Articles

Can you tell a good cast from a bad one?

The journey of a million casts starts with one clear image

by Todd Tanner - Tuesday, Jan 12th, 2021

Instructor John Juracek demonstrates proper casting mechanics to students at the School of Trout (photo: Jeremy Roberts).

I’m going to make a statement that may surprise you, but that I’m convinced is absolutely true.

Many fly fishers struggle to tell good fly casting from poor casting, or to distinguish a mechanically-sound fly casting stroke from a flawed stroke.

That sounds crazy, right? Every single fly fisher should be able to identify good casting. It’s the first thing we need to learn, because without that understanding — without knowing good casting when we see it — we have no clue what we’re trying to achieve with a fly rod in our hand.

Have the fundamentals of fly casting changed over time?

Styles change, or do they?

by John Juracek - Thursday, Jan 7th, 2021

Photo: Outwitting Trout with a Fly by Bertram Lackey

The photo shown above is from an obscure book titled Outwitting Trout With a Fly, Letters of a Western Angler, written by Bertram Lackey and published in 1929. I'm rather struck by the caster's attire. Seems to me more fitting for a night on the town than fly casting instruction. Then again, providing commentary on the sartorial choices of any female, in any era, is miles outside my ken. I'll simply note that styles appear to have changed over the intervening years. On the other hand, I feel much more qualified to discuss the casting mechanics being demonstrated.

Leave it to the Beaver

The DeHavilland Beaver is one of the most durable and dependable aircraft the world has ever known

by Chris Hunt - Wednesday, Jan 6th, 2021

Photo: Chris Hunt

As we glided over the boreal forests of northwest Ontario some years back, the 20-something pilot of the vintage DeHavilland Beaver in the seat to my left gave me a nudge. I looked over at the kid — the first question I asked him upon boarding was, “How many hours do you have?” — and he pointed to the sticks in front me.

His blonde hair poked out like corn silk from under a ball cap and his youthful face bore a questioning look. He glanced again at the sticks, and gave me a nod. Realizing what he was suggesting, I looked him dead in the eyes and mouthed the question, “Me?”

Daniel Webster's ghost

Is there any ground whose fruit was not once watered in blood?

by Jon Tobey - Thursday, Dec 31st, 2020

Photo: Albert Sands Southworth

I stood on the bridge over Punch Brook, watching a small barefoot boy who had fallen asleep in the sun, his line still in the water. There was a school of brook trout just below me, and I wondered why they were not enticed by the boy’s offering.

Winter fly fishing 101

Dying to get out there? Don't be intimidated by winter angling.

by Ben Kryzinski - Wednesday, Dec 30th, 2020

Photo: Chad Shmukler

The reason many anglers either avoid winter fishing entirely or struggle when they choose to tangle with trout during the colder months has as much to do with perception as it does with reality. It’s frigid outside. Maybe there’s snow on the ground. The water is cold. Odds are, fishing is going to be slow. Right?

Fortunately, that’s not the whole story.