Traver, His Legacy, & Good Fly Fishing Writing

I read a lot of fly fishing writing. I enjoy the vast majority of it. Honestly, there is some fly fishing writing that I enjoy that is not objectively good. It might have some personal, nostalgic appeal that overshadows its technical flaws. It could be from a friend or acquaintance, allowing me to read a little more into the words than the average reader would otherwise be able to. Plus I’m an optimist.

However, I do know good writing. Some authors pen words with the grace of a mayfly; their narratives flow with the natural grace of a spring creek. Even when the subject matter isn’t my favorite, I get pulled along in the current of their prose.

The first time I read Trout Madness, I knew that it was objectively good fly fishing writing. Even as a teenager, I could appreciate the approachability and the depth; the effortless use of humor and philosophy; the way he could ask fishing questions and scratch at the bigger questions of life. All of that – in a fly fishing book.

Robert Traver was a good writer. And he isn’t alone.

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Podcast Ep. 417: Fly Fishing Expos Recommended & Defended

Today I discuss  what, in my humble opinion, everyone should take advantage of when attending a fly fishing event. I also get a little critical of those who are critical themselves of events like this.

Whether you attend the big name shows or local events at the VFW, there are some real benefits to spending half a day indoors. While the largest events usually take place in the first quarter of the year, recent seasons have seen various activities spread across the entire calendar.

Hear my three recommendations and my two defenses, then Google when and where you can get inside – to get outside – in the near future.

Listen to the episode below, or on your favorite podcast app.

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Western Fly Fishing Rivers in All Their Glory

Grant McClintock’s Flywater is a coffee table book with some history. It has been around for nearly 30 years, including an updated edition that was published in 2010. One quick perusal of the large pages makes it clear why this title has a solid following.

Quite simply, it is beautiful.

Even with social media’s endless barrage of small, square images, there is something wholesome about a book of photographs. Moreover, it isn’t until you spend some serious time looking at books like Flywater that you realize not all pictures are created equally.

Watch what else I have to say about the book and find out where you can pick up your own copy below:

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11 Years of Casting Across

Casting Across has been at it for eleven years.

Eleven is no ten. It isn’t a fancy milestone or anything like that. But it has given me an opportunity to think about how I have been writing and talking about fly fishing on this platform for over a decade. And it presents an opportunity for me to share said thoughts with you, dear reader.

Fly fishing has changed in the last eleven years. Not the fish or the pursuit or even fly fishing at the macro level. Yet there have been changes in some of the particulars. Reflecting on this website and the associated forums I use, it has been interesting to consider what has changed and what has stayed the same.

Here are four thoughts and observations on eleven years of Casting Across:

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Podcast Ep. 416: The Spawn & The Angler

Understanding the spawning season is important for the fly fisher. Not only is it wise to comprehend the width and breadth of the seasonal and life cycles of trout, but being a good steward of the resource is unmistakably tied to respecting natural reproduction.

Today is a quick run through some of the basics of the spawning seasons of trout here in the US. I cover when they are, what to look for, and how you can still fish during the spawn (if legal… and if you do so ethically).

With so many imperiled and recovering rivers out there, all fly fishers should be well acquainted with the spawning behaviors of trout.

Listen to the episode below, or on your favorite podcast app.

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The Way Fly Fishers Identified Bugs

Fly fishers have always eyeballed insects fluttering around them, picked an imitation that looked close enough from their box, and had great success. Those who acutely studied the real mayflies or caddisflies before making a decision  had even better success when it came to fooling  trout.

For decades, Art Flick’s New Streamside Guide was the go-to resource for anglers who wanted to add a little more science to their insect identification and fly selection. This little book and it’s progenitor were stashed in heavily-laden vests throughout the second half of the 20th century.

Those who tie and those who appreciate angling history should definitely track down a nice, used copy of this book.

Watch what else I have to say about the book and find out where you can pick up your own copy below:

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A Week of Chasing A Trout

Monday

I first saw the trout while I was making a cast to a much smaller fish. The brown I had been targeting was probably twelve inches or so. It was steadily rising to imperceptible midges that were apparently floating by with regularity. There was no pattern or cadence to its feeding. After what must have been seven or eight casts, my eyes perceived that a background shape was actually another brown trout. Further upstream and lower in the water column, it only revealed itself when moving its head enough to one side that a sliver of white appeared as it ate.

The smaller fish continued to feed while disappearing from my mind. A new leader and a new fly were in order. A slight repositioning and a longer cast were necessary. On the second presentation, the weighted cress bug looked to have the right trajectory. The big brown flicked its head as my fly drifted by and then eased up under the bank.

It was over as soon as it had started. I marked the spot on the bank by taking a mental snapshot of a few stumps that sat above the fish’s sanctuary, reeled in, and headed home.

Tuesday

Back on the water the next day, I told myself to resist the urge to cast to the fish I had spooked less than 24 hours ago. I had been telling myself that since I was taking my gear off the previous day. There are times when you can rest a fish for fifteen minutes. Big spring creek trout like this one, in my experience, are better left alone for at least a day. So I fished downstream of where I saw it. My plan was to then take a wide berth and fish upstream of where I saw it.

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Podcast Ep. 415: [Cast1] 4 Things I’d Do to Start Fly Tying Today

Time. Money. Frustration. And the things on the table in front of you look more like debris from the lint trap than anything that a fish might eat.

I’ve been there.

Early in my fly fishing, I had some missteps and fruitless moments. Somewhere along the line I got into a groove. And while I’m no expert or display-tier tier (yes: not tyer), I am much happier now. And this breeds confidence and  competence.

Today I’m sharing the four things I’d do if I had to start fly tying from scratch today. If you’re getting into it, perhaps this will give you a potential roadmap. If you are an accomplished tier, this might provide some food for thought as you encourage others.

Listen to the episode below, or on your favorite podcast app.

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3 Reasons You Should Visit Fly Fishing Museums

Some people are all about the fish. They possess a singular focus for a full net.

Most fly fishers won’t argue about having a sore arm from fighting fish, but they also appreciate the bigger picture. For you and I to enjoy angling as we know it, we stand in a long line of people who have innovated and conserved.

And fly fishing museums is where you can see that history in person. Here are three reasons why visiting a fly fishing museum should be a part of your angling calendar this coming season.

Watch what else I have to say about these special sites and find out where some are located below:

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The Last Cast(s)

The last cast.

Anglers of all stripes are familiar with the phenomenon. It is the last attempt at a fish. It comes after “I should get going soon” and “just a few more.” It is the nail in the coffin before the streamside post mortem. It is the last cast.

But anglers are also well aware that the last cast has a few asterisks. There are a couple of completely reasonable caveats and exceptions for this self-imposed fishing rule. There is, in fact, an entire spectrum of meanings if you really want to plumb the depths of the semantic domain of last.

If I may, I will now present nine last casts. You may be familiar with one, you might be acquainted with all of them. If you have been fishing long enough, there is even a chance that you have employed the whole lineup within short order of one another. Regardless, it behooves you to know what lexical flexibility is at your disposal when you say “this is my last cast.”

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