Why You Should Try Fly Fishing - The Fisherman

Why You Should Try Fly Fishing

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The challenge of hooking and landing the powerful species of the northeast Atlantic on the fly can become a lifelong addiction.

The fly rod is an effective tool for catching many species of fish.

Over my years working as a guide and at a prominent tackle and fly shop I have seen every kind of angler walk through the door. I’ve literally met thousands of people all connected by a single goal: to appreciate the outdoors with a rod and reel in hand. There is always a lot to talk about because there are dozens disciplines within fishing and countless species to target, the rod and reel each angler chooses says a lot about who they are, how they fish and even where they fish. This is why you will rarely see a charter boat leaving the dock with only one type of rod and they certainly don’t only carry one style of lure! While rods and reels are constantly advancing as new materials and technologies are developed, the big three: spinning, conventional and fly, are here to stay and will remain—more or less the same—probably forever.

The popularity of fishing has skyrocketed over the past five years. There’s no denying that 2020 was the year of new hobbies, as COVID-19 had almost everyone in the US off of their normal work schedules and looking for safe ways to enjoy life during a pandemic, adding millions of people to the sport. While most of the new anglers that I met over the past 5 years did go straight for a spinning rod, there has been a noticeable migration to fly fishing among seasoned anglers and a surprising number of new recruits that wanted to start with the fly. With this influx of new fly-rodders has come mountains of misconceptions, questions, comments and new fishing knowledge to be shared. It also seems that there are a lot of fishermen that are interested in fly fishing but are reluctant to take the plunge.

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Learning to make accurate casts will pay off in the long run.

A Fly Rod Is Just Another Tool

A fly rod is designed to cast a practically weightless fly with a heavily weighted line. This fact means that you can imitate the smallest bugs and tiniest baitfish with a fly; something not easily done with a spinning rod. I cannot tell you the number of times I have seen the fly rod outfish spinning gear. When the conditions are favorable and the bait is small, it’s hard to beat the delicate presentation of a very small fly on a long leader. One of the best times to whip out the fly rod is when the albies are in and they’re being finicky! If you can place a cast with a tiny baitfish fly, you’ll be the envy of the fleet when you’re the only one hooking up while Snax and epoxies go ignored. But any time the bait is less than 2 inches long and the fish are keying in on size, the fly rod can save you.

The fly rod also excels in places with moderate, or even strong, currents as flies move very naturally with the push and pull of water. They provide an excellent single-hook connection to the fish and almost always have less impact on the welfare of the fish you catch. I take a fly rod and a spinning rod with me everywhere I fish. Both of these tools have their place and can help me accomplish the goal of hooking up under almost any set of circumstances.

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Fly fishing has taken me to locations all over the northern hemisphere and given me the opportunity to meet many amazing people along the way.

It’s Not Hard, But It Takes Practice…

Fly casting looks like a crazy, complex and complicated process. In fact, when my girlfriend saw me cast a fly rod for the first time I remember her looking at me and saying, “Wow that looks like magic!” I think some of that comes from her childhood obsession with Harry Potter, however through the eyes of a total newbie, I guess I can see the magic in it. Fly casting should be kept simple, but there are a lot of people out there that make it very complicated—don’t be intimidated. Fly casting is as easy to learn as any other cast. In fact, “Lefty” Bernard Kreh (one of the grandfathers of modern fly fishing) compared it to something as simple as unrolling a rug and was adamant that it was the easiest type of fishing to teach to children. I have always appreciated the analogies of throwing a dart at a dartboard, or a paper airplane at an annoying classmate. The cast is little more than a series of smooth accelerations that come to abrupt stops at two predetermined spots. YouTube will be your friend when it comes to casting tips and instruction. I highly recommend videos from the Orvis Fly Fishing School with Pete Kutzer. He knows what he’s talking about, keeps it simple and displays the mechanics of the cast beautifully.

I encourage all new fly casters to start off small, do not expect to make big beautiful looping casts on your first few trips. In fact, I would urge you to avoid big drawn out “A River Runs Through It” style casts. Focus on smooth mechanics and efficiently casting the fly to a spot in front of you and then begin to move that spot around. Remember that the rod should be doing almost all the work for you, it may seem light and wimpy, but it’s a very powerful tool. As you learn to feel the rod load and unload, you will be able to add distance, control your placement and cast without even thinking about it. Just keep reminding yourself that the motion should be easy and fluid. And if you need a brush up, there’s no shame in taking a lesson, fly instructors are professionals and know how to tune up a novice caster.

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Perhaps the only thing more rewarding than hooking up on the fly, is helping someone else put a fish on the deck.

It Doesn’t Have To Be Expensive

Fly fishing gets a bad rap as something reserved for wealthy old men or whiny hipsters that spend more time showing off their vests and waders than actually fishing. And sure, these people do exist, but the true hardcore fly fishers are the exact opposite, this is not to say they are the scum of the earth, but they definitely do not have all their ducks in a row and some would even be considered grimy rebels and perhaps even outlaws.

Fly fishing has spread around the world and is used from Alaska to Australia as an effective means of fishing. It can certainly be very expensive, but only if you make it so. You can spend less on a solid fly rod and reel than most surf fishing or boat rod set ups will cost you. Do your research, just as you would any other purchase, and visit a shop with knowledgeable staff. Be honest with them and with yourself about what you really need and your budget; this way you won’t break the bank. You do not need the fancy reel with 30 pounds of drag, 600 yards of backing capacity, laser sights and the Kung Fu grip. I am a big fan of the affordable rods from Orvis and Temple Fork Outfitters; I have owned several and have caught fish with them all over the world. Orvis and Reddington make some rock solid affordable reels and Cortland makes some bang for your buck fly line.

Tying Flies Is Easier Than Building Plugs

I started tying flies not long after I started fly fishing. They all turned out terrible. Ugly, messy, poorly finished and borderline embarrassing. But, even those embarrassing “creations” caught fish! Tying flies has since become a true passion and something I take great pride in. It is an outstanding offseason activity that keeps me engaged in fly fishing even when I am surrounded by the frozen tundra of New England for five glorious months.

I cannot express how satisfying it is to catch a fish on a fly you tied yourself. It is, I’m sure, akin to the feeling a magician gets when he saws his assistant in half to the astonishment and delight of the hundreds of shocked onlookers in the audience. Tying beautiful flies definitely takes practice and patience but it’s certainly easier and less labor intensive than constructing thru-wired, molded plastic lures with intricate paint jobs in your living room. Start small, purchase a starter kit, a few choice materials and invest a little time into learning during the offseason. It is both more affordable than buying all your flies and, I promise, it will all be worth it when you hook that first fish on your own fly.

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Fly fishing is very adaptable; from the tiniest trickle streams, to kayaks, to center consoles to jetty hopping… the fly rod has a place.

Fly Fishing Can Take You Places…Literally!

There are destinations all over the world that either cater directly to the fly angler, or offer exclusive access to waters that are especially attractive to fly anglers. I am a relatively young and relatively poor fisherman, yet I have managed to travel halfway across the world because of fly fishing. I’ve spent summers living in places like Alaska and Montana in the most incredible landscapes in the world simply because I got pretty good at using a fly rod. I know very few other types of anglers who see as much of the world as fly anglers do. Just as with most challenges in life, fly fishing becomes an addicting adventure that is guaranteed to lead you to new fishing spots.

So drop those preconceived notions about fly fishing being too hard or about needing a million dollars and a handlebar moustache, and take my advice, the fly rod will deliver in situations when nothing else can. The fly rod is as much a tool as any other fishing style or method but, luckily for all of us that take it on, this tool works great in some gorgeous places.

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