Rusty Flybox: PA Road Trip

At the time of writing, I have no plans to fish in Pennsylvania in June. However, I’ll be in and around some of my favorite trout water for a handful of days. And, as the second leg of my road trip does include fishing, I’ll have a few fly rods in my car.

So you never really know what might happen.

Regardless, it will be good to be back in an area I called home for a number of years. More than home, it was where I learned to fly fish and where I really fine-tuned a lot of my angling skills. Driving over my favorite rivers and telling stories to my friends and my kids will be a suitable substitute for actually getting my feet wet.

Speaking of stories…

Below are three items from Casting Across’ archives about south central PA. One is a playlist-driven account of my teenage angling exploits. Another is my son’s  experience fly fishing in my footsteps. And third is a whirlwind introduction to why this area is so special.

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Podcast Ep. 394: Swing Integration

I am not an expert in swinging flies in the most orthodox sense of the concept. In fact, I’ve never made any kind of presentation to steelhead in the Pacific Northwest or Atlantic salmon. However, I have swung wet flies in ways that might not draw the ire of purists.

But none of that is what I’m talking about today. The weird uncle of that noble tactic, swinging streamers and nymphs for bass and trout is  a little less dignified but a whole lot of fun. And, if you’re more about pragmatism and less about fun, it is more efficient.

Today I share three ways to swing flies at your local river. It doesn’t take any special gear or a lot of practice. Just get out there and swing away.

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

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VIDEO: Providence in Fly Fishing

It isn’t a theological work or even really a devotional, but Harry Murray’s His Blessings Through Angling is a great example of the intersection of faith and fly fishing.

Murray isn’t preachy (although I don’t have a problem with folks who are). Rather, he shares examples of how He has seen providence at work in his life and his angling. Couple that with a great assortment of pictures, and you have a fun coffee table book worth reading. More than that, it will get you thinking about your own life, fly fishing, and the greater truth that exists behind all of it.

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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5 Pieces of Panfish Trivia

My kids get excited about southern panfish. They talk about the brook trout and the largemouth bass, but it is the sunfish, bluegill, and pumpkinseed that they look forward to when we get close to our annual summer trip to Virginia.

We have plenty of panfish in New England. They are as willing to eat flies and lures up here as they are in the Old Dominion. But south of the Mason Dixon Line the panfish are bigger. After spawning in the shallows and leaving pot holes of gravel over large swaths of  the ponds and lakes, they hold in massive pods and compete to attack any foreign object that hits the water’s surface. If I’m being honest, I get excited thinking about southern panfish.

Again, the south is not the only place panfish can be found. They’re located coast-to-coast, and include a handful of genera. There are Perca, with perch being the most common examples. Crappie are Pomoxis. But  Lepomis are the panfish archetype. These are the “true sunfish.”  They are often an important part of the new angler’s fishing journey. Few true anglers ever grow tired of their aggressive strikes and fights. Plus, they are awfully tasty.

Today I’m sharing five interesting facts about panfish. There is plenty more that could be said, but this information should add to your appreciation of this fascinating quarry. Or, at the very least, you’ll be able to impress your kids.

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Podcast Ep. 393: 5 Wading Ideas (More or Less)

Perhaps this is a little pedantic, but it is worth saying: You don’t need to wade to fly fish.

What do I mean? Well, I think a lot of anglers wade too much. We get in the water where we don’t need to. We move too close to where the fish are. We disturb things  as we wade and then wonder why the fish aren’t interested in our fly.

Today I share a half-dozenish thoughts on wading. Some have to do with safety and equipment. But more importantly, I discuss how less wading might be a good idea.

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

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VIDEO: Choosing a Small Stream Fly Rod

Fly rods are like opinions. Everyone has a bunch and they all serve a purpose.

…or something like that.

When it comes to picking a fly rod for small stream fishing, you really can’t go wrong. If you a) have it and b) enjoy using it, then you’re all set. There isn’t any need to expend energy or spend money. Get out there and chase some wild trout.

But if you are logging day after day on the water or are looking for a more efficient casting/presentation tool, there are some fly rod features that will be more helpful. In this video I walk through a few examples of fly rods that might work for you on small streams. Then, I make a case for the kind of rod that seems to check all the important boxes.

Check out my thoughts, along with some other small stream fly fishing resources, below:

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Gaining Intangible Fly Fishing Expertise

No one has ever seen a body builder and thought, “I bet he’d make an excellent angler.”

Similarly, there is no inherent association between the physique of marathon runners and fly casting ability. Why is that? Because while there is absolutely nothing wrong with being in  shape, athletic prowess and fly fishing success only share a modest overlap in the  Venn diagram of reality.

In fact, this is true about a variety of variables that individuals bring to the river. Once again: a healthy and capable body is absolutely a good thing. Having the right equipment is very beneficial, too. And no one should discourage anyone from absorbing everything possible from books, YouTube, and seminars. But while each and every one of those facets have check boxes corresponding with objective benchmarks, true fly fishing accomplishment comes from something that is essentially intangible.

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Podcast Ep. 392: 3 Lies that Get People Into Fly Fishing

Last week I did my darndest to debunk three big lies about fly fishing that keep people away from this wonderful pursuit.

Today I’m coming at it from another angle. In this episode, I’m addressing three misconceptions about fly fishing that get people into the sport.

Thankfully each of these three items have good news/bad news components. So I’ll start with the bad and then cycle over to the good. After all, everything worth doing does entail a little challenge and a little work.

Note: The team (me) is aware of some audio issues in the past few episodes. The audio engineer (me) and quality control manager (me) are keeping a close eye on the situation. Thank you for your patience.

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VIDEO: Fly Fishing Source Material

Once more, we are turning to a title that finds its origin in Pennsylvania’s Cumberland Valley. While not his seminal fly fishing work, Rising Trout by Charles Fox is a fantastic addition to any angler’s library.

This is also an interesting example of where a reprint is of different value than a first edition. The 1978 second edition is expanded with some great, later writings of Fox.

Whether you fish Pennsylvania or are a student of the sport’s history, this title should be on your shelf.

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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The Big Fly Fishing Lie

Recently I released a podcast episode entitled “3 Lies that Keep People from Fly Fishing.” (You can listen to it here, or wherever you listen to podcasts.) The first lie that I addressed was one of the most inaccurate assumptions people hold about fly fishing. It is an unnecessary perspective that unfortunately keeps people from giving the sport a try. More than that, it breeds resentment and bitterness. This lie feeds and is fed into by a greater cultural impulse that doesn’t help anyone. What is it?

Fly fishing is too expensive.

You might be quick to say “I agree! Have you seen the price of the new Brand X Fly Rod 2.0? A thousand bucks? Who can afford that?” Or, perhaps, the retort is “I can’t spend ten thousand dollars for a week in Alaska. I can’t even spend six hundred for a day on a river with a local guide.”

First, I’m not denying some of the outlandish price tags on items and experiences within fly fishing. But this is ultimately a fallacious argument. It is an appeal to extremes. By that same logic, cars are too expensive because  there are some Rolls-Royce models that come in at over twenty million. Or, eating with utensils is cost prohibitive because Tiffany and Co.   silverware sets are priced in the tens of thousands.

A quick internet search yielded a half dozen outfits for under $50 American. That means you’ve got a rod, reel, line, backing, leader and sometimes flies for the price of a tank of gas in your minivan.

Fly fishing is not too expensive.

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