Casting Across Fly Fishing

"I'm in one of the most beautiful places on earth, and I've just caught an enormous fish. But I don't give a crap." ...at least that is what your face is saying.

That is just one example of how people take fly fishing too seriously.  Unless you are part of the <1% of anglers who depend on fishing to feed their families, I suggest taking a chill pill. We all might take our fishing a little too seriously.

But fishing is about fun. And if you're not having fun why are you doing it?

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A year ago I released a podcast entitled "3 Fly Fishing Things I Wish I Knew Then." Believe it or not, there are more. In this episode I discuss why the new angler ought to consider some parts of fly fishing that might not be readily apparent. But with the benefit of time and perspective on my side, I can also say that anglers who have been on the stream for a while might need to consider them too. Me included.

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90 episodes in, and it is still a lot of fun!

On this installment of the podcast, I interact with three messages from listeners/readers. I discuss Euro rods on small streams, how to find water that is easy to walk or wade in, and a heartfelt response to a memorial article.

As always, if you have any questions, comments, or accusations please don't hesitate to reach out. Use the comment form on the website or email me: matthew[at]castingacross[dot]com.

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Road trip!

Depending upon your particular experiences, that phrase might elicit great joy or terrible fear. But what if you have a fly rod in the car? Or, what if you've had a fly rod in the car while taking that same route in the past?

Adding a little fishing to a longer drive can break things up. But, there are a lot more benefits than just a pair of wet boots and a few fish in the net. Getting off the highway and into some of the local flavor can really increase your enjoyment of a place and a drive.

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There is one fish that I have been trying to catch for nearly 20 years. It isn't a specific fish, per se, but any rainbow trout out of a particular stream.

This week I caught that fish.

It was a little fish. Really little. But that is okay. After numerous failed attempts (some of which resulted in law enforcement intervention), it was immensely satisfying to catch & release this one trout.

How can one little fish be so hard to catch? And why would I have some quixotic obsession with it?

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If you can negotiate some time on the water, then you should absolutely sneak some fishing into your family trip. Want my advice? Don't bring what you would normally bring on a fishing trip. Pack lighter. Be it out of necessity or simply to keep the peace, choose what you're hauling along with coolers, strollers, and scooters wisely. Even if you are flying and going solo, there should be a minimized method to your madness. Today on the podcast, I talk through fitting fly fishing into trips.

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I'm pretty confident that my audience is beyond the "fly fishing is the only kind of fly fishing!" thing.

Don't get me wrong: I love fly fishing. 9 times out of 10, I'm fishing with a fly rod. But that "1" makes for plenty of opportunities. And I can honestly say that all of my time fishing with a fly has made me a better angler when I'm using spinning or baitcasting gear.

In this episode I talk about three ways that fly fishing techniques have honed and improved my time on the water.

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A benefit of fishing a lot is the ability to be a little choosy.

Instead of splashing at every chance at a big fish, it allows for a more measured approach. With a lot of fly fishing comes an increased sample size to consider. There are more experiences, more insights, and more observations. Most importantly, it is a lot like the feeding habits of a big trout: just be there, and opportunities will present themselves that require very little of you.

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You can keep your flies in anything. At the end of the day, it is how you fish your flies - not where you store them - that ends up catching fish.

Of course, for only a few dollars you can get the right fly box. It might lead to better organization. It could even mean your flies stay protected. And, it could be argued, both of those might mean catching more fish.

In this episode I walk through the styles and types of fly boxes I think are most beneficial for a number of patterns and uses.

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What makes a good fishing cabin?

Maybe, just maybe, it doesn't have to be a cabin to do what you need it to do. Today, I talk about how I've been finding fly fishing trip lodging for a while now.

Also, I start of the podcast by talking about healing, documentaries, and another podcast. It is a little bit of everything, but it touches on a diverse range of fly fishing experiences.

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