No matter if you're a beginner or an expert, there are ways to improve your efficiency on the water. Now if that sounds clinical and not at all cohesive with the artistic flair that accompanies fly fishing, bear with me. Efficiency is all about being able to to what you want to do when you want to do it. Today I walk through three things that anyone can do to gain a greater understanding of the equipment and technique that everyone needs to enjoy angling. The best part? Nothing is expensive, com...
Dec 06, 2024•28 min•Season 1Ep. 317
We have a lot to be thankful for. This is a universal truth, but is especially applicable for fly fishers. Today I walk through a handful of things most fly fishers are (or should be) thankful for. But first, I dive into some gifts that are the kind of thing that you could (or should) give to anyone this holiday seeing. And, as I discuss, both giving gifts and being appreciative of the gifts we have been given are wonderful opportunities the season presents. Happy Thanksgiving from Casting Acros...
Nov 29, 2024•23 min•Season 1Ep. 316
A random errand led to my being face-to-face with a $20 fly rod/reel/line combo. It even came with flies. Around me, people were shopping for car batteries and Barbie dolls. I examined the reel. I assessed the flies. I debated scanning the QR code on the package. It wasn't for me, but it didn't look half bad for a $20 Wal-Mart fly fishing rig. For everyone who starts their fly fishing life off with the Orvis silver spoon in their mouth, there are probably a few others who get after it with depar...
Nov 22, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 315
In the complicated system required for fly fishing that is man and equipment, your wrist might be the most fickle. For the same reason it is an incredibly flexible and dexterous joint it can lead your cast very, very astray. While the best way to straighten out your casting woes is to practice, today I share a few wrist-related issues that may lead to problems. And problems like reduced line speed and increased fatigue are worth ironing out if possible. Hopefully these 20 minutes will spark some...
Nov 15, 2024•27 min•Season 1Ep. 314
You can spend a lot of money on a boat for your fly fishing endeavors. There's the cost of the craft itself, then the trailer, then the accessories, then the truck to pull it more efficiently... While I've enjoyed the quality drift boats, skiffs, and bass rigs I've fished from over the years, the vast majority of my time on the water has been in smaller crafts. And I think they suit me just fine. Today I'm talking about easy watercraft. Easy to acquire, easy to transport, and easy to use. Learn ...
Nov 08, 2024•28 min•Season 1Ep. 313
None of us should be so set in our ways that we're unable to be pried out of the groove we've worn. In fly fishing, in particular, we should not be so entrenched in opinions that we're dogmatic. It is good to have an opinion. But opinions can change. Today I share 5 opinions that I've held and changed over my fly fishing years. There are plenty more. But these five hit the highlights: gear, trout, and conservation. Take a listen, and then consider how you have changed your mind. Or, and this mig...
Nov 01, 2024•25 min•Season 1Ep. 312
Did you know that is a presidential election year?!? Since I think the "rule" to avoid talking about money, religion, and politics is stupid, I talk about politics today on the podcast. But I think you'd agree that it is more philosophical than partisan. And it has to do with fly fishing. I promise. And just so you feel like you're getting your money's worth, I also add in a quick gear tip in the beginning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 25, 2024•24 min•Season 1Ep. 311
I do miss things from time to time. And on this episode I come clean about missing two important things. You've probably survived, but I need to make it right. On another feedback-based episode, I answer questions about the following: Beginner vises Expensive sunglasses Why I don't have more video content Check out those segments, along with a really excellent weekly recommendation, on this week's podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 18, 2024•25 min•Season 1Ep. 310
With the passing of a great author, something much more significant is lost than a new title every few years. First and foremost a man is gone. Beyond that, the fly fishing world has lost a voice. Today I reflect a bit on Gierach's impact on the fly fishing world. From adding popular phrases to spurring on countless imitators, he moved generations of anglers in many ways. At the heart of it all is the fact that he was a consistent voice for anglers across five decades. Consistency, especially to...
Oct 11, 2024•23 min•Season 1Ep. 309
This episode is an overflow of this week. On the website I've focused on the region that has been most impacted by Hurricane Helene, and I'm going to continue to do so on the podcast. Even though southern Appalachia is remote and wild, it is incredibly close to so the vast majority of those who live along the eastern seaboard. That happens to be a large number of this country's people. This is why the mountains and hollows are accessible and loved by so many. This is also why the relative silenc...
Oct 04, 2024•24 min•Season 1Ep. 308
Not all of you are hunters. That is fine. But within the first five minutes of the podcast I have some real, practical advice for how anglers who don't hunt have a legitimate opportunity for better fishing if they are aware of the hunting seasons. That, and a piece of advice on how to not get shot. In this week's episode, I discuss the wonderful dilemma of "to hunt or to fish or to do both" that we encounter in the autumn. There are a few anecdotes, some gear recommendations, and a handful of qu...
Sep 27, 2024•25 min•Season 1Ep. 307
In the realm of Casting Across, visual media serves the written and spoken word. Still, a nice picture helps. Today, I talk through some things that are important to consider as you photograph your fly fishing. From gear to approach to subject matter, I hit on some tips that might make your camera roll or your social media profile a little more interesting. Plus, on the heels of "Releasing Fish Well," this is a reminder that the fish are a lot more important than likes. But you still can take me...
Sep 20, 2024•30 min
You've managed to get on the water. You've figured out how to get the fly in front of a fish. You've somehow convinced it to bit said fly. You've fought it your your hand or net. Now what? If you're interested in the common practice of catch and release, there are some things that are good to do. (They're even better for the fish.) In this beginner-focused episode, I actually begin what releasing well involves long before you catch a fish. Some of these steps might be common sense. Others might ...
Sep 13, 2024•29 min•Season 1Ep. 305
Rightfully so, many consumers think that marketing is out to divide them from their hard earned money. Consequently, most hype surrounding new or novel innovations is received with a fair amount of skepticism. But what if some of these features are more than gimmicks? Today I'm sharing four products with design or function elements that I have heard people call "gimmicky." While I don't think any are worth paying exorbitantly more for, I do think they have their merits. Listen as I walk through ...
Sep 06, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 304
Countless tourists head to coastal New England cities, towns, and remote coastlines every year. Trust me: I sit behind you as I try to get around during my normal day-to-day. With around 6,000 miles of coastline, there is room for all of us. And there is just that much more room for stripers, bluefish, and a number of other species that will gladly chase a fly. On today's podcast, I give a high level overview of fly fishing the New England states. With apologies to landlocked Vermont, I touch on...
Aug 30, 2024•27 min•Season 1Ep. 303
The vast majority of your dry fly presentations ought to be made upstream, with you standing slightly to one side of the fish. This optimizes your cast, your mending, and your hook set. But what if you can't do that? What if there is a fish that is downstream, under cover, and slurping bugs off the surface with wanton slovenliness? What then? Do you miss out and chalk it up to the "rules" of dry fly fishing? Do you go home, bested by the trout to which you did not cast? There is good news. You c...
Aug 23, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 302
Well, I'm breaking with tradition for this one. I'm not calling it "Fly Fishing Accusations XXX." That said, there are some interesting segments in this episode. I get a little fired up about how people feel the need to police the fishing gear designed to solve problems. I also circle back to fallfish, tenkara, and remote fishing ethics. Standard fare, if you've been around here long enough. As always, thanks for listening and writing in! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adch...
Aug 16, 2024•27 min•Season 1Ep. 301
300 episodes. That, my friends, is a lot of my digitized voice out there on the internet. Today I'm breaking free from my rigid, one-note format. I've got a guest. In fact, I have the most special of special guests. My wife of 21+ years. Her perspectives on nearly every topic are worth listening to - take it from me. That said, enjoy this podcast. And it goes without saying at this point: Thank you. Thanks for listening, reading, and being part of Casting Across as I hit this milestone. Learn mo...
Aug 09, 2024•30 min•Season 1Ep. 300
In case you've been living under a rock (like a caddis nymph, perhaps), I'm going to be the bearer of bad news and inform you that fly fishers have the reputation of being quite the opinionated group of individuals. And as the maxim states, opinions are like... well, they're like waders that have been sitting in the trunk too long. We've all got them and they have the potential of stinking. My purpose isn't to simply offer counter-arguments. It is to point out the unnecessary nature of some of t...
Aug 02, 2024•27 min•Season 1Ep. 299
*Trigger Warning* I know some people have Tenkara Derangement Syndrome. Breathe deeply, you'll get through this. Whether you've dabbled in this Japanese style of angling or not, it has made a modest splash in the American fly fishing scene. Depending on where and how you fish, it may be a good fit for your gear collection. Although only a fraction of my time on the water includes using Tenkara gear, I've come to appreciate it for some special circumstances. Today I share what a few of those are,...
Jul 26, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 298
I wouldn't say that I get too worked up about what people say in and around fly fishing. But the extreme ends of gear perspectives bug me. One says that the most expensive gear is the only way to go. The other says that whatever you can find is all that you need. As is the case with most situations, the moderate middle wins the day. Today I'm taking through how a recent shift in how I shop for running shoes has reminded me that taking a moment to do some real research can have a significant impa...
Jul 19, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 297
There is a good chance that you have some habits when it comes to approaching certain types of water. After a few decades of pursuing brookies, browns, and cutthroats in mountain streams I have developed a simple little scheme for identifying what they're keying in on. Today I share the three dry flies I use to decipher how to get on the most and the biggest trout. It isn't foolproof and there are certainly exceptions. That said, it has produced above average results and taken out a lot of guess...
Jul 11, 2024•25 min•Season 1Ep. 296
Happy Independence Day from Casting Across! On today's episode, I'm sharing a tangentially-related collection of topics. While I do discuss giving trout some space in the hottest weather, the bulk of the podcast is about the great situation we find ourself in the United States. Things aren't perfect. They're far from it. But that is the human condition, after all. That said, our angling opportunities and access here are exceptional. We have that foundation to build on, so we shouldn't squander i...
Jul 05, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 295
Thousands of aquarium aficionados concerned about the stress levels of their tropical fish can't be wrong. And from an anecdotal angling perspective, I agree with them. You can gain insight into what a fish is going to do by watching it's body language. While it isn't an empirical exercise, there are some tells in fish behavior that can clue you in as to when to keep going, change tactics, or just keep on moving. I cover a handful of observations in this episode. As usual, there are countless re...
Jun 28, 2024•29 min•Season 1Ep. 294
I'm not being dramatic. Nor am I being flippant. You can truly get yourself in some serious moral peril while fly fishing. Waist deep in moving water miles away from other people? Yes, it is fun. But yes, it is not without risks. Today I cover four areas of danger worth thinking about as you head outside. They may be common sense or well known to you, but they also might not be. If that is the case for just one listener, it is worth it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoi...
Jun 21, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 293
We are back with another entry in the Cast1 series. Today, the discussion is all about small stream fly fishing. For many, pulling up to a tiny cascading creek is the epitome of an angling adventure. But until you've had that experience, the idea of fishing in a veritable trickle might not only be intimidating; it might seem ridiculous. While there is so much to share regarding this topic, this episode covers some of the most essential aspects of getting a lot out of little water. Learn more abo...
Jun 14, 2024•29 min•Season 1Ep. 292
Allow me to modify a common saying among preachers. Every angler has three fishing trips: the one he plans, the one he goes on, and the one he wished he would have had. Not super smooth, but you get the gist. On a recent four day fishing trip, I thought about the preparations and plans that I had going into things. Some were much more helpful and practical than others. Four of those are the topic of the discussion on the podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 07, 2024•27 min•Season 1Ep. 291
10 episodes away from 300, and I couldn't have done it without you. And when it comes to these regular "Accusations" podcasts, I literally couldn't do it without you. Because every 10 episodes, I interact with questions and comments from listeners and readers. Emails have been coming in fast lately. It was hard to pick just three, so I went with a relatively mixed bag: gear questions, fly suggestions, and a deep trout conspiracy with Biblical ties. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megapho...
May 31, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 290
All you need to fish is one rod, one reel, one line, and one fly... but it is better to have a few dozen... boxes of them. That said, it isn't the worst thing in the world to have some other gear that can serve a similar purpose. Along with performing in a slightly different manner, this gear can also be a solid backup for if/when something goes wrong on the water. Today I'm sharing my approach to this whole matter. It isn't the most important thing in the world, but taking a minute to make some...
May 24, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 289
There is only so much fly fishing practice you can get on your front lawn. And while the surface tension of your pool might help with improving your cast, your children won't take kindly to being asked to pretend to be fish. Thankfully there are rivers filled with fish. And some of these fish are much more likely to play ball than trout are. I would go out of my way to catch panfish. But they can also be used to hone your skills. Today I'm sharing 3 ways I use bluegill, fallfish, and even bass t...
May 17, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 288
