Lessons From John

This is about John Gierach, not the other John from a couple thousand years ago. Although they may know each other now. I've been re-reading books and interviews with John over the winter. He has taught me a few things about fly fishing that I've found helpful. Actually, the lessons may be more about how to live in this world than anything technical in fly fishing.

I discovered one of John's interviews on a fly fishing website named - The Floating Fly. They have structured questions where experienced fly fishers have been selected to explain their approach to dry fly fishing. John was invited to contribute and it's most interesting in how John's replies are in such contrast with the other fly fishers' information. He doesn't over analyze anything or make more of fly fishing than what it is. His responses are casual, to the point, and never pretentious. A sample of topics with John's replies are below:

TFF Question: Casting ability and which casts are essential.

John G: I'm an instinctive caster and use whatever elements of the formal cast I need to get a good drift. I think it's best to be inventive and flexible.

TFF Question: Choice of equipment Rods, reels, fly lines, fly floatants, clothes, glasses, and other useful items.

John G: I’ve used rods as light as 4-weight and as heavy as 8-weight for dry flies, depending on the water and the fish, but when I think of a dry fly rod I usually picture a 4- or 5-weight around 8-feet long, preferably split bamboo, although I have some good graphites as well. The reel hardly matters: something to match the rod with a light enough drag. For most dry fly fishing I like a double taper line, although for bigger flies and longer casts a weight forward can come in handy.

TFF Question: Rise forms Can they tell us something?

John G: Yes, but not always as much as we think. When trout are showing on top, all it tells me is that they’re feeding in the last inch or two of water near the surface. If they’re making quiet dimples and I can’t see any bugs, I’ll guess something like Spinners or ants. If I can see flies on the surface I can make a good guess at what they are. I usually try the dry fly first, but after a good try (say, good drifts with two different patterns) I’ll try an unweighted nymph or emerger that sinks below the surface a little and that’s often the solution.

Yeah, I have to comment on that last question and John's response. This website is all about dry fly fishing and what did John just do? He told him when a dry fly doesn't work, he ties on a nymph. Yeah, that gave me a good laugh and is so John not to pander and be totally honest. 

In John's book, Trout Bum, he shared a story where he actually did buy and fish a bamboo 3wt rod. He devoted a whole chapter on that rod and the frustrations he had fishing it. So you know, he never could find a way to cast it effectively. One has to wonder if that experience caused him to only consider trout rods that were in the 4wt line class and heavier.

For those who are interested in dry fly fishing, The Floating Fly website has a wealth of information. My favorite featured author on the website? Yup, it's John Gierach and his approach to dry fly fishing. You gotta love the man and how he lived life on a trout stream. His authenticity is refreshing, indeed!

You know, it's just fly fishing. Go ahead. Wade in. Drift a fly. Enjoy the moment. Like John! And, land a trout…