I don't use the term magic much. But there is something magical about fly fishing in  the fall. The woods and the fish get more colorful. The fishing seems to last all day; it stops being a morning and evening activity. The air is crisp and and the water has a little more of a bite when your hands get wet. All of that is much more enjoyable when you're comfortable. In this episode I talk through my thought process of dressing for angling success. Autumn temperatures and weather can be variable, so it is always better to plan than wing it. This episode is brought to you by X-Chair. Upgrade your home office by heading to XchairCasting.com  and get $100 off your order.

Casting Across Fly Fishing

Head to Toe Fall Fly Fishing

So much work goes into getting a fish onto your hook. But then what? A social media post got me thinking about how we fight fish. It is all about getting into and maintaining the right angles. This helps you and it helps the fish. Today I talk about two concepts for staying or getting in the right position when trying to get a fish to hand. One involves your feet and the other utilizes your gear. After all, you did spend all that time getting a fish onto your hook. This episode is brought to you by X-Chair. Upgrade your home office by heading to XchairCasting.com  and get $100 off your order.

Fish Fight, part 2

In this episode, I admit that I made a mistake. Seriously: For years I've failed to do one of the things that I emphasize in my writing and speaking. I've neglected to define a term. A listener/reader pointed this out, and today I take a stab at correcting it. I also talk a little about gear in general and one reel in particular. A reader pointed me towards a reel brand's backstory that I've never heard before. As always, I appreciate the questions and thoughts!

Fly Fishing Accusations, XV

"There's no such thing as a bad question." Not true. But you're not going to hear any bad questions on this week's podcast. Today I get grilled by two of of the most avid listeners of Casting Across Fly Fishing. Questions  range from fly patterns to bear encounters to on-stream nutrition. Hear their questions, my answers, and our back-and-forth on this special 150th episode.

Special Guests Q&A

Fall is, without question, the objectively best season of the year. In my opinion. Whether you are mourning summer or waiting for the water to freeze over, you have got to admit that fly fishing really shines in September, October, and November. Depending on where you live in the country you might experience some of the best fishing of the year. In this episode I discuss four things that you can and should think about when fishing in the fall. Included is a refresher on avoiding redds - something that we should all be aware of.

Fly Fishing, Come Fall

So, how did you spend your summer break? To be fair, most of September is still summer. And there is a lot of great fly fishing to be hand well into the fall. But the natural flow of the seasons means there is a hinge between the 8th and 9th months in the calendar. This week I discuss where I've been fishing and what I've been using. I also talk about my recent reading, listening, and social media habits. I'd be interested to hear what you've been up to, too. This episode of The Casting Across Fly Fishing Podcast is brought to you by MANSCAPED. Use the code CASTING at checkout for 20% off your entire order and free worldwide shipping.

Late Summer Fly Fishing Whatnot

I know. I talk about light fly rods a lot on Casting Across. Part of the reason is because I really, really enjoy them. And the other part is because some of you still need to learn that they are really, really enjoyable. In all seriousness, in today's podcast I talk about the versatility of a shorter and/or lighter fly rod. They're not just gimmicks. They're really helpful for casting line, presenting flies, and playing fish. I also go down memory lane, sharing some anecdotes about my first times seeing and fishing with these rods. This episode of The Casting Across Fly Fishing Podcast is brought to you by MANSCAPED. Use the code CASTING at checkout for 20% off your entire order and free worldwide shipping.  

Reaching for a 3-Weight

There are two schools of thought when it comes to sleeping on a fishing trip. Some people want comfort: resorts, hotels, your own bed. Some people want quick: tents, cabins, someone's futon. Both approaches have their place. Your budget and your destination might be the determining factors. But the benefits of quick are cost, effort, and proximity to the river. If you can, and your car allows for it, there are a lot of benefits to spending the night car camping. You can't get any quicker than that. Today I discuss why you'd (potentially) want to sleep in your car, as well as how and when I choose to go that route. This episode of The Casting Across Fly Fishing Podcast is brought to you by MANSCAPED. Use the code CASTING at checkout for 20% off your entire order and free worldwide shipping.

Camp Close to the Fish

Most fly fishers do a decent enough job of looking over, cleaning, and organizing their gear before the season starts. But if you have been fishing hard (or intermittantly) there are a few things that you should take a look at before you head into the fall. Today, I share three different things that I look  at throughout the season, with a special emphasis as summer wraps up. Along with these tips, I discuss a few of my product and technique preferences. Maintenance isn't about being obsessive. It is about keeping your gear from failing and potentially keeping a fish from escaping. This episode of The Casting Across Fly Fishing Podcast is brought to you by MANSCAPED. Use the code CASTING at checkout for 20% off your entire order and free worldwide shipping.

Mid-Season Maintenance

Latest and greatest had to start somewhere. Often, that place had a lot going for it too. Having a preliminary knowledge of the history of fly fishing might pay off in really good fishing. More often than not, the reward is going to be in what you learn and how that impacts your time on the water… regardless of if you’re catching fish or not. Today I share three reasons why digging into the history of fly fishing will be beneficial, and three great ways to get started.

Be An Amateur Angling Historian

There is something special about wet wading in the warmest months of the year. It is a pretty unencumbered and carefree way to cast flies to fish. That being said, there are some choices that you'll have to make about what you wear. In this episode, I talk about everything that you'll need to wear from your head to your feet. I give some of my suggestions on what I've found to be helpful. More importantly, I think that this discussion will get you thinking about what you take on the water: is it because it works, or because it is just the way you've always done it?

Head to Toe Summer Fly Fishing

If you can get your fly to a fish, you're casting good enough. However, if you want to cast with a little more accuracy, distance, or reduce fatigue after a long day on the water you might want to think about how you can tweak your cast. In this episode I talk about three simple things that you can do to change up your casting stroke. ...okay, two simple things and one somewhat contrived and weird thing. But it still works.

Fly Casting Tips, part 1

Getting a fish to bite is a lot harder than fighting it to your hand. Still, there are some things that should be thought about when you're playing a fish. From the hook set to the release, there are a couple of bad maneuvers that anglers should avoid. Furthermore, there are some things that will make the entire process less stressful for both you and the fish. Today I go beyond the basics and talk about a couple of fish fighting things to consider.

Fish Fight, part 1

You've got questions, I've got (my own stabs at) answers. This week, I've got three great emails to share on the podcast. Two have to do with gear, one pertains to the small and coincidental world that is fly fishing. As always, I appreciate getting emails, messages through the website, and interaction through social media. Casting Across isn't a fly shop or trout town pub, but it is always fun to have a little back and forth with like minded people. 

Fly Fishing Accusations, XIV

A common solution for conservation-minded anglers that place stewardship above sport is to lay off the fly fishing for a month or two.  But does that mean that fishing for trout is off limits in July and August? Are bass and carp the only fair game in the heat of summer? (As if these fish don’t have temperature thresholds…) As is the case in most circumstances, if a “smarter not harder” mindset is employed the fly fisher can absolutely still fish for trout throughout the warmest times of the year. Here are three things to consider.

Not too Hot for Trout

The Casting Across Fly Fishing Podcast explores the quarry and the culture of fly fishing. Each episode, I'll discuss some aspect of fly fishing - the people, places, and things that go into the pursuit of fish.