Why Fly?

By Dan Paull

Most of us anglers started fishing many years ago as kids casting the old Zebco 404 fishing rod or something similar. That could have opened the door to pandoras box to the thrill of fishing. Once the box has been opened, many have continued into a ripe old age, and are having just as much fun as the first time ever. Over time, many of us have learned that it is not the fish that we fish for, but the experience that fishing can provide. From going to far away magical places chasing fish that many have never even heard of, to just spending time with friends and family.

When I was 11 years old, I had saved enough money to purchase my first fly rod. By this time, I had caught many fish with conventional tackle and at the time I guess I thought I wanted to complicate my life and attempt to catch fish in a way I have never before. At the time I had seen many TV shows and I remember watching some guy on the bow of a boat in salt water hooking a tarpon on the fly. I remember how amazing I thought that was and I just had to pick up a fly rod myself. So, to Kmart I went and purchased a Diawa 6 Wt fly fishing rod and the cheapest reel I could afford. Where most kids wanted Legos, I had always migrated to the hunting and fishing section of the store. Now, at the time, I had no idea what a lot of things were related to fly fishing. I just knew I had to pick up the rod and learn how to cast. How many 11-year-old kids do you know spend hours on the front lawn whipping dandelions with a fly rod? Probably not many.

I spent hours and hours and attempt after attempt after attempt trying to mater the perfect cast. Still, to this day, I can remember my progression of casting farther and farther each time. Eventually I taught myself everything I see the guys in videos attempting to teach clients to do. At that time, I would just continually practice hitting targets at a distance with a fake fly on the end of the line, and have an absolute blast challenging myself while doing it.

It was a year later that a family friend, Ray, was going to Potter County PA for some camping & fly fishing and asked if I’d like to join. I bet the excitement on my face was that of a boy on Christmas morning as Santa just brought him the toy he has been hoping for the last year. At the time I still had that same Diawa rod, cheap reel, and tattered fly line, but it did not matter to me as I was FINALLY going to be casting a fly for trout.

If you don’t know anything about Potter County PA trout streams, I will explain a little. Better yet I can sum it up into one word…. BUSH! The area we were camping was right next to the stream. Before I arrived, I had no idea what to expect. So, when we arrived to find out we were right next to the stream, I remember I was beyond ecstatic as I was going to be able to fish ALL THE TIME. So as soon as I could I was rigged up and standing in the water.

I remember the first fly I ever tied on in an attempt to catch a trout, a Royal Coachman. The Royal Coachman is not a “match the hatch” type of fly but rather a fly to trigger a rise. Regardless, it was a great looking fly and at the time I remember I could only afford a few. As I stepped into the water to start fishing the plan was for me to fish downstream and Ray was going to fish upstream. As Ray left, I walked down the river a little to look for the perfect pool to cast a fly into.

Did I mention BUSH? Yes, this stream was COVERED in thick bush. This thick bush was never something I had expected, and certainly nothing I had ever thought I needed to account for. I recall spending at least 50% of my time attempting to untangle my line from getting caught in the trees on my back cast, and in many cases, losing most of my flies. I also recall actually making a few good casts and actually getting a trout to rise to the fly. SUCSESS! Yes, I was ecstatic that my first trip actually fly fishing was a success. However, as I recall, it wasn’t just the fishing or the catching that made it a success, but more of the experience of going somewhere new, doing something I have never done, spending time on the stream and with a good friend. I was hooked.

Years later, after being a first mate on charter boats and being a fishing guide, I still find that fly fishing grabs my attention as a first choice when chasing fish. I am far from being a purist when fly fishing because I believe that if your rod is bent and you are having fun, who cares how your catching fish!? To me, there is no place for ego in fishing, and no matter what my clients choose, it is a matter of how do you want to have fun? Fly, gear, trolling or however you want to fish, as long as it’s legal and you are having fun, I’m all for it!

For me personally, I still enjoy making that perfect cast to a distant target and perfecting my craft with fly tying. Fly tying is a delicate craft, and hand tying something a fish would recognize as something to eat and making that connection successfully is a satisfying talent to achieve. Beautiful fish live in beautiful places, and for me, the art of fly fishing will always be at the top of my list when accepting a new fishing challenge in a new far off location, just as when I was a young man.