Bright Trout in a Drab World

There is a kind of winter greyness that makes you cold just looking at it. Dim slate hillsides covered in pallid, bare trees pointing up at melancholy overcast skies. I want to go fishing. All the gear is right there. But if only the drive had been ten more minutes or there were a few more swigs of coffee. Then, maybe, I would be more enthusiastic about leaving the warm car for the chilly, monochromatic world.

All this melodrama must be tempered by the unavoidable and essential facts that  a) I chose this, and b) I am going fly fishing.

The Appalachian hollow I’m staring into cradles a particularly productive trout stream. Cascading hundreds of feet down every quarter mile, it is flush with deep plunge pools and fast runs.  The brook trout will be there and will be the only colors deviating from the neutral palette of late winter.

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Podcast Ep. 383: A User’s Guide to Casting Across

With over 1,600 pieces of content at the time of this episode’s recording, navigating the Casting Across website might be a little daunting. But the depth and breadth of what is available is worth clicking through. Today’s podcast is meant to help you in that endeavor.

Knowing that there isn’t a perfect overlap of podcast listeners and website readers, I introduce the content on the site. Then, I walk through some of the features that can help you find the most pertinent information in the quickest way possible. And, since I’m certainly not the web expert, I ask for your feedback in a few places.

It is a quick listen, but hopefully it sends you down a rabbit hole of angling articles.

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

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VIDEO: The Horror of Fishing

Most fly fishing stories include themes like nostalgia, introspection, and the appreciation of the natural world.  But how many fishing stories have you read that touch on dark supernatural forces? Not many? Well, then do I have a book for you.

John Langan’s  The Fisherman is certainly a departure from the usual fare on Casting Across. It is a fishing book. It is  a fictional story. But after that, things get very weird. However, it is weird in all the right ways.

I listened to The Fisherman while driving. And, what’s more, I finished it while heading through the very region in which the book takes place. This is a great title to grab as an audiobook, to work some fiction into your rotation, or just to try something different.

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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New Resource: Fly Fishing Small Streams

Small stream fly fishing is fly fishing for so many anglers. The primary reason is that trout live in mountain streams, spring creeks, and brushy tributaries. Often the best opportunities for wild fish and solitude, fly fishers will pick these more intimate environs over sprawling rivers and the potential for larger quarry. Plus, productive small streams are much more prevalent and accessible.

These truths have been a significant part of my fly fishing and, consequently, have been a major aspect of Casting Across for the last ten years.

As I consider how to make the thousands of articles on the site more connected and user-friendly, I’ve decided to put together some themed pages on Casting Across. These dynamic pages will be featured on the front of the website. Content will be curated in a way that will funnel readers with broad questions to a variety of interrelated answers. Hopefully, it will open up a decade of writing to more fly fishers.

First up is Fly Fishing Small Streams:

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Podcast Ep. 382: Mea Carpa

Like many a dace that have taken a dry fly, only to get hook-set into the streamside vegetation – I bit off more than I could chew last week on the podcast.

When I thought about talking predatory fish, I figured I could shoehorn carp into the discussion. They aren’t predators in the same way musky and big largemouth are. However, the rods and rivers overlap. Regardless, this is an episode where I make things right.

Which, of course, entails talking about carp for nearly 30 minutes. These weirdo, invasive fish are worth knowing about if you are in North American and own a fly rod.

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

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VIDEO: Fly Fishing Stories that Will Hook You

If you grew up reading outdoor magazines, you’re probably familiar with the kinds of articles featured on the last page. They were usually short pieces provided by recurring authors. With an economy of words imposed by the finality of the back cover it would cause laughter, introspection, or both.

Steven Sautner’s Every Cast is an entire book of “last page” articles. This collection of essays and posts is truly enjoyable. The length of the chapters makes for a compelling read; seeing that the next installment will only take five minutes will keep you turning pages.

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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Best Foot Forward: Whitewater Basin Deck Boot

There is an interesting dichotomy among many fly fishers. When it comes to equipment like fly rods there is an inordinate amount of attention given to having the precise piece of gear required for a particular application. That approach often entails acquiring a few  pieces of gear required for a handful of particular situations. At the same time, there are other items where “whatever” seems to work.

Consequently, fly fishers don expensive breathable waders  while wearing pants underneath that don’t wick moisture. High performance fly rods don’t excel when paired with the wrong fly line. And a long day rowing and casting starts to get uncomfortable because of shoes that get wet or don’t offer proper support.

You can get away with wearing whatever footwear you have when fishing. Or, you can add a pair of shoes that have been designed to make your time getting to the water and being on the water a little more comfortable. That is certainly the case with Whitewater Fishing’s newest angler-inspired boot.

Here are some of the features of the Whitewater Basin Deck Boot and why  fly fishers should take a look:

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Podcast Ep. 381: Gearing Up For Predators

In fly fishing, “predators” is a bit of an arbitrary designation. Why? Well, bluegill are predators. Brook trout are predators. Tiger sharks are predators. What we often mean is  the larger, piscivorous (fish eating)  freshwater species in North America.

Today I’m talking about some of the considerations one might make when thinking about gear for larger bass and toothy fish. As you can imagine, this includes a wide range of species and waters. Still, there are some general principles that all come into play when acquiring equipment for targeting predatory fish.

Also, I throw carp a bone. I mean, they do get big.

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

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VIDEO: On Independent Fly Fishing Books

Most of the books I talk about come from major publishers or prominent fly fishing publishing houses. But just like the indie music scene or local artists galleries, there are other options for those looking for an interesting fly fishing read.

Today I talk about three books that are worth reading, especially if the  perspective or the setting resonates with you. Here are the titles and their authors:

  • Life and Death in the Middle, by Anthony Surage and Mike Aleckson
  • Fly Fishing Through the Crazy, by Tim Pynes
  • Rivers of Passage, by Ben Hohnke

All three came out in the last two years, and each reflects the labor of their writers – as well as their respective passions for fly fishing.

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

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Standing in a River Smoking a Stick: Big Sky Cigar

Not every fly fisher smokes cigars. But for those who do, it makes a lot of sense. Enjoying a cigar is a methodical, deliberate activity. Not unlike fly fishing, it is most appreciated when there is some observation and reflection involved. It isn’t uncommon for fly shops to offer a small selection in a humidor, and it isn’t a surprise to catch the faint scent of fine tobacco as you  wade alongside other anglers.

Consequently, it is a little shocking that there aren’t a handful of labels or blends that tap into the aesthetic and legacy of fly fishing. But if you do go looking for such things, you’ll come across Big Sky Cigar.

A decade ago, Jess Coleman and Brandon Marsh were working in construction. “We always threw business ideas back and forth on the jobsite,” Marsh said, “and we had a lot of ideas.” But one day the river spawned an idea that took. “One day we were fishing, smoking cigars. One of us asked, ‘Why doesn’t Montana have a cigar company?’ The rest is history. It is a blue collar story of two guys chasing a passion.”

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