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 fish wasn't easy, as I have plenty of local favorites and there are countless great opportunities. However, I was able to nail something down. Well, two things. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 25, 2021•28 min•Season 1Ep. 137
Rocky Mountain National Park provides plenty of fantastic fly fishing opportunities. Rocky Mountain is one of the most visited national parks in the country on an annual basis. It boasts numerous visitor centers, hundreds of miles of trails, and most of the iconic species of the region. All that, and a lot of trout. Moreover, there are plenty of options for the angler. Listen as I talk through where to fish, what to bring, and why a quick trip to RMNP with rod in hand is well worth it. Learn mor...
Jun 18, 2021•27 min•Season 1Ep. 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? The trout might be stocked, the ponds might only hold sunfish, and the ambiance might not be pristine. But there is value. I also discuss how staying local is valuable in three other aspects of fly fishing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone....
Jun 11, 2021•27 min•Season 1Ep. 135
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 that you can slide into a vest pocket that you can say that about. In this week's podcast I talk about how to choose frames, how to select lenses, and how I chose the specific sunglasses that I fish in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphon...
Jun 04, 2021•28 min•Season 1Ep. 134
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 ideas. However, I also talk about a few kinds of gifts that you can give (or ask for) that are virtually foolproof. There are some gifts that anyone, anywhere, regardless of how long they've fished or what they fish for, can use. Learn more about you...
May 28, 2021•28 min•Season 1Ep. 133
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. Recently I had a meeting fall through. It turned into an hour of fishing for brook trout in a brand new beaver pond. The results and the experience were both more than I had hoped or bargained for. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/...
May 21, 2021•28 min•Season 1Ep. 132
Maybe your idea of hiring a fly fishing guide simply entails fish. While I don't think anyone would object to catching fish, there are a few other things that separate the good guides from the not-so-good ones. More importantly, there are some things that separate the great from the good. If you're going to be spending hundreds or thousands of dollars? Great is probably what you're looking for. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 14, 2021•29 min•Season 1Ep. 131
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 questions. What pushes us to experiment and innovate is questions, problems, and curiosity. Hopefully what I talk about today gets you thinking and trying new things out on the water. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 07, 2021•27 min•Season 1Ep. 130
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. I'm not an expert, but I am a dad who is trying to get my boys to love and take care of the outdoors. Also, if you don't have kinds in your life: You can translate 90% of what I say into how to fish with a new angler. Including getting them good book...
Apr 30, 2021•29 min•Season 1Ep. 129
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 that ties any of these things together is that they've been on my mind recently. But chances are, at least one of these brief conversations will get you thinking about your fishing this week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adc...
Apr 23, 2021•26 min•Season 1Ep. 128
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 straightforward and easy way to fish. But there are a few things worth knowing before you give mousing a shot this season. I talk through three simple things that will help orient or reorient you for chasing big, hungry, carnivorous trout. Learn more about your a...
Apr 16, 2021•26 min•Season 1Ep. 127
We have the convenience of buying not just rods & reels, but socks & undies, from fly fishing companies. For some that is a great option. For many, that might not be the best fit (size, preference, and/or budget). While fly shops get a good amount of your business, there are plenty of "outside the industry" options for everything besides the core fly fishing gear. You never know what you'll find in the camping, automotive, or exercise section of the store that improves your time in &...
Apr 09, 2021•27 min•Season 1Ep. 126
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 me in it, I don't usually get too autobiographical. However, I think there are some pretty valid reasons to share a little bit about myself. I'll share where I've been, how I've fished, and what else I do. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphon...
Apr 02, 2021•27 min•Season 1Ep. 125
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 you have and what you're doing. On this episode of the podcast, I discuss four things that you might overlook as you prepare for all of the fishing that lies ahead. Two have to do with stuff; two have to do with planning. You may very well be totally fine to just tie on a fly and get after it. But it might also be good to stop, think, and prep for a few minutes. Learn ...
Mar 26, 2021•26 min•Season 1Ep. 124
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 fish, our waters, and our environmental concerns. But also keep in mind that we’re part of a culture that is bigger than us. There is a lot we have to offer, but there is a lot that we can learn. Sometimes, that means killing a fish. Learn more about y...
Mar 19, 2021•27 min•Season 1Ep. 123
In a day and age where big, heavy, articulated streamers get a lot of publicity, it is important to remember that there are similar flies that accomplish slightly different tasks. There are a number of fish and fishing situations that benefit from or necessitate using weightless streamers. Today I walk through four main reasons why you should have some bead-less and cone-less baitfish imitations in your fly box. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 12, 2021•27 min•Season 1Ep. 122
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 categories and considerations that lead me to answer this question. I suggest that you listen, think through each of the situations/scenarios I discuss, and then come to your own conclusion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Mar 05, 2021•27 min•Season 1Ep. 121
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 readers of Casting Across. I'm always happy to get messages, and I do my best to respond in kind. I'm taking this "10th" episode to read and interact with some emails. I touch on flies, forbearers, and faith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ...
Feb 26, 2021•26 min•Season 1Ep. 120
Truth be told, there are plenty of reasons why beginner fly tyers get frustrated, stall out, or give up. I have done all of those in the past 20 years. However, I really made some efforts to get this fly tying thing figured out over the past 5 years or so. I'm no expert, but I'm more proficient and happier... and my flies look better, too. Today I share three things that have made me a better tyer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 19, 2021•27 min•Season 1Ep. 119
I know. You like your flies. 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 can actually streamline your fishing. It will certainly make packing and organization much simpler, but it can actually help you zero in and focus on fishing better. Today I share my reasons for slimming down assortments in certain circumstances, as well as some examples of how I have done it. Learn more about your ad choices. ...
Feb 12, 2021•28 min•Season 1Ep. 118
While it is a broad-brushed, stereotyping statement, there is some truth in the "cantankerous fly fisher" archetype. In this episode I encourage us to take a better approach. We're not going to win people to our side and our cause if the goal is to shame, discourage, and tear down. We can avoid conflict and promote conservation. Today I share three stories. One of which involves me falling and flailing on a streambank. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 05, 2021•26 min•Season 1Ep. 117
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 things have changed. And people don’t like change. But change shouldn't keep you off the water. Aside from the viable fishing still present, there is a whole lot more to be gained from spending time on these famous waters. Learn more about your ad choice...
Jan 29, 2021•27 min•Season 1Ep. 116
As they're large gatherings, fly fishing shows and outdoor expos aren't happening these days. You might be looking with sadness at a weekend or day that you'd usually spend in a giant convention hall that is now wide open. You might not give a hoot that they've been cancelled. Personally, I trend toward the former. I think there's a lot of value in "the shows." Briefly, I share how you can still get some (but not all) of the benefits... even if you're in front of your computer screen. Learn more...
Jan 22, 2021•27 min•Season 1Ep. 115
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 these spaces for the purposes of safety and food. In this week's episode I talk about undercut formation, why fish like them, and how I approach these productive spots. It is a broad overview, but ought to provide enough for you to get out and targeting undercut banks on your favorite rivers. Learn more about your ad choic...
Jan 15, 2021•27 min•Season 1Ep. 114
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 a few essential parts of your fishing. Your casting and fishing should be thought of as being influenced by everything that is happening between your ears. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 08, 2021•27 min•Season 1Ep. 113
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. I do like to think about my fly fishing on an annual basis. Perhaps it stems from buying licenses on January 1st for so many years. This year I offer up 3 resolutions for fly fishing. Maybe you'll want to take one of them for yourself. Maybe you'll simply copy the exercise. At a minimum, I hope you'll enjoy thinking about your fishing in the co...
Jan 01, 2021•22 min•Season 1Ep. 112
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 before us and the way things used to be come part and parcel with this time of the year. So along with the normal segments on the podcast, I'll read some selections from The American Angler's book (1864). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit meg...
Dec 25, 2020•20 min•Season 1Ep. 111
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 decide. Also, I relive some more harrowing wildlife encounters. Lastly, I get my accusations going. I critique a seemingly nonsensical social media complaint that I see from time to time in fly fishing circles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit m...
Dec 18, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 110
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 fishing and everything that entails. This week, I talk about three things you can do in the "off-season" to keep those fly fishing connections all winter long. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 11, 2020•28 min•Season 1Ep. 109
Unless the circumstances are exceptional, the pivotal men and women of fly fishing history can't offer you hands-on, in the stream instruction. Their mentoring must occur in the pages of a book or journal; their words and deeds informing and influencing through a necessary medium. Whether you have a “real life” mentor or not, these insights and experiences are priceless. Lasting the test of time, the best of the best understood how to combine the what and the how with the who and the why. Learn ...
Dec 04, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 108
