The Casting Across Fly Fishing Podcast explores the quarry and the culture of fly fishing. Each episode, I'll discuss some aspect of fly fishing - the people, places, and things that go into the pursuit of fish.
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...
21 min
302
3 Areas of Angling Confidence
Fly fishing is ninety percent 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...
22 min
303
You Make Fly Fishing What It Is
This week marks four years of Casting Across; four years' worth of articles about the people, places, and things that go into the pursuit of fish. What have I learned? Even though the fly fishing community includes an incredibly diverse array of...
22 min
304
Golden Fly Fishing Accusations
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...
21 min
305
Steelhead Primer
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, fishing for these lake-run trout isn't the same experience as going to the...
22 min
306
Beauty & Chaos in Fly Boxes
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...
22 min
307
3 Fly Fishing Things I Wish I Knew Then
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...
21 min
308
European Trout-cation
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...
21 min
309
Never Confess Your Sins to a Trout
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, confess your sins, and atone for your angling? Recently a seminary (I use that term loosely) shared that they...
22 min
310
Reels: Not a Real Big Deal
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...
21 min
311
You Are Not a Trout Bum
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....
18 min
312
Scared of Fishing in the Rain?
What harm is a little rain? 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...
21 min
313
Cast Better to Fish Better
Want to know how to make a better presentation with your fly? Cast better Want to know how to catch more fish? Cast better. Want to know how to have more fun fly fishing? Cast better. Learning to be able to cast a fly rod better is part of growing as...
24 min
314
Fly Fishing Accusations IV
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,...
21 min
315
Beyond Dry/Dropper: Creative 2 Fly Rigs
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...
22 min
316
What Makes the Good Fly Shops Good?
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...
21 min
317
Here's a New Spot for You to Fish
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,...
23 min
318
How to Know if You Know How to Fly Fish
If you can’t explain it, you don’t really get it. What does this have to do with fly fishing? 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...
21 min
319
Pro Deals... What's the Deal?
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...
22 min
320
Land, Liberty, & Fly Fishing
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...
20 min
321
Throw Your Money at Waders & Boots
Waders and wading boots are often afterthoughts in fly fishing gear discussions. But if you fish a lot, would you rather have a great fly rod and mediocre boots or a mediocre fly rod and great boots? I don't think I'm overstating things when I...
25 min
322
Playing 20 Fly Fishing Questions
You’ve probably been there before. Lying in bed, the night before a fly fishing excursion. You have thoughts. Questions, actually. You might attempt the counting sheep equivalent of visualizing heavy trout coming to the net. But, for analytical...
18 min
323
A Pinch of Salt for the Trout Crowd
I'm willing to wager that the bulk of my audience/readership fishes primarily or exclusively in freshwater. That makes sense, because I fish primarily in freshwater. But saltwater fly fishing is spectacular. While there are plenty of common elements...
24 min
324
Fly Fishing Accusations III
As I've done every 10 episodes, I take the time to respond to and interact with your questions, comments, and accusations. There weren't a whole lot of accusations, but that sounds much more provocative. In this podcast, I talk about all of the small...
23 min
325
Why You Should Fish the Cumberland Valley
In 25 minutes, I only scratch the surface of this historic fly fishing region. Situated in south central Pennsylvania, the Cumberland Valley boasts some remarkable spring creeks. Who doesn't like big fish in small, beautiful water? While the rivers...