Casting Across Fly Fishing

Fly fishing is 90% mental, the other half is physical... or something like that.

Truly, having the right mindset when approaching the stream and presenting your fly matters. You have got to be reasonable in what you're doing and how you're doing it, but having confidence counts for a whole lot.

I quickly cover 3 things you can have confidence in as a fly fisher, and how this can be helpful as you fish for the 2nd time or the 1,000th time.

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This week marks 4 years of Casting Across; 4 years' worth of articles about the people, places, and things that go into the pursuit of fish.

Even though the fly fishing community includes an incredibly diverse array of experiences, there are two common denominators that make fly fishing what it is.

And fish is only one of them.

20 minutes doesn't do 4 years justice, but in this episode I talk about some things I've gleaned through countless hours behind the keyboard... and a few on the water.

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50 episodes! But really, the milestone for a weekly podcast is 52...

This week I respond to four  listeners/readers.  I discuss the quality of my podcast, keeping your eyeballs safe, a few pieces of gear an angling "noob" might want to pick up, and a fly rod that I am embarrassed I don't own.

Even though 50 isn't really an anniversary, thanks for listening and for the comments, emails, and reviews.

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I'm surprised at how many devoted fly fishers haven't tried catching Great Lakes steelhead. Big fish, manageable rivers, and easy access seem like a perfect combination.

Sure, this isn't the Pacific Northwest. But being a half-day's drive from a unique seasonal fishery is something that anglers from Chicago to Boston ought to consider.

I present a quick survey on what goes into giving steelhead a shot: gear, technique, and some excellent tips on when to go to maximize your chances.

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By the time Fall rolls around, most fly fishers' fly boxes are looking pretty rough. 

Truth be told, many new anglers also have chaotic and bizarre collections of fly patterns.

Although it might not be for everyone, I have a concept that I've tried to implement in how I fill and maintain fly boxes. In this episode of the podcast, I talk about one of my methods for fly storage/usage. I also go above my pay grade and discuss tying and fishing cress bug patterns.

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Contrary to popular Hollywood tropes, you can't go back in time.

However, others can learn from your mistakes. And hindsight can also help you make better decisions going forward.

All of that is true in the big, important parts of life. It is also true in fly fishing. In this episode I talk about three things about fly fishing that I wish I knew when I was younger. More accurately: these are things I knew about when I was younger, but I should have actually done them.

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I could hear it. It was coming closer. And there I was: alone in the woods, halfway across the world, holding only a fly rod.

It wasn't even that great of a rod.

10 years ago I went to Italy. There was culture, cuisine, and an ill-fated fly fishing adventure. Hear me talk about the fish, the fishery, and the fishing guide that made it such a bizarre story. Also, learn how I escaped  the aforementioned, tense situation.

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What would you say if you were told that you owed every fish you caught an apology? How about that you actually needed to find a fish and atone for your angling?

Recently a school held a service where students prayed to plants. What might sound like satire actually has real worldview implications. In this episode I talk out of my weight class and explore some of the implications of seemingly compassionate ecological concepts that, in reality, actually might end up hurting  plants, fish, and us.

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Rod, reel, line.

I say no! It shall be rod, line, reel.

For most fly fishing scenarios, your reel is the least significant part of your terminal tackle equation. Of course there are some real, legitimate exceptions. But more often than not most trout fishing doesn't necessitate a super-premium reel. You need something to hold line, and you need some basic fish fighting skills.

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I don’t want to feel like you’re being attacked.

I am sure that you are really, really into fly fishing. If you were to tell me everything you know, share your angling expense report, and rattle off where you’ve been I bet I’d be impressed. Seriously. No sarcasm. There is a very good chance that you’re an angling enthusiast or  a fly fishing aficionado or a hardcore fisher-person.

You’re just not a trout bum.

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