What's Important?

With all of the social platforms these days, it's interesting to read what's important to some fly fishers. The word 'skill' as a requirement to optimize a fly rod's capabilities is mentioned on many of the conversations I'm reading. And, some anglers are not bashful about claims of such skills with casting out to prodigious distances, to land a fly on a dime. I'm thinking new fly fishers reading some of those claims could get quite intimidated. They needn't be...

There certainly are pro guides and fly fisher advisors who can do some amazing things with a fly rod. I have to ask, "what's the motivation for these anglers to develop the skill to pull off the impossible cast? I too wonder how many of them have developed the skill of being in the moment with the essence of fly fishing...which has more to do with appreciating the nature of outdoors and fly fishing. I have fished with a few who don't even notice nature's environment and the crisp mountain air they breathe, much less feel it. Yup, a missed moment in life's beauty.

Fly fishing isn't only about casting abilities, but stalking a trout as well. If I see a trout seventy feet from me sipping on top of the water, I should be able to work my way well within forty feet to land a fly softly for the take. Or, usually I can spot another trout holding in the stream somewhere between us. If I first cast to that far away trout, I probably would put down a few others holding closer to me....missed opportunities, all for the need of bragging rights.

I've been reading some early Winston catalogs with casting instructions from Tom Morgan this week. The writing style and essence of the articles don't give me any indication they are meant for tournament fly casting. Nope, just common sense articles on how to effectively land your fly on the water to catch a trout. Tom designed and built quality rods to help us cast and land a fly to get the most out of our fly fishing enjoyment. His trout rods are designed for fishing in a range of 20 to 50 feet...with most fishing being done under 35 feet from the boot tips. Yup, it's all about ‘the fishing’ in trout streams. Not casting to the moon. Although, gazing at the moon from the campsite fire is quite nice.