Casting Across Fly Fishing

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You might not fancy yourself a teacher. But if you're going to be a "fly fishing guy" there is a good chance you're going to need to pass along some essential knowledge to a friend, coworker, or brother-in-law. And casting is about as capital-E essential as there is in fly fishing. Today I walk you through what I focus on in my first 45 minutes of any fly casting lesson. The basics are basic, but we all to often fly past them in order to get on the water or into a hula hoop. Hopefully my process will be helpful to you as you prepare to help someone else get out on the water with a fly rod in hand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices