by Will Unthank

Fly Fishing: A Pastime That Will Never Grow Old

There is nothing more exhilarating than seeing the fin of a trout just barely breaching the surface of the water. The cast is right in front of the fish, there is a splash in the water, and you have hooked the fish. I would love to be able to attend [Rivercourse] and have the opportunity to learn more about this wonderful art. I have, over time, learned that fly fishing is not an easy pastime, but is rather an art. Because my  understanding of fly fishing is very basic, I welcome all tips and ways to improve my skills.

 

One of the main reasons I want to go is that improving my fly fishing skills is extremely important to me. I once heard a fly fisherman say that casting can be the most fun part of the fly fishing experience. At first I thought he was crazy, because in my mind, catching a fish is definitely the most fun part of the experience. This was my mindset until I went camping in North Carolina. That camping trip was the first time I had brought something other than a spinning reel to go fishing with. I thought, “I’ll try fly fishing, and see if I can catch something.” While we were there, though I spent most of my time in the stream with my fly rod, I didn’t catch a single fish. Even so, it was one of the most fun small stream fishing experiences I have ever had.

 

When I first became interested in fly fishing, I thought that it would be easy. Once I had learned how to cast and all the other little tricks that go along with it, I didn’t know what else to do. When I went to a fly fishing beginner course, I was surprised to find that the course hardly involved casting at all. The majority of the course dealt with fish habitats, flies to use, and many other things that had never even crossed my mind before. Before, I had thought it was simply necessary to tie on a fly and cast into the area you thought fish might be holding. I had never even thought that fly fishing could possibly involve so many different factors.

 

It had never occurred to me that choosing the right fly to use can be an art in itself. This really made an impact on me when I had an opportunity to go fly fishing in North Carolina, it seemed like it would be a really fun trip, so I decided to go. With fly fishing gear in tow, I traveled to a very beautiful area with a few friends. When we got there, I pulled out and organized my gear, and we headed to the river. Reaching the river, I started trying to decide what fly to use, only to find that the more I looked, the more confused I got. This was the case until I met a fly fisherman who pointed me in the right direction in choosing the proper fly. Successful at last, with the kind man’s advice, I was able to make sense of most of the jumbled facts in my head.

 

Once I had chosen the fly I thought was best, I started to try to find some fish. This task proved to be much harder than it had seemed when I had first read about it. I had to think long and hard about all the factors that come into play, but every time I thought I had found a good area to cast, another thought arose in my mind: “No, the fish won’t be there.” I was very discouraged, but still I pressed on until I found an area that contained some fish. Even then, I saw that the speed of the water had a profound effect on the fish and that your fly had to be moving at the same rate as the water in that area. After casting a few times, I saw that the fast current in the center of the stream pulled the line so that the fly would move in an unnaturally swift manner through the calm water. Never had it occurred to me that one would have to compensate for different speeds of  the current in the water. By the end of the day, I had made much progress, but at the same time, had thought of a million more questions. At this camp, I want to be able to ask these questions and learn from them to make myself a better fly fisherman.

 

Going to this camp would also give me the opportunity to meet other people my age who truly enjoy this sport of fly fishing. Whenever I go fly fishing with friends, I am usually the only one who is really intent on the actual fly fishing. This would be a wonderful opportunity for me to meet people who enjoy this pastime as much as I do.

 

Every time I have the privilege to go fly fishing, I see the importance of taking care and monitoring these environments. The beauty of these trout habitats amazes me more every time I see them. It is truly important to me to make sure that I learn how to take care of these creatures that are part of the natural ecosystem and bring us so much pleasure. These trout have a natural life cycle to go through. Thus, if one has the privilege to catch one of these beautiful fish, one should be careful to ensure that it will live to fight another day. One thing that I have noticed during my previous fly fishing expeditions, is the importance of properly de-hooking and releasing the fish. While on a trip to North Carolina, a friend and I discovered a beautiful ten-inch brown trout. It drew our attention when we noticed it floundering around in the shallows. When we netted the fish, it looked as though someone had tried to remove a hook, which had caused major bleeding. This saddens me, because God gave us these beautiful creatures, and we need to treat them with respect. Losing the bur (barb)on a fly is a small price to pay to give another angler the pleasure of catching a beautiful part of God's creation.

 

Now I have a better understanding of what fly to use in different situations. I’ve learned that it’s important to first observe my surroundings. Looking in the water, to see what food the water contains so you can try to match your fly to what the fish are eating, is a major part of choosing your fly. All of these skills are paramount in learning to effectively find and catch fish. When you actually get to the water, you learn that it is not nearly as easy as is perceived in fly fishing literature.

 

Still, as I read books, and try to figure things out, it seems like there is a never ending tidal wave of information. I would love to spend a week in the beautiful rivers and streams in the mountains of North Carolina. Just the smell of the sweet mountain air makes me tingle with excitement. That is why I think that this camp would be good for me. It would really help me to be taught essential skills, instead of trying to master them myself. Usually it seems that when I try to learn a skill on my own, I end up doing it the wrong way (usually pointed out when I fish with someone good). This would give me the ability to help other beginners to learn the wonderful art of fly fishing. Fly fishing is something I hope to be able to always do, a pastime that will never grow old.