Casting Across Fly Fishing

A lot more goes into a good fly shop than some big-name decals on the windows.

Sometimes, a good fly shop has faded sign with a cartoon worm underneath the words "live bait."

I'm not kidding. What makes a good fly shop is all about the soul on the inside. You need flies, rods, and all the miscellany to make it a store. But it is the people, and what they offer, who give it soul.

On this episode of the podcast, I recount some formative fly fishing experiences from an unlikely angling location.

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Of course you know which weight you want for your next fly rod. Or do you?

I'm only questioning you because I've had to question myself. Sometimes we get stuck thinking about what the marketing, or our fishing buddy, or our biased presuppositions tell us we need in new gear.

While there are countless great articles out there that give some tips on buying your next fly rod, I wanted to come at the topic from a slightly different angle. You don't need a rod: you need the rod that does the job you want done

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Questions, questions, questions. I am well aware that my writing and speaking might leave you with a few things you're still wondering about.

Which is great.

Go out and experiment. Open a book and read. Show up to a TU meeting. Bend the ear of your local fly shop proprietor.

Or you could always email me or leave a comment on the website. Here I talk about neoprene waders, getting kids excited about fly fishing, and short furled leaders.

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*This is the second installment of a two part series ; listen to episode 58 for part one.*

My first grand scheme was met with mixed results. I was at the point where the chase was as attractive as the catch. I wasn't going to stop until I found trout nearby.

With dozens of top-notch trout options within a few hours, why go through the hassle of a long hike and a quasi-clandestine fishing trip? And would it even be worth it?

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How far do you have to drive to get to trout?

How far do you have to drive to get to native trout?

The second question is one that has been on my mind for as long as I have been fly fishing. There is something about wild fish, even if they're teeny-tiny, that encapsulates so much of why I do what I do.

And I'm not alone.

This is the first of a two-part narrative of my wild-eyed quest for local, native trout.

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Reading maps is a lost art. Creating maps might be all about precise science, but interpreting maps is much more nuanced.

Even if you don't think about maps, most fly fishers rely on maps in some way. You need to find the stream, the special regulation section of the stream, & the place on the stream where the fish are supposed to be.

In this episode I share some map-centric memories, & give 3 tips for using maps to find fish that you might have otherwise overlooked.

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Casting Across isn't an interview- or discussion-based podcast. There are plenty of those out there, and I encourage you to listen and subscribe. There are some great ones.

But as this is the one-year mark of the podcast, I thought I'd break out of the mold and into an interview for an episode. Two interviews, actually.

Hear me talk to two of the people who have impacted my fly fishing  the most. Actually, these are two people who have  had a tremendous impact on my life.

My 7- and 5-year old boy

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What are you thankful for? We ask that question a lot, especially towards the end of November. This is also a natural time to ask what in fly fishing you are thankful for. The heart of the season is wrapping up.

This week, I mention a handful of things that I am thankful for. While I doubt our experiences are exactly the same, there is enough commonality within fly fishing that I know you'll be able to relate.

Also, I talk about some programs that truly deserve all of our gratitude.

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Even when it is frigid outside, the fish have to eat.

Which means you can go out and catch them.  The only problem is that going out entails being out. Thanks to modern technology and a little common sense, it is actually pretty simple to stay warm in even the coldest situations.

Whether you're in the below-zero conditions of the Great Lakes tributaries, or a brisk 40 degree day on a North Carolina tail water, you're going to bundle up.

Here are some practical ideas:

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Your first months and years of fly fishing will  probably produce some of your most treasured moments. You won't have all of the knowledge, experience, or gear, but every cast will yield something new and wonderful.

This week I look back at three things that made my first few years of fly fishing matter. I've caught a lot of fish in a lot of places since then, but I can honestly say that the three things I mention played an enormous role in shaping me as an angler.

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