Beyond the Cast with DP

Most anglers treat their fly reel like an afterthought. After 35 years on the water — from Texas redfish flats to smallmouth rivers — I’ve learned it’s anything but.
I’ve been running a two-reel, three-line system built around the Orvis Mirage 8/9 and the Hydros III 5–7wt, paired with three very different Cortland 444 lines. Each one has a specific job. Each one earns it.
The full breakdown is live on Beyond the Cast — reels, lines, real conditions, no filler.

My Fly Reel & Line Lineup Reviewed: Orvis Mirage, Hydros, and the Cortland 444 Series - Beyond the Cast Two reels, three lines, and 35 years of experience behind every choice. Here’s how I run the Orvis Mirage and Hydros III across salt, bass, and trout — and why the right Cortland line changes everything.

Two days. Same lake. Same overcast sky. Completely different fish. This is a real two-day bass scenario breaking down when topwater was fire — and exactly when and why to switch to streamers or soft plastics when the bite dies. Covering both fly rod and baitcaster tactics, from hand-tied double barrel poppers and olive streamers to shaky heads and deep-diving crankbaits. If you want to know how to read the day and adapt, this one’s for you.

When Bass Call the Shots: Reading the Day and Switching Tactics Between Baitcaster and Fly Rod - Beyond the Cast Two days. Same lake. Same overcast sky. Completely different fish. This is a real two-day bass scenario breaking down when topwater was fire — and exactly when and why to switch to streamers or soft plastics when the bite dies. Covering both fly rod and baitcaster tactics, from hand-tied double ba...

The Florida River near Durango doesn’t reward your best cast. It demands your most precise one. Tight water tactics for wild brown and rainbow trout. .

Florida River Fly Fishing Near Durango: Tight Water Tactics for Wild Trout - Beyond the Cast The Florida River near Durango doesn’t reward your best cast. It demands your most precise one. Tight water tactics for wild brown and rainbow trout.

Most anglers fish the Dolores wrong…

They move too fast, miss the light shifts, and never adjust when the fish stop rising.

This trip broke down exactly when to throw dries, when to switch to streamers—and why it actually matters.

If you’ve ever struggled on pressured tailwaters, this will change how you fish.

Chasing Canyon Browns: Dry Flies, Streamers, and Decisions That Matter on the Dolores & Florida River

Chasing Canyon Browns: Dry Flies, Streamers, and Decisions That Matter on the Dolores & Florida River A deep dive into fishing the Dolores tailwater and Florida River—breaking down dry fly windows, streamer tactics, canyon light, and real-time decision making for targeting brown trout.

New Mexico Fly Fishing: Streamer Tactics, Backcountry Waters & My Trout Slam Plan A deep dive into flyfishing for trout in New Mexico—covering streamer tactics, mountain water strategy, and backcountry approaches that actually produce fish.

Learn how I consistently find and catch redfish from a kayak using Google Maps, a simple stake-out pole setup, and real on-the-water strategies for wind, tides, and structure.
fishing

How I Find and Catch Redfish From My Kayak: Google Maps, Stake-Out Pole & Real On-the-Water Strategy Learn how I consistently find and catch redfish from a kayak using Google Maps, a simple stake-out pole setup, and real on-the-water strategies for wind, tides, and structure.

How to catch Redfish guide

How to Catch Redfish: The Complete Guide to Finding and Hooking More Reds in Any Water A complete redfish fishing guide built from real Texas inshore experience. Learn tides, lures, habitat, kayak tactics, and seasonal patterns that actually produce fish.

How Current Drives Redfish and Speckled Trout Feeding (Texas Inshore Guide)

How Current Triggers Redfish & Speckled Trout Feeding (Texas Inshore Secrets) The difference between a slow day and a nonstop bite in Texas inshore fishing often comes down to one thing—current. When the water starts moving, baitfish, shrimp, and crabs are forced through dra…

Good little trip on the Bayou. Temp was in the 40’s but the bass was biting.

Does Color or Profile Determine What Fish Are Feeding On?

Does Color or Profile Determine What Fish Are Feeding On? Why Lure Profile Usually Outperforms Color Introduction: Is Lure Color Overrated? One of the biggest debates in fishing is whether color or profile matters more when choosing the right lu…