Fly Fishing: The Simplicity Of It All

If, while talking to friends you bring up the subject of fishing, everyone knows or has a concept of what you’re talking about. Fishing is a concept that every one gets. The dynamics are simple; long stick, a length of line, and something a fish would bite with a hook in it. Now, there is a lot more to fishing than that, but as a concept it can be that simple. In this writing, our subject is flyfishing, but it gets more complicated. Flyfishing requires the right gear, the right flies and a working knowledge of the type of water and holding places where fish may feed. Fly lines can be confusing at first. There are sinking tip fly lines, full sinking fly lines, floating fly lines, intermediate fly lines, fly lines for two handed rods etc. Not to mention backing and the various weights that match up with different weight rods! Instead of some long-winded discourse on each piece of equipment, let’s make this simple. Say you start fly fishing tomorrow. During your first season, you will travel about asking questions. Where are some good fishing spots? What equipment do I need? How much backing? What size tippet? When it happens, you will be thrilled with your first fish! After this season, you will have picked up the basic information to know what you’re doing. It is simplicity itself, what you don’t know in your first season doesn’t matter since you don’t know it. In spite of this, you will have a great time and learn things from others and your trial and error. After five seasons, you should be in good form and know all the particulars. Eventually, at some point you wade into the river and it dawns on you how simple this wondrous sport of flyfishing is. You will reflect on how many people you have met and places you have been simply to fish. Before you know it, you hear “Hey, buddy what fly are you using?” They are asking you!