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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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....

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

"What we have here... is a failure to communicate." As connected as technology has allowed us to become, it seems like we're farther apart than ever. We're closer in many ways, but disconnection runs rampant. In something as fun, as good, as pure as...

Folklore and “grandpa always said” make up a great deal of how and why fly fishers approach the water. But do we really need to be quiet, camouflaged, and flat on the ground in order to catch fish? In this episode of the podcast, I look at four...

Fly fishing books have been an important part of the sport for hundreds of years, taking different forms and meeting various needs. Even in an age when so much information is available at the tap of a smart phone, tangible media is incredibly...