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....

This week's episode is a hodge-podge of topics in and around fly fishing. I talk about choosing between two rod weights, which bug sprays you shouldn't use while fly fishing, and how we should think about conservation in light of COVID. The only thing...

Fly fishing for trout with a mouse fly is a really exciting way to revisit your favorite water. It also may very well yield some of the biggest fish... fish you didn't even know swam in your well-known holes. Using mice is also a pretty...

Where do you shop for your fly fishing gear? Which brands do you consider? Today we have the modern convenience of buying  not just rods and reels, but socks and undies, from fly fishing companies. For some that is a great option. For many, that...

If you've been fly fishing for any length of time, there is a good chance that major life events are bracketed by rivers and trout.  I can certainly say that. And in this episode of the podcast, I do say that. Although Casting Across has a lot of...

There are dozens upon dozens of things that would be a good idea to do before you being your fishing season in earnest. Even if you have been getting out on the water over the winter, now would be an opportune time to take inventory of some of what...

Most people in the world think that fishing results in harvesting. And, across a wide spectrum of concerns, non-catch-and-release anglers are the allies of fly fishers. We’re largely fighting for the same things. Definitely keep advocating for our...

Don't burn me at the angling stake for the title of this episode! (If anything, you'll find that I'm guilty of being slightly misleading.) In a day and age where big, heavy, articulated streamers get a lot of publicity, it is important to remember...

A fly fishing debate as old as the rivers themselves: Which weight should you fish if you want the quintessential trout fly rod? First of all, there is no right answer. That doesn't stop me from trying to answer, though. I go through a handful of...

One of the biggest drawbacks to the last year has been the significant reduction in organic conversation. Sure, there are still opportunities to get together. It just isn't as easy. However, I've had an uptick in online interaction with listeners and...

If you think the first fly to come off of your vise is going to look like something you'd mount in a shadow box, you're going to be pretty disappointed. Truth be told, there are plenty of reasons why beginner fly tyers get frustrated, stall out, or...

I know. You like your flies. Dozens of patterns; hundreds of individual fish catching pieces of potential. But really, how many do you actually use? While it isn't for every angler (or every situation), cutting down the flies you carry on the water...

There's a good way to talk about conversation. There are a lot of bad ways to talk about conversation. While it is a broad-brushed, stereotyping statement, there is some truth in the "cantankerous fly fisher" archetype. In this episode I encourage us...

Some of the rivers that our grandfathers lauded as destination waters have declined in one way or another. The quantity or quality of the fish just isn’t there anymore. There are still fish present, and there is still good fishing to be had, but...

Is something missing from your fly fishing this winter? You're still fishing. You're still tying up a lot of flies. You're keeping your nose in a book or glued to YouTube. So what is missing? Fly fishing shows and outdoor expos. Large gatherings...

There are some spots in rivers and streams that you just know hold fish. Deep blue pools, frothy eddies, and overhanging limbs all look incredibly fishy. Another spot that ought to be in that list is the undercut bank. Fish, especially trout, covet...

Fly choice. Feeding lane. Approach angle. Your emotions? When was the last time you stopped and considered how much your attitude impacts your fly fishing? In this episode I stop short of psychoanalysis, but I do consider how your mental state impacts...

I don't make a lot of New Year's resolutions. Sure, I decide to do a lot of things... they just happen to be more spur of the moment than calendar-based. However, I do like to think about my fly fishing on an annual basis. Perhaps it stems from buying...

Merry Christmas from Casting Across! Since this episode is being released on the night of Christmas Eve, I thought I'd go ahead and do something a little different. Nostalgia and tradition is a big part of the holiday season. Stories of those who came...

Thanks for reading and listening. And an extra thanks for those who get in touch. This week I push back on some people who pushed back on an article I wrote about topics of conversation while fly fishing. What is appropriate? Read, listen, and you...

The calendar should not and can not dictate your fly fishing. Sure, the water might be frozen over. Maybe it is even illegal to fish in certain months where you live. There is a chance that you hate being cold. Still, you can stay plugged in to fly...