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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Podcast Ep. 414: 3 Ways to be a Patient Angler

Patience is a virtue. And while we should strive to be virtuous for many more important reasons, it pays off when trying to catch trout, too.

Today I work through three ways in which fishing smarter will almost always trump fishing harder. And, to be fair, there is nothing wrong with fishing intensely while fishing intelligently. But there is a priority.

And at the end of the day, there is something to be said for figuring out the problem presented in any particular fly fishing situation before you start casting. Patience is the key to see a little more and do a little more before you toss out your fly.

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

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VIDEO: On the Trout Stream with a Great Teacher

Some things never change. Trout eat royal coachman dries. Anglers will wiggle a new fly rod. A fish rising to a dry fly is thrilling.

And solid fly fishing instruction is timeless.

Joe Humphreys’ On the Trout Stream with Joe Humphreys is  a great example. Written in 1989, it addresses nymphing and fishing dries with a precision and sophistication that make it still relevant over 45 years later. Bursting at the seams with photography, Humphreys breaks down the intricate aspects of presentation in such a way that the reader gets all the component parts necessary.

Humphreys is still actively involved in fly fishing. But his voice will continue to speak to anglers through 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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Rusty Flybox: Manchester

This week I’ll be spending a few days in southern Vermont. This region isn’t as well known as the more northernly section; the part with all the cheese, skiing, and Bernie Sanders. But there are plenty of reasons to poke around Manchester, Vermont.

Along with fly fishing itself, there are two significant fly fishing “attractions.” The American Museum of Fly Fishing and the Orvis flagship store (including their Rod Shop) sit a long cast’s length away from each other. This month, the  former is holding an open house and fundraiser in conjunction with the opening of a new exhibit.

All that to say, I’m looking forward to spending time in a beautiful and interesting part of New England. Below are three posts from the Casting Across archives that pertain to this region. I’m sharing an article, a podcast, and a video that each touch on some of what you will expect to find if you take a few days to fish and poke around Manchester.

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Podcast Ep. 413: Fly Fishing Changes For Fall

Flannels, pumpkin spice, and… slowly swung streamers?

Just like the changing colors of the leaves, there are some inevitable alterations we make every fall in our fly fishing. Dropping temperatures and shorter days cause cold-blooded creatures to act differently. If we want to see them in our nets, we need to respond accordingly.

Today I share three changes I make in my fly fishing as the season transitions from late summer to early fall. I touch on presentation, approach, and equipment modifications that have been helpful and productive over the years.

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

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VIDEO: 2027 Looks Good, Trout Unlimited

Our watches tell us the day and our phones keep all of our monthly obligations in order for us. So who needs a printed calendar for their wall any more?

Fly fishers. That’s who.

For decades, Trout Unlimited has published a calendar for their members and as part of their fall fundraising efforts. I still have over 25 years’ worth of them laying around my office. Some have been better than others, but they’ve all been fixtures in my life. This year features some excellent photography and is a perfect example of what a little bonus like this can and should be.

Watch what else I have to say about this year’s calendar, and find links  to where you can secure your own, below.

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Anyone Can Teach Fly Casting

picture from amff.org

In one way or another, I’ve been teaching fly casting for over 20 years. I’ve taught it on river with clients I’ve guided. I’ve taught it with classes of 20 students. I’ve taught it with friends and family. I’ve taught my own boys. I’ve personally taken classes, read books on the subject, and watched plenty of YouTube videos. With great confidence, I can say there are good ways and bad ways to teach fly casting.

But don’t let not being the best keep you from showing someone how to enjoy fly fishing.

With that in mind, I’ve put together the seven steps I use when I’m first introducing someone to fly casting. The goal here isn’t to produce a competition caster. It isn’t to provide an outline for a formally certified class, either. My intention is to equip you: the dad, the friend, the volunteer with  a few ideas and with some confidence as you put a rod in someone’s hand for the first time.

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