Casting Across Fly Fishing

For some reason, the myth exists that fishing isn't any good in the rain. Maybe we should keep that fallacy going, because getting out on the river in the rain is a great way to get to spots and fish that would otherwise be hard to approach. Whether it is because the rain is keeping away crowds or creating angling opportunities, a few drops might be the catalyst to getting you on the water.

I share a few tips, some observations, and my unscientific opinion on why fly fishing in the rain isn't scary at all.

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Want to know how to make a better presentation with your fly?

Want to know how to catch more fish?

Want to know how to have more fun fly fishing?

Learning to be able to cast a fly rod better is part of growing as an angler. It might be about distance, accuracy, or efficiency. Regardless, a little bit of perspective, patience, and practice can go a long way to make your time on the water better.

I discuss a few ways to think about fly casting practice in this episode.

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40 episodes in, and I have a lot of questions, comments, and other feedback to interact with.

This podcast I  answer a question about fishing while backpacking, sing the praises of old fly rods, and address "Japanese shower climbing." Briefly, but I address it.

It is a lot of fun to hear what readers/listeners are thinking when they interact with Casting Across, and these episodes allow me to take previous content to another level of specificity.

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If you're not fishing a dry/dropper, you're missing  out on an excellent way to maximize your fish-catching potential.

But there are other "dropper" rigs that work really well in a variety of scenarios in which a dry fly trailed by a nymph just wouldn't make sense. In this episode I talk about four ways you can utilize two flies to improve your fishing and your catching.

How many of these techniques have you tried?

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Even today, brick and mortar fly shops are an integral part of fly fishing culture. Beyond supplying rods, reels, flies, and tying materials, they offer angling insight and legitimate community.

Although there are many factors that lead to fly shops succeeding or failing, there are certain things that most of the truly good shops have in common. And, in my opinion, the most important facets aren't fishing gear.

What do you like in a fly shop?

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When it comes to reading water, the fly fisher who is observant  of details will be rewarded.

This way of angling doesn’t mean casting your fly to every square inch of the creek. It entails reading the water at a level that goes beyond riffle, run, pool.  Slow down. Think and assess. Don't just fishing the holding water that usually  has a trout or two.

There are plenty of fish that aren't where you usually look. You just need to realize they are there.

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If you can’t explain it, you don’t really get it.

Think of it this way: Can you explain the basic mechanics of a cast? Could you give a quick overview of why the feeding behavior of fish changes with the weather? Why should I buy a medium-action fly rod over a fast one… or vice-versa?

You don't need to be an expert to know how to fish or, more importantly, enjoy how to fish. But learning how to communicate fly fishing might be one of the best ways to learn how to fly fish better.

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I'll go on record as saying that I think "Pro Deals" and "Pro Staff" are totally fine. But just like anything else in fly fishing (or in the rest of the world), abuse can ruin a good thing. Kirk Deeter's recent Angling Trade piece articulated some of the real problems that exist with this system. It is clear why "Pro Staffers" give this legitimate marketing tactic a bad name, and it makes sense why some are agitated by the whole institution. In this episode I talk about a few different perspectives.

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In this 4th of July(ish) episode I get political. And in the vein of most politicians, I don't say a whole lot.

What I do, however, is hopefully get  you thinking about a few topics that impact fly fishers and US citizens alike. Public lands and social media censorship have direct implications for those who fish and hunt. Although these issues are often presented as black and white, with one side being the "right side" for outdoors people, there is certainly more nuance than that.

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Waders and wading boots are often afterthoughts in fly fishing gear discussions.

But I don't think I'm overstating things when I say that a great rod that gives you another few feet of "castability" isn't going to matter much if your footing is unstable and your back hurts.

In this episode of the podcast I discuss a few (potentially controversial) things that you should think about the next time you go out to buy waders and wading boots.

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