I waded into a broad, sprawling trout river I was confident I wasn't going to catch a thing. But you know what? I did. And by...
10.06.2023
When to Jump Up 2 Line Sizes
Okay. Here's one that you can put in the debating fly fishing minutiae category. What situations should trigger jumping up two rod weights/line sizes? Today I talk through three circumstances that might push you to a heavier terminal rig. I give three...
09.29.2023
Urban Fly Fishing
There is a certain picture most of us have in our minds when we think of fly fishing. Rolling hills, dense forests, and barren beaches are the kinds of scenery we seek out as we pursue fish. But have you ever...
09.22.2023
All. The. Fly. Shops.
What's your fly shop? There is a good chance that you have a local shop, considering that there are nearly 400 of them around the lower 48. A new and exciting part of Casting Across is the "Fly Shop Box" - an...
09.15.2023
4 Things Everyone Needs to Know
Recently I took my oldest son fishing on one of my favorite streams. It has taken me this long to take him, an accomplished angler for a pre-teen, because it is an incredibly small creek with remarkably spooky fish. But those...
09.08.2023
Allow Myself to Introduce Myself
Who is this guy you listen to every week? Valid question. In fact, I think that it is incredibly helpful to know at least a little something about the life, experiences, and worldview of the author you're reading. Or podcaster you're...
09.01.2023
Fly Fishing Accusations, XXV
Every 10 episodes I read and respond to listener and reader feedback. This 25th edition of this facet of the Casting Across Fly Fishing Podcast includes the most diverse sources to date. Today I interact with a Facebook comment, a YouTube...
08.25.2023
Guests for the 250th
250 episodes. That is a quarter of the way to a really impressive benchmark. But let's not focus too much on the future. Today, I break my format rules and bring three guests into the studio. We talk travel, big bass, and...
08.18.2023
4 Quick Fishing Gear Mods
We live in a day and age when we can use products off the shelf and they'll perform incredibly well. But if you spend any time on YouTube, you know that there is nothing that is off-limits when it comes...
08.11.2023
What's in a Gear Review?
Most of us rely upon others' reviews of products and services as we attempt to make decisions regarding our hard earned money. More importantly: as we attempt to do our best to catch more fish. What makes a good review? What...
08.04.2023
3 Ways to Fish Out of a Rut
It could be the season of life, the weather, or even just the recent (lack of) success on the water. But whatever it is, you've found yourself in a fishing rut. What can you do to get back to where you...
07.28.2023
Trout & Hot Temps
I'm not a biologist. But I do have enough common sense to analyze data, listen to experts, and pay attention to the world around me. Consequently, I'm aware that it isn't wise to fish for trout as the thermometer goes up. It...
07.21.2023
Go Big for Bass
Bass anglers learning how to fish for trout have an uphill climb. There is an entirely new lexicon to master and lots of tiny, particular gear to figure out. However, trout anglers - specifically fly fishers - have a lot to learn...
07.14.2023
Just Enough Gear for a Little Fishing
You've got a work trip or family vacation coming up. You think that either: a) There's no way you can bring all you need for any legitimate fishing. Or, b) There's no way you can fit anything in your luggage/minivan. I'm here to alleviate...
07.07.2023
A Fin in the Water of Trout Genetics
The eye does amazing things. With our vision alone, we can discern and identify a dazzling array of variables. You can see intricate vermiculation lines across the back of a brook trout, unique spot patterns on a mountain cutthroat, or a...
06.30.2023
Midges: 12 Months of Dry Flies
You can do it. You can fish teeny, tiny flies. Moreover, you want to do it. Why? Because if you can fish midges then you can probably fish dry flies any day you want to. In virtually all healthy ecosystems there...
06.23.2023
Rods! Casting! Action!
Why did you pick the fly rod that you did? Was it the label? Was it the price? Was it how it felt when you wiggled it in the store? Or, was it because the rod cast a line in a...
06.15.2023
Fly Fishing Accusations, XXIV
Fly fishing is about a whole lot more than catching fish. I've expressed that sentiment in quite a few ways over the years here on Casting Across. This week's podcast touches on that theme in a few different ways. While I...

What's Casting Across Fly Fishing about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Casting Across Fly Fishing episodes:

A Backup Gear How-to

Using Fish

Topwater Trout... Not Dry Flies

Your Fly Rod Questions

6 Cash Saving Tips for Fly Fishing Trips

Urban Fly Fishing 101

Guide Stories & Insights

Nasty Weather Fly Gear

Fly Fishing VA, 2 Ways

Fly Fishing Accusations, XXVIII

[Cast1] Your Next Step in Fly Fishing

[Cast1] The Culture of Fly Fishing

[Cast1] Warm Water Fly Fishing

[Cast1] The Seasons of Trout

[Cast1] Casting & Presenting Flies

[Cast1] Finding & Reading Water

[Cast1] All that Fly Gear

[Cast1] Rods, Reels, & Line

[Cast1] How Fly Fishing Works

Fly Fishing Accusations, XXVII

Dumbing Down Fly Tying

2023 in the Backcast

Fly Fishing Storytime '23

Fly Fishing... From a Boat!

Fishing Gifts For All!

3 Fly Fishing Lies

Fly Fishing Thanks, 2023

The End of Your Fly Line

Cold Fly Fishing Encouragement

Fly Fishing Accusations, XXVI

The 3 Top Gear Reviews

Death on the River

How to Read Big Rivers

When to Jump Up 2 Line Sizes

Urban Fly Fishing

All. The. Fly. Shops.

4 Things Everyone Needs to Know

Allow Myself to Introduce Myself

Fly Fishing Accusations, XXV

Guests for the 250th

4 Quick Fishing Gear Mods

What's in a Gear Review?

3 Ways to Fish Out of a Rut

Trout & Hot Temps

Go Big for Bass

Just Enough Gear for a Little Fishing

A Fin in the Water of Trout Genetics

Midges: 12 Months of Dry Flies

Rods! Casting! Action!

Fly Fishing Accusations, XXIV