Currently browsing… The True Cast
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The True Cast – Gotta love a “fishy” town…
There’s something special about those places with an authentic community connection to fishing.
A number of years ago, I wrote a story for Field & Stream on “The Best Fishing Towns in America.” It wasn’t a real formal, vetted ranking, by any means—just a story based on gut feelings I’d formed having rolled many miles in pursuit of fish, as well as numerous conversations with some kindred spirits…
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The True Cast: So… you want to write about fly fishing?
There’s something about fly fishing that makes people want to put the thoughts they have as they experience a river down on paper. And I think that’s great. I adore words, especially when they spring from rivers, and most especially when they are on paper. I actually think that desire to “express and share” is…
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The True Cast: The Truth About “Euro Nymphing”
If you want to fall for Euro nymphing, knock yourself out. But let’s be honest about a few things.
I remember messing around at the “Toilet Bowl” run under the spillway on Colorado’s Frying Pan River with the late, great guide Kea Hause. The Toilet Bowl literally held tons of big trout, but the water was so turbid and roily (hence the name), you couldn’t fish it like you might the “Texas Bend” or…
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The True Cast: Wanna fly fish? DON’T tie yourself up in knots.
Before getting into specifics, it’s worth pointing out one fundamental truth: a well-tied knot is far more effective than any fancy knot recipe.
A number of years back, Scientific Anglers completed a study of “people who expressed interest in fly fishing but didn’t quite engage,” asking them what the main obstacles were that prevented them from getting over the proverbial hump. It boiled down to two things. First was casting – some thought making fancy loops was a…
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The True Cast: In fly fishing, failure IS an option… (and that’s just fine).
I’ve found that the most dedicated anglers tend to be those who relish challenges, even simple ones like, “how am I going to trick that creature, hiding behind that rock, to eat this fly?”
While I was fishing the Delaware River with him several years ago, my friend, author Monte Burke, summed up the entire fly-fishing experience with succinct aplomb: “At the end of the day,” he said, “it’s really just about problem solving, like putting pieces of a puzzle together.” How true! And I’ve found that the most…
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The True Cast: “Replace Yourself.”
Especially when I fish, I think about all the mentors I’ve had, and I am grateful.
I’ve been very fortunate to have had many mentors as I waded into the wide, wild world of fishing and writing. My parents unconditionally supported the fascination I had with fish, even though they weren’t themselves into fishing. My father-in-law was probably the person most responsible for teaching me how to fly fish, and more…
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The True Cast: On guides and guiding
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it…