
Well, the thing is...
My wife gave me a fishing rod and a reel for birthday a year ago. I was a bit baffled by that, because I had no idea whatsoever what I should do with that, when was I going to go fishing? Yes, I had been fishing as a child, so I wasn't completely clueless, but it was more that I don't ever fish - why would I want a fishing rod ?
I was frankly a bit disappointed by that present, but fate wanted it differently.
My brother in-law came visiting and we found a put and take lake not too far away from here and I brought my new rod and behold I caught a nice trout - And at that moment I was interested in the sport again.
During this spring, I have been fishing in Put & Take lakes quite a lot, my fishing equipment has grown to a considerable size, at least compared to before, and I have caught and eaten several fish, mainly trout.
I have been experimenting quite a lot with different kinds of fishing using spinners, different kinds of lures, made my own lures etc. and caught fish!
One day, I caught 2 really nice Rainbow trout at a around 1.5 kilos each. The next many times I didnt catch a single thing, but then one evening, two 1.5 kilo Rainbows and a Brook Trout around 1.1 kilo.. all in the same evening.
So now the problem arrived! Now I want to learn fly fishing!
I hate my wife was right, but I am HOOKED on fishing!
Fly fishing for newbie like me:
Okay, so I decided to learn fly fishing, so where to start? Well first of all, my brother and father in-law are crazy with fishing, so I mention it to them. And with enthusiasm in their voices they both say that they have tried and have taught themselves how to do it, but they really want to learn how to cast the fly correctly.
So I have enlisted all three of us with an instructor later this month. The course will cost 1000,- Danish Kroner and that includes a fly fishing kit and training and some fishing etc..
And I am waiting patiently - but....
one day at a P&T lake, in the little shop they have, I chat with the owner and I mention that I have enlisted for above mention casting course and telling him about the included equipment.
He then looks at me and tells me that I am about to do a mistake; not with the casting course, but with the equipment. And he then pick up the last fly fishing rod of a brand that I most certainly wouldn't be able to get in a kit! And also a reel of a quality that most certainly is NOT in a beginners kit like the one the course include! Total price is 1200,- but it is top notch quality gear!
Now to make a long story short, I end up buying the rod and the reel, and now I am the proud owner of a top quality fly fishing rod that I cannot use, because I have no idea how to cast the damn line.. I am living the dream of being one of those cool guys in the sunset, with the fly rod and - add more dream sequence here yourself..
Determined to learn how to use the rod, with the casting course awaiting in the horizon, I start to google. And end on Youtube where I watch numerous videos on how to fly fish. I even go to the local football field, to train by myself (I have seen the video, I can do this.....)
Well, no .. The result of the football field trip ends with me actually being able to cast the line, making the classical cast where the line is in the air, back and forth... I am on the right track.
Now I am ready to fish in a real lake! so I call a friend and we are going to the local P&T lake, fly fishing. But when I start with my newly learned moves, some old fly fisher starts talking to me and I have to confess that this is my first time actually fishing with the fly kit.. To my luck he doesn't laugh, but start teaching me (or rather correcting me) and I feel like I learn something that night at the lake.
The mistakes I made:
* I was holding on to the rod too tight, getting cramps in my hand
* I was casting way too fast
* When I got my false-cast going - lets say 30 meters in front and behind me in the air, when I wanted to make the actual cast, it landed frustrating 10 meters away, instead of the intended 30 meters!
Now during the fishing trip I learned a valuable lesson about fly fishing, "don't go fly fishing for the first time, without someone who knows what you have to do, so he can instruct you". Needless to say, we didn't catch a single thing, except what I caught : A tree behind me, where my fly was approximately 3 meters up in the tree - a trashcan that I pierced the plastic bag and a lamppost was hit with a loud "Tjiiiing" sound, but I guess that doesn't count like a real catch :P
However, I am very happy that I bought the right gear, everyone who has tried my fly fishing gear is saying "wow this is a great rod" - and it is also those who are experienced who said so.
But the effort was not wasted!
Since the total failure at the fishing trip, I have been studying fly fishing online and I found more videos on how to make the casts. And today I practiced what I studied on my lawn, using a practice fly (a piece of yarn) - And after a few casts, everything suddenly just worked as it should! ..
I am a lot more relaxed, I can shoot the line the full distance and not just the few meters, like at the lake, and the fly is ending in the place that I want!
I am not saying I am a pro now, that would most definitely be lying, but I am in control of the fishing rod, not the other way around!
So no, the effort was not wasted, but I need to practice, a lot! Practice makes perfect and I really want to make this perfect.
Whats next?
Next adventure in my fishing is waiting in the horizon: The fly casting course, next weekend. I am really looking forward to it, I hope to get to learn more about the different types of cast, I hope to be corrected a lot! - and I hope that I soon catch my first fish on the fly. People say it is so special to catch one on the fly fishing rod! But I am patient and humble.
I am also arranging a fishing trip for the colleagues at work, and I Am very surprised that so many were interested in a fishing trip!!
So, until next time - please post if you have experience with fly fishing and want to share your thoughts.