I don't use the term magic much. But there is something magical about fly fishing in  the fall. The woods and the fish get more colorful. The fishing seems to last all day; it stops being a morning and evening activity. The air is crisp and and...

So much work goes into getting a fish onto your hook. But then what? A social media post got me thinking about how we fight fish. It is all about getting into and maintaining the right angles. This helps you and it helps the fish. Today I talk about...

In this episode, I admit that I made a mistake. Seriously: For years I've failed to do one of the things that I emphasize in my writing and speaking. I've neglected to define a term. A listener/reader pointed this out, and today I take a stab at...

"There's no such thing as a bad question." Not true. But you're not going to hear any bad questions on this week's podcast. Today I get grilled by two of of the most avid listeners of Casting Across Fly Fishing. Questions  range from fly patterns...

Fall is, without question, the objectively best season of the year. In my opinion. Whether you are mourning summer or waiting for the water to freeze over, you have got to admit that fly fishing really shines in September, October, and November....

So, how did you spend your summer break? To be fair, most of September is still summer. And there is a lot of great fly fishing to be hand well into the fall. But the natural flow of the seasons means there is a hinge between the 8th and 9th months in...

I know. I talk about light fly rods a lot on Casting Across. Part of the reason is because I really, really enjoy them. And the other part is because some of you still need to learn that they are really, really enjoyable. In all seriousness, in...

There are two schools of thought when it comes to sleeping on a fishing trip. Some people want comfort: resorts, hotels, your own bed. Some people want quick: tents, cabins, someone's futon. Both approaches have their place. Your budget and your...

Most fly fishers do a decent enough job of looking over, cleaning, and organizing their gear before the season starts. But if you have been fishing hard (or intermittantly) there are a few things that you should take a look at before you head into the...

Latest and greatest had to start somewhere. Often, that place had a lot going for it too. Having a preliminary knowledge of the history of fly fishing might pay off in really good fishing. More often than not, the reward is going to be in what you...

There is something special about wet wading in the warmest months of the year. It is a pretty unencumbered and carefree way to cast flies to fish. That being said, there are some choices that you'll have to make about what you wear. In this episode, I...

If you can get your fly to a fish, you're casting good enough. However, if you want to cast with a little more accuracy, distance, or reduce fatigue after a long day on the water you might want to think about how you can tweak your cast. In this...

Getting a fish to bite is a lot harder than fighting it to your hand. Still, there are some things that should be thought about when you're playing a fish. From the hook set to the release, there are a couple of bad maneuvers that anglers should...

You've got questions, I've got (my own stabs at) answers. This week, I've got three great emails to share on the podcast. Two have to do with gear, one pertains to the small and coincidental world that is fly fishing. As always, I appreciate getting...

A common solution for conservation-minded anglers that place stewardship above sport is to lay off the fly fishing for a month or two.  But does that mean that fishing for trout is off limits in July and August? Are bass and carp the only fair...

Whether it be due to location or preference, some anglers routinely pursue species like bass. Additionally, the waters they frequent aren’t the typical wide smallmouth rivers or vast largemouth lakes. Our nation is covered with small steams that...

Part of this year's Father's Day gift was "a day to go fishing." (Note: this is a great gift to give someone.) Now, I get to fish a lot. But this gifted day was special because it was to be used while we were on vacation in Virginia. Picking a spot to...

https://castingacross.com/ep-136/

Who doesn't love a good fly fishing trip? Whether it be exotic locations on the other side of the globe or premier destinations across the country, most anglers long for exciting water in which to fish. But what about the creek down the road? In this...

Aside from my rod, line, reel, and flies, there is no more important piece of fishing gear than sunglasses. Yes, they keep the sun out of your eyes. But a good pair of sunglasses will help you catch fish and keep you safe. There aren't many gadgets...

Giving gifts to a fly fisher isn't always the easiest thing to do. Admittedly, we're a pretty particular bunch. I mean, we have preferences on which kind of nippers we use to cut millimeters of tippet. In this week's podcast, I do give some specific...

Why keep a fly rod in the back of your car at all times? If you can tolerate it rolling around, you'll set yourself up for some good to great fly fishing at a moment's notice. And if you haven't fished for a while, any fly fishing is good to great....

Maybe, just maybe, your idea of hiring a fly fishing guide simply entails fish. Big fish, lots of fish: fish. While I don't think anyone would object to catching fish (and big ones, and a lot of them), there are a few other things that separate the...

In this week's episode, I answer questions about rods, reels, and leaders. But they're some awfully specific questions. That being said, I'm confident that you - the fly fisher - will appreciate and benefit from the scenarios that elicited these...

I've written a lot about fly fishing with kids over the years. However, this is my first podcast on the topic. In just under 20 minutes, I go over three ideas that will probably be helpful as you fish with your own children or the kids in your life....