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Why Fly Fish?

by | Jul 26, 2022 | Fly Fishing

Guest post by Kyle Williams

A journey of peace, beauty, and adventure for those that enjoy the outdoors is my answer to the question, why fly fish?

Even though fly fishing is among the fastest-growing outdoor hobbies in the US, it remains shrouded in mystery for most. Of the countless activities available, why choose fly fishing? I mean, isn’t it really hard? And what’s the deal with all that fancy casting?

Why Fly Fish?

The truth is, those of us that pick up the fly rod do so because we’re in search of something more than simply landing a beautiful trout. Fly fishing is a community of outdoor enthusiasts in pursuit of mastering an endless challenge, the escapism of being immersed in beautiful places, and of course…the insatiable addiction to the tug of the fly line!

A journey of peace, beauty, and adventure for those that enjoy the outdoors is my answer to the question, why fly fish?

A journey of peace, beauty, and adventure for those that enjoy the outdoors is my answer to the question, why fly fish?

A Beautiful Challenge

A huge benefit of learning to fly fish is the process of constantly learning and developing a deeper appreciation for the natural world around you.

After a lifetime of bass fishing with my grandfather, a college buddy invited a few of us to go fly fishing with him in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park in east Tennessee. Even though I had never been before, I eagerly hopped on the river armed with nothing but a borrowed fly rod and next-to-no fly fishing knowledge. 

I got absolutely skunked. 

With my tail between my legs, I backtracked and found my friend downstream. Determined to learn, I sat on the mossy river bank beneath the towering tulip poplars and watched him. I observed his stealthy approach, how he worked to keep fly line out of the water, how he changed flies when one wasn’t working, and so on. When I had a question, I asked about what he was doing and why he was doing it. I took it all in. By the end of the trip, I was back on the river hooking up with trout of my own!

While I have many lifetimes worth of fly-fishing knowledge yet to learn, all fly anglers have benefitted from a friend, family member, or even stranger teaching them the techniques and knowledge of the sport. Watching a few videos online and getting out on the water with a buddy is the quickest way to really accelerate your learning. This often-communal process of learning and exchanging knowledge never really stops and is a part of the beautiful challenge of learning to fly fish.

A huge benefit of learning to fly fish is the process of constantly learning and developing a deeper appreciation for the natural world around you.

A huge benefit of learning to fly fish is the process of constantly learning and developing a deeper appreciation for the natural world around you.

Trout Don’t Live in Ugly Places

In our unimaginably gorgeous country, trout are the primary target for freshwater fly fishermen and women. There is a saying in fly fishing that I’ve absolutely found to be true: ‘Trout Don’t Live in Ugly Places’. Studying maps, driving to new places, and finally stepping into a beautiful new stream is half the fun of fly fishing. Taking in the beauty around you is part of the treasure we are seeking. It serves as an opportunity to step into the reality of the natural world – not the hustle and bustle of the city life so many of us lead. Whether you’re in the Colorado backcountry or exploring a local tailwater in the next county over, being in the outdoors and learning to notice the rhythms and beauty of nature that make fly fishing possible are a few of the great joys of the sport. 

The Tug is My Drug

At the end of the day, we do in fact get out on the water to catch fish and feel that pull on our fly line. It is a feeling unlike any other – a pulsing tension that connects man on the one end and the wild ways of nature on the other. 

Making sure the fish don’t know you’re there is a key element of success in fly fishing. With fast rushing water, ever-changing depths, and easily spooked fish whose natural diet is predominantly incredibly small bugs, there is no match for the versatile and delicate presentation of the fly rod.  If you want to maximize your chances to catch trout in the American West, you need to learn to fly fish. The good news is that it’s easier than you think!

Years ago, my dad and I went fishing on the Salt River in Arizona. We went with some of his friends who poked fun at my fly fishing gear (the rest of them opted to bait fish). We only fished for a few hours but when we got back to the car and exchanged stories from the day’s fishing, well…let’s just say they weren’t making any more jokes. I literally lost count of my hookups while the bait fisherman came up empty-handed! I know it doesn’t always work out this way, and it certainly wasn’t because I am some kind of fishing legend (a guy can dream!). Instead, the fly rod and my even rudimentary knowledge of a few techniques had given me the flexibility to stealthily present what the bait fishing techniques could not. 

If you want to land trout in western streams you need to learn fly fishing. The good news is that at no point in history has learning to fly fish ever been easier. There is a wealth of knowledge online and a huge community of anglers that, in my experience, are more than eager to help someone learn.  Along the way, you’ll experience beautiful scenery and gain a deeper understanding of the rhythms of nature.

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