Even in close quarters, the ability to cast far will serve you well. / photo by Jasper Taback When I started fly fishing for trout, I was told to focus on making short, accurate casts. I think it was ...

Fly fishing is ingrained in American culture — Ernest Hemingway and Norman MacLean romanticised it fiction, outdoor brands like Patagonia and Yeti do the same through photos and videos of adventure.

When I started fly fishing for trout, I was told to focus on making short, accurate casts. I think it was good advice, for the most part. On many trout rivers, the ability to cast a fly 40 feet is all ...