Casting Across Fly Fishing

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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Recently I hit the "50" mark on my fly fishing book review series on YouTube. I've filmed myself doing "show and tell" with over 60 books, and it has been a lot of fun.

Today on the podcast, I talk about some thoughts (five, to be precise) I have on reading fly fishing books. There is a whole lot more that I could share, but this is a nice little synopsis of some questions I've fielded and some observations I've made.

If you haven't yet, subscribe to Casting Across on YouTube. And  it goes without saying: get reading!

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I love questions. And you should too. Never feel dumb for asking a good question. That said, I'm also happy if I can give you some information on the front end so that you can ask an even better and more applicable question. 

Since a good chunk of the fly fishing questions I field pertain to fly rods, I've put together a whole page on Casting Across dealing with the most frequently asked questions. I try to answer them succinctly on the site. But today I'm elaborating a little bit. I'm taking on three questions that I've received countless times. Maybe they'll answer your questions. Or maybe they'll spur you on to ask something else. Either way, I'm happy.

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With over 1,600 pieces of content at the time of this episode's recording, navigating the Casting Across website might be a little daunting. But the depth and breadth of what is available is worth clicking through. Today's podcast is meant to help you in that endeavor.

Knowing that there isn't a perfect overlap of podcast listeners and website readers, I introduce the content on the site. Then, I walk through some of the features that can help you find the most pertinent information in the quickest way possible. And, since I'm certainly not the web expert, I ask for your feedback in a few places.

It is a quick listen, but hopefully it sends you down a rabbit hole of angling articles.

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