So youâve decided you want to learn how to fly fish, or at least look into taking it up â this will be one of the best decisions youâve ever made. Fly Fishing is, without doubt, one of the most rewarding sports Iâve been involved in. Itâs not just about catching fish, in fact far from it. Fly fishing has taken me to some of the most beautiful places in the world, just me, my rod and nature. It will take you to places that very few people in the world will ever get to experience and it will only cost you the gas for your car to get there!
So what is so great about fly fishing and why should you learn how to fly fish? Picture this, a crisp morning, youâre sitting beside a mountain fed river that has been there for thousands of years longer than you. The sun has not yet come up; youâre waiting for it to get light enough so you can see youâre line on the water. While sitting there you are contemplating what will be the result of your first cast of they day. Last night you spent hours tying flies, setting up your rod in front of the fire while having a beer with mates, talking through the prospects of the next day. The sky begins to brighten, you decide itâs time!
Standing in gin clear water you strip out line, preparing for your first cast of the day. You lift the line off the water, elevating the two flies you selected as youâre killer flies for the first part of the morning. Youâve got plenty of line in the air; you decide itâs time to throw the first cast onto the water, the line loops out on itself, softly cutting the water. You see the flies present themselves to the water, youâre now fishingâ¦
You follow your line as it makes its way through its drift, waiting for the first chance of a strike. The sun is slowly starting to come up, you know itâs breakfast time for the rainbow trout youâre about to fool. You see an indication of your line going under the water, STRIKE and then the greatest feeling you can get on the water â tap, tap, tap on the end of your rod; the fish is on! Youâve successfully fooled your first fish of the day into swallowing the fly you tied last night using natural materials, a bit of thread and a hook. Adrenaline sets in; did I hook it well, where will I land it, how big is it, are thoughts that rush through your mind. You softly play the fish, it takes you back into the main flow, runs down stream and then runs toward you, itâs more of a challenge landing the thing! Eventually the fish tires and gives up, youâre able to net it, get your mate to take a quick picture then return the fish to the river to allow it to fight another day!
And as I say, catching fish isnât just what itâs all about. Fly fishing offers so much on so many levels – Iâve taken dozens of first timers out on the water and every single one of them have loved it, fish or no fish, theyâve all appreciated the skill of the sport, the environment in which weâre lucky enough to practice it and the sense of accomplishment at even just getting the flies on the water.
In two minds about whether to Learn to Fly Fish? Didnât think so; see you on the waterâ¦
Fly Editor is an experienced fly fisherman and the editor of an informational fly fishing website:
StartFlyfishingnow.com is a resource for anyone interested in learning to fly fish or someone looking for information on fly fishing. Check my site for other articles and much more.