Currently browsing… True Cast
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The True Cast – What ever happened to August?
August used to be the “prime” month for many fly-fishers like me… now, in many places it might be rightfully considered the “cruelest” month of an angler’s calendar year. Of course, that all depends on where you are and what you’re chasing. Living for fishing in August I used to think... if I could put…
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The True Cast – What do you have against bobber fishing?
The other day, whilst scanning through social media (which can be a very unhealthy or extremely informative deal, depending on how you look at it) I noticed a post that asked, “What do so many fly anglers have against the bobber?” That’s a very fair question, and it isn’t easy to answer, but I’ll do…
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The True Cast – What inspired the creation of TU?
Here’s how my family tells the story… I think the things that fueled the Trout Unlimited story started happening long before the organization was founded in 1959. A long, winding road led to TU’s founding Prior to 1884, Michigan—which is still essentially a giant sponge resting in the middle of the Great Lakes—was an entirely…
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The True Cast – I got Gierach skunked
Our family has an old cabin on a small river that doesn’t have many fish in it. It’s in Michigan. The next cabin downstream, and the one after that, belong to extended cousins, so it’s become somewhat of a ritual to meet for happy hour and share stories about things like the fish you caught…
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The True Cast – What’s Your River “Walk-Up” Song?
Baseball players have a “walk-up” song as they step toward the plate. So, what’s going through your head once you’ve climbed into the waders, strung up your rod and are ready to fish? Now… a quick note of disclaimer to say that I acknowledge that fishing with earbuds is considered more than a party foul…
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The True Cast: How would you describe fly fishing?
I’m often asked how I’d categorize fly fishing. Is it a sport? Tradition? A game? A hobby? That’s a loaded question, and I’ll give you my answer (which I’ve landed on after years of careful deliberation on the water whilst waving a stick) in a bit. But for grins, let’s tackle a few… Sport. Hmmm.…
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The True Cast – It’s (almost) all about presentation
What happens after your fly hits the water is usually as important (or more so) than the cast you made to get it there in the first place. If a fly behaves naturally, a fish will be more inclined to want to eat it than if it behaves unnaturally. So, for dry flies as an…

