Daily Cast Archive

Been on a MAJOR Buckethead binge recently, so thought I would re-run this one from 2020. The man really does make some killer music to play in the background while building a rod or tying flies.

Details >

Today should have been the first BFCC event of the year, unfortunately the cricket club was forced to cancel a week or so back due to a waterlogged pitch. As is typical with this sort of thing though, it has barely rained at all since the cancellation and the pitch is probably bone dry now, especially after today which was 25 deg C according to my car. I know a BFCC member popped in whilst passing and said the ground was ok but the grass was long – I suspect the club had to postpone the first mow of the year for fear of the tractor cutting ruts into the pristine wicket and outfield.

Details >

There are many aspects to practicing your casting and of course, different focus points depending on what type of casting you’re practicing. In the end, they can all be combined. Practicing distance casting involves both carry and shoot. As long a carry as possible and as long a shoot as possible. Timing, precision, presentation, loop control and much, much more. And the better you can combine all these, the better the fly caster you become.

Details >

Fishing has been hard. Fish still have funny behavior, slow rise and fast dive. Satu has been few days at resort as her back went really bad. I had few great shots, my ploplop was not so good so I had no success. Past few days I have seen few bigger fish and had bad luck with them. All big ones has suddenly rose next to the boat, we have seen each others eyes and then it has been bye bye. I have seen also some couples so maybe they have sex at the moment and have babies during the weekend when I return to the lake.

Details >

We've had some incredible wind recently, so even if i'd thought to try another foray to the river on the public holidays this week it would have been impossible. So naturally, I climbed a couple of mountains instead. It's amazing how much more tolerant of the wind and crowds I can be when there's no fishing involved.

Details >

I got to my thirties and still never cast a fly rod, I knew that I would fly cast someday, but life and other fixations, including and especially Girls, (Ladies; Women; Damsels in distress;Mermaids; and Goddesses; one and all), got in the way. But I always had a back burner kept clear for the day that I could finally work it into my life, and had I met anyone who could cast a fly rod, no doubt that flame would have been ignited instantly.  The first fly rod I actually ever saw after the few in the Lake District as a kid, was in a junk shop in east London looking for props for a fashion shoot. It would happen of that I was sure and it would need commitment to learn. I can’t flirt with interests, cant dip my toe in, once I’m committed it’s the full plunge of obsession.

Details >

The lake has been tough. While every Snakehead in the lake is breathing, with the water temps as high as 35.5C, the fish are hanging around at the surface less long than usual. And as you’ll probably have figured out by now, even this amount of time is already quite short; only 1-2 seconds. Currently it appears to be less than half this now and their heads are well and truly down. Best chance of a freeriser is close to dark I think. That said, due to lessons and other organisings I didn’t get to fish last week nearly as much as I would have liked. Mika and Satu are currently up in Sungai Tiang, fishing for Mahseer with the Orange Asli. While I have multiple lessons on all days, as well as three videos to make for a fly fishing gathering in the States, I should also have a bit more time to have more of a go myself. I’m excited to see what happens!

Details >

Back in the 1960s, the city of San Antonio built two large lakes that functioned as cooling ponds for the associated coal powered, electricity generating facilities that provided energy for the city of San Antonio. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Lake Calaveras and Lake Braunig became known as two of the big bass hotspots in the state of Texas, but that all changed when Texas Parks & Wildlife began to experiment with stocking other exotic species in these two fisheries.

Details >

A bit of a chaotic day for me yesterday. On Friday night Mika and I got back to our island camp just after midnight. Only to find that Starlink was down. Customer service had me on the roof of the Battleship looking for serial numbers hidden in the dark. And then customer support disappeared.

Details >

It’s my first full weekend off in over a month, but I’m not complaining (much). Since March I’ve had something in the calendar every weekend. Mostly casting demos, which I really enjoy, because I often cut them short and make time for some instruction as well. Sometimes a few, small, quick tips can make a difference for people. This morning has quiet, spring rain and no wind. My absolute favourite weather. I’m not fishing, which I’d love to be, but family time is needed - I’ve missed them. The door’s open, it’s still cold, but the sound of the rain and the fresh air. The view is a suburban garden, but it’s my garden, so I enjoy it

Details >

Lot of short stories to tell, and not really ones I would prefer or you to hear! We all would love fish stories and kind of caught some but not those ones with catching yet. As they say it is all about happening.

Details >

With Japan being in the middle of the golden week holidays, I wasn't expecting to do any fishing this week. On Monday though I was at a bit of a loose end after some early morning jobs and conditions were so good I decided to go and risk the crowds.

Details >

Sometimes when writing these I feel ancient, dragged up from another age. A guileless troglodyte transposed blinkingly into modernity. Thus, serving as a cruel reminder of how long I’ve occupied this planet; and, of just what an unbearable little git I once was at times. Completely and utterly slapable!

Details >