[Interview starts at 43:32]
Brandon Dale is a licensed New York State guide who specializes in fishing, of all places, Central Park in the middle of The Big Apple. You may not be interested in fishing for carp in New York City, but Brandon offers some valuable tips on carp fishing in murky water, and he has developed some innovative techniques that all carp fanatics will want to learn.
In the Fly Box, we have a wide variety of questions and tips from listeners, including:
- Any tips on finding places to fly fish close to home?
- A tip from a listener on how to get studs in wading boots to mount properly
- What about kapok dubbing and wing burners? What are your thoughts on using them?
- How can I fish a small mountain stream when it gets murky?
- Should I wear my wading jacket inside or outside of my waders?
- How should I read the water in rivers for bass?
- Is there an advantage to shorter rods when fishing for bass in rivers?
- I caught two rainbows that looked exactly the same. Could it have been the same fish?
- Do graphite rods get slower over time?
- What advice do you have for getting a fly rod for a 5-year-old?
- How do fish get rid of flies when you break them off?
- I fished a river and all I caught was creek chubs. Is that a good or bad sign, and is it worth going back to that river?
- I have problems when I cast bigger flies. What should I do to practice with big flies?
- Are prescription progressive polarized glasses worth the extra cost?
Tom, one of your listeners commented on not getting in enough casting practice. I’ve found this toy to be very useful. We have cats and of course, cat toys. One of the toys is perfect for practicing casting indoors – “Fabric Teaser Wand Cat Toy”. I’ve found the usual casting practice rods are too long. This cat toy is short enough that you can practice proper technique while also observing your loops. I keep one handy while giving casting instructions. The flat soft fabric models seem to work best. Just Google Fabric Teaser Wand Cat Toy to see what I’m talking about. Folks with cats will know. Its great for practicing your stroke, loop control, and accuracy. Sometimes I’ll sit with mine while watching TV and practice casting during commercials. If you have a cat, its just more play time.