Casting Across Fly Fishing

There are as many ways to carry fly fishing gear as there are pieces of fly fishing gear. And that is saying a lot.

How do you keep the stuff you need (or that you think you need) on you when you're on the water? It might not be a big source of concern for you. But maybe you're new to fly fishing. Maybe you need to carry more. Perhaps you need to carry less. It could just be that what you've been doing has been hurting your shoulder or back.

I have some experience in the trial and error of trying different ways to carry gear. Today I walk through 7 options.

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Today I'm sharing three practical tips for introducing someone to fly fishing.

For you, it might be a child, a friend, or a spouse. Simply putting them next to you in the water probably isn't enough. I walk through three things that are worth thinking about: exploration, opportunity, & access.

Whether you're just getting into fly fishing yourself, or you're shooting to get someone involved with you this season, listen to how you might want to go about introducing fly fishing.

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I got accused of something!

Well, maybe not. And if it is, it isn't particularly accusatory. But it is a disagreement about fly fishing gear.

So, I address it. I also talk about how and why I create the podcast that I do. The last topic on the episode has to do with all the component pieces that one can use when fishing streamers.

I truly enjoy interacting with all the emails and website comments I receive. These podcast editions give me a chance to respond in a fun way.

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What kind of fishing investment am I talking about? The kind in people: yourself, those around you, and those who will be fishing tomorrow.

Today I share a little bit about the most prominent influence in my life related to angling and conservation: the Pennsylvania Rivers Conservation & Fly Fishing Youth Camp. I can honestly say that my week at that camp (and a string of years as it's director) made a significant impact on how I fish and think about fishing.

Hear me share my story and how you can get involved.

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No - not that kind of record.

While you are more than welcome to try to catch the largest fish in a particular line class, I'm talking about record-keeping. What kind of records, you ask? Well, I have four that I discuss on this episode of the podcast.

Whether you have a fancy Moleskine journal or (like me) use Excel, there is some information that can be beneficial to you if you take a few moments to record it. And who knows: maybe it will help you catch a world record fish.

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Dry flies looked about the same 100 years ago. Streamers? Things were a little different.

We hadn't gotten around to articulated flies that use half a bucktail yet. But we still caught fish. And the flies that were being fished worked. Plus, you could cast them on your regular trout rod. All was well in the world.

And it still is. There is no reason why you can't fish a Mickey Finn, Grey Ghost, or Edson Tiger today. In fact, I suggest you do. So much that I recorded a whole podcast on the worthwhile enterprise.

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A little can go a long way. When it comes to your fly fishing gear, taking a couple of hours can keep your equipment functioning well and actually improve your time on the water.

In this episode, I quickly run through six things that you can do to take care of your gear and get it ready for the upcoming season (or tune it up during the season). I also add six more quick steps that aren't as vital, but are nevertheless helpful and probably worth your time.

All in all, most fly fishing gear will give you season after season. "Fishing hard" doesn't mean that your stuff will fail after a year of use. A few simple steps will keep you and your equipment happy and hooked into fish.

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I don't get bent out of shape to often about fly fishing. But one thing does make me look sideways at what is happening in our little angling community.

It is when people get bent out of shape.

Sound hypocritical or oxymoronic? Hear me out.

A lot of the battles that are fought online or over fly shop counters are akin to two sculpins jockeying for position on the bottom of a giant pool. They don't matter that much. They're much ado about nothing. They are controversy for controversy's sake. They're not worth it.

In this podcast, I discuss two areas where people get fired up: fly fishing "celebrities" and product reviews. Check it out, think about it, and let me know what you think.

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It is never too late to do better. Two of the three things I mention on this episode; I'm really still working on them. But all three are real examples of aspects of fly fishing that would have been great to be keyed in on when I started.

This fourth edition (six, if you count fly tying) of this series touches on getting more out of gear, fishing, and the experience. You can have a blast and catch a lot of fish without doing what I suggest. But honestly, I would consider these three things as simple, effective facets worth adding to your approach to fly fishing.

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How much can you say about wading boots? Well, at least 20 minutes.

I've long maintained that wading boots are one of the pieces of gear that deserve your hard earned money. They keep you comfortable and they keep you upright. Or, they keep you fishing.

In today's episode I talk about some things to think about when shopping for wading boots (and I do intend that as plural!). This is a great discussion to share with a new angler, as I walk through some of the most common questions.

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