If you are reading this then you have an interest in trying fly-fishing. Good. I have been hooked on it for the past 34 years and enjoy it as much today as I did when I started. I have had the opportunity to introduce several people into the sport over the years and many, not all, of them have continued with learning and enjoying all that fly-fishing provides. I do not profess to be some sort of fly-fishing savant or expert rather, I do not believe there is such a person or thing. This passion, like everything else, needs to be nurtured and every single outing you learn something about the sport and yourself in it. My advice to people who have thought about, or are ready to give it a try can be boiled down to two nuggets.
First and most importantly have fun with it. Anytime I take out new people or talk to new people in the sport it is as if they are automatically apologetic. Commonly they apologize for their casting technique or general lack of knowledge. Don’t do this and if you do- stop. As an example I don’t golf because it is not fun for me. I am fully aware of my golfing limitations but I do not have the passion to put in the hours that come with getting better each stroke so I just don’t do it. I am not apologizing for this as it is simply what I have come to accept. If truth be told my hunting and fishing passions take up enough time and financial resources;I don’t need another hobby! My point is: accept that each time you go out fishing you will get better, learn to cast better, read the water, tie-on tippet, match the insect hatch and mostly grow your confidence simultaneously with your curiosity to learn more. My parting piece of advice is remember you are the only one judging you. Have fun and enjoy all aspects of the experience and if it is meant to grow it will and if not you are no worse for the wear.
Second, keep it simple. Sometimes when I am fishing and need to take a break I find a rock or log to sit on and I people watch. I watch the other fishermen in how they approach a piece of water, their technique, their equipment and their attitudes. Overall fly fishermen are a happy lot and why shouldn’t they be. The sport is a paradox between basic biological simplicity of a fish needing to eat and self-imposed complexity. Ease into the sport until you know where your curiosity takes you. Are you a stream, river or lake fisherman? Do you prefer cold, warm or salt water fish species? Also be realistic about the gear you need versus the gear you think you need. I am not dissuading people from going out and dropping a thousand dollars on a rod and reel but I can tell you I have fished the past 20 years with a White River 9 foot 5 weight rod I bought from Bass Pro Shop in Branson, Missouri. It does the trick and guess what- it doesn’t catch fish, I do. You don’t need to go out and buy the waders, high dollar vests, a box full of flies with wild names unless you feel so inclined. Don’t get me wrong, I have a pair of Simms waders but over the years I have found I fly fish most of the time in Columbia quick dry pants and a pair of Cabela’s wading boots. They are practical and do what I need them to do. I have numerous fly boxes filled with flies but I found that I have one go to box that has 5 types of nymphs and 4 types of dry flies and 95% of the time I do not use anything but these flies. Why, because I have found what works best and also found that keeping it simple takes away any stress while on the river. They work the vast majority of the time so I trust them.
When I started fly-fishing I was a teenager from Kansas with the closest trout 7 hours away. That did not stop me. I found other fly fishermen who lived in the town I did and visited with them. I read magazine articles and most importantly- I learned by immersing myself every chance that I could. Today there are countless videos and TV shows and if they were around when I was starting out they might have scared me away from trying the sport. Today the people in the videos all have the best equipment, drift boats, clothes and casting technique. This would be like having Dale Earnhart as my driver’s education teacher. Many of those men and women in those videos and shows are good at the sport but keep in mind they all started out from the beginning too. Their passion drove them to get better and the fun they have keeps them doing it.
-If you have an interest to give it a try, do it. Be realistic that talent comes with practice but it will never occur without fun. Keep everything simple and in perspective and don’t forget the fish have to eat.
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