Share the Love

Was talking with an angler friend yesterday about the state of the fly fishing industry and the need to get new folks into the sport. And then today Gink & Gasoline had a great blog article about taking a newbie fishing.

It's like the old angler's joke...

Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish and he stays out drunk every weekend.

Seriously - if you're a fly type, take a buddy with you. Or offer to get someone introduced to the sport - take them in to the local shop and introduce them around. Our sport is full of gear, gizmos, and gadgets. It can be intimidating as hell. And there are still some arrogant a-holes around fly fishing who somehow feel compelled to make it overly complicated. You know the type -- has to catch every fish on a dry fly with a silk line or some such non-sense or it's not "real fly fishing".

If you've got a boat, you have the perfect opportunity. Often you'll have an empty seat. Might as well put someone in it. Heck, they might even buy the beer or kick in for gas. And if you bring someone new into the fold our sport stays strong. Plus you get a new fishing buddy. Teach 'em to row and maybe you get to fish more! I actually set-up a couple of extra rigs for guests (sorry, I'll take you fishing, but you're not throwing my Scott Radian...) suitable for trout, smallmouth, and even some steelheading.

And bonus points if you take a kid or a woman. We need kids who grow up into outdoorsfolk. And a lot of women are intimidated by our male dominated sports. But I know a number of women who've really gotten into the sport, once they got past the initial push.

What are you waiting for? We all know someone fly curious -- get 'em out there!

-Sean-

Beginner's Luck

I have a number of friends who've told me over the past year that they'd love to learn to fly fish. I'm sure the "River Runs Through It" mythology is part of it for some. For others they've done some baitfishing and found it dull. Still others are outdoorsmen in other realms, but haven't wet a fly line.

For these folks, I'll be periodically doing some entries on how to get started. Fly fishing can be intimidating, at least partially due to the elitist "if you didn't catch it on the dry fly it doesn't count". Sure, you CAN spend a fortune on gear, but it's not necessary to enjoy yourself. The big money seems to happen after the addiction takes hold. For some it's a pleasant pastime. For the rest of us it can become a bit obsessive (there, I admitted it...).

So, if you've ever wanted pass a pleasant summer evening thigh-deep in a storied trout stream elegantly flicking a fake bug to a wiley trout, maybe I can help. Stay tuned.

-Sean-