Fly Fishing at Fourteen

I began fly fishing at the age of fourteen. When I turned 30 a few years back it struck me that not only had I been involved in the sport in one way or another for over half my life, but that I’d been fly fishing for longer than I’d known my wife or lived in any one place.

There were a number of pros and cons to being a flourishing angler as an early teenager. There were a lot of trade-offs. I couldn’t drive myself anywhere, but I could also fish without buying a license for those first years. Living in northern Virginia, that meant that I could fish in-state as well as nearby Maryland, DC, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania for free. Today, buying a license in all of those states would cost $221.70 – just for freshwater. Which would have been a problem, as I didn’t make a whole lot of money. But what I did make was completely unspoken for and able to be spent on gear.

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Fish have to Eat: Fly Fishing in the Winter

“Fish have to eat.”

If I had a dollar for every time I’ve said that. If you’re a fly fisher, and you’ve gone out in the winter in pursuit of fish, you may have offered that same phrase as part of your explanation to a skeptic. Friends, family members, and concerned passersby might be puzzled at best and, potentially, concerned for your mental and physical well-being.

Why would any reasonable person go outside in the winter and stand in water? If you’ve read the survival stories in Outdoor Life or watched Bear Grylls eat weird stuff, you know that getting wet in frigid conditions is not the best idea. In fact, they say it is, and I quote, “a bad idea.”

So even though you know that you’re all bundled up with the warmest and most waterproof gear, you have to be empathetic. Some sweet old lady, minding her business, drives by a creek and sees an adult walk headlong into a river. The situation could be a little distressing on her part. She could call the police. Or worry about you all day. Or pull over and ask if you’re okay (like, in the head).

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Somerset Fly Fishing Show: The Load-Out

After a couple of fly fishing shows, I feel like the audience that Jackson Browne sings about in “The Load-Out.” For those of you missing out on a quintessential piece of music, I’ll bring you up to speed: Browne sings about the daily grind of the touring musician, while each city’s crowd experiences the spectacle for just one night. You might know it for the track that follows it, which is Browne’s cover of Maurice Williams’ “Stay.” Brilliant fishing music, that album.

If you’ve never been to the Somerset Fly Fishing Show in New Jersey, you ought to make plans to do so. I attended the Marlborough, Massachusetts show the week before, but this was different enough in so many ways to warrant the drive. It is enormous. Any one facet of exhibitors (vendors, tyers, lodges/expeditions, manufacturers) would be enough to satisfy a fly fisher for the better part of the day. Add them all up, and it is almost overwhelming. Looking at pictures and posts on social media this week, I keep thinking to myself: “I didn’t even know that booth was there!” or “How did I miss seeing (insert person)?”

But while I am left pondering conversations I didn’t have and money I couldn’t spend, most exhibitors are off to North Carolina. And then they’ll be on their way to Washington, and California, and back to Pennsylvania. Sure, they are either drumming up business or raising awareness for a cause. But it is still travel, and you have to hand it to them for that. I get to stick around home, and they’re “scheduled to appear / a thousand miles away from here.”

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Fly Fishing a New Trail

I’m always amazed by the places that trout live. With conservation being part and parcel with fly fishing for the past few generations, there is almost a subconscious assumption that salmonids are fragile. This isn’t to downplay the reality of the situation. Deforestation, pollution, and overfishing have ravaged rivers and lakes to the point that they’ll never be the same. And trout have, relatively speaking, a narrower threshold than other species in which they thrive. But they aren’t helpless.

All that said, it is somewhat of a surprise to stumble upon a stream that is filled with fish. Water like this that isn’t spoken of as anything special can be an anomaly. Being from the east coast, that strikes me as odd. Almost like we’ve been here long enough, and there are enough of us, that everybody should know everything.

I found a stream like this while hiking. Prominent trails in the Appalachians tend to follow old or contemporary roads. These tend to follow moving water. The Native Americans and early settlers didn’t need a survival guide to tell them that all you needed to do to find civilization is head downstream.

This stream was about 20-30 feet wide, shallow, and rocky. Not a typical waterfall and plunge pool sequence, but more like gentle tumbling. A canter rather than a gallop. The water was clear, the banks were undercut, and the tree cover was adequate. I was back, rod in hand, within a week.

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The Fly Shop on the Lake

Mention Southcentral Pennsylvania to a fly fisher, and chances are they will understand exactly where you’re talking about. In the angling world, it isn’t just the middle third of the commonwealth’s bottom half. Within this portion there is a valley that is bordered by the ridges of North and South Mountains, and in it lie a number of spring creeks and limestone influenced streams. Names like Letort, Falling Springs, and Yellow Breeches are famous in this region and far beyond. Native brook trout live on the gentle slopes, and selective browns and rainbows fill the waters below. Fly patterns, fishing techniques, and prose spread the world over were created in this valley. The streams, the trout, and the history come together to create a rich culture.

And every community needs a general store.

The History of the Shop on the Lake

Since the late 1800’s, there has been a structure on the northern end of Children’s Lake in Boiling Springs. It has functioned as a dance pavilion, a church meeting place, a motorcycle shop, and even an agricultural auction house. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, folks from towns like nearby Carlisle would take the trolley to enjoy the amusements in and around the spring-fed pond. “It was part of the park,” said Chris Frangiosa, “there were things like shooting galleries, boats to rent, all sorts of stuff for families.”

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Fly Fishing Podcasts Worth Listening To (Updated)

Are you planning on going somewhere this weekend? Somerset, perhaps?  There is absolutely no reason why you can’t be entertained while cruising down the freeway or even sitting in traffic. Three months back, I listed my top five fly fishing podcasts. I wanted to add some new episodes to the podcasts that I’ve previously suggested, as well as add a few new ones to which  I’ve subscribed.

Here are the new episodes that I think you’ll enjoy, Clicking on the picture takes you to the podcast website, and the name of the episode takes you to an iTunes page that highlights my selection. If you want my brief synopsis of the  podcast, click on the link in the paragraph above.

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Risen Fly: Rods, Reels, & Relationships

Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention. For so many anglers getting into fly fishing, a lot of invention goes into assembling everything that is needed in a somewhat expensive sport. Risen Fly, a company that has been selling rods, reels, and a number of other accessories since 2013, was birthed out of that exact necessity.

Ryan, the owner, got into fly fishing as a newlywed. “At that time, there wasn’t a lot of disposable income for my new addiction. I spent a lot of time on Craigslist, and it became clear that there was still the need for good quality gear that is affordable.” That was the genesis of creating a brand and selling his own fly tackle. He was considering his own situation as well as that of young anglers, those who want to give fly fishing a shot, and anyone who might be on a budget. Those same fly fishers, once they get more involved, realize the benefit of having a variety of gear. “Once you get into the sport, it isn’t unreasonable to need four or five rods and reels, and everything specialized that goes with them.”

Risen Fly started on eBay, where Ryan sold products like line and backing. Without much revenue, the money wasn’t there for advertising or a website. However, the success of those initial products allowed the company to move forward. A website was launched, along with the first series of reels. The Icthus reels are built out of fully machined aluminum with cork drags and sealed bearings. With features like those and prices around $150, the reels have been well received. Another line of reels, the larger Anakim, launched shortly thereafter.

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At the Marlborough Fly Fishing Show: Wrap Up

A perennial fixture of the fly fishing scene, the winter shows featuring vendors, tyers, and outfitters are highlights for anglers enduring the winter doldrums. With the premier expo holding events at seven locations across the country, and numerous other shows put on by sportsman’s groups and Trout Unlimited chapters, anglers from virtually anywhere can spend a day or weekend immersed in the culture of fly fishing.

I was able to attend the Fly Fishing Show at Marlborough, Massachusetts this year. Although it was barely 20 degrees outside, men, women, and children filled up the Royal Plaza Trade Center. I spent most of the day walking the hall, talking to exhibitors, and watching demonstrations.

From being in this community for a while, I’m aware that different anglers attend shows for different reasons. Personally, I love to meet and listen to people who are passionate about what they make/sell/do. History, anecdotes, and hands-on demonstrations communicate value more than flashy displays. The difference between a booth being popular or barren usually has to do with those staffing it, and I really respect and appreciate those who do it well.

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At the Marlborough Fly Fishing Show

 

Waiting for the gates to open...
Waiting for the gates to open…


 Today I’ll be attending the Fly Fishing Show in Marlborough, Massachusetts. I’ve come prepared with a camera, a notebook, comfortable shoes, and enough money to get into only a little bit of trouble. I’m planning on spending the day seeing familiar faces, meeting new folks, and, well, buying stuff.

Next week I plan on writing about who and what was at the show, so be sure to check back in. The best way to see when that information goes live is to:

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Meanwhile, check out some of the articles and posts  listed on the right.

The Five People You Meet in Fly Shops

We’ve all been there before. Standing in front of the rod rack at our local fly shop, trying to justify another 5-weight, and you hear the voice. “Kids these days! With their sling packs and their Twitters… no wonder I can’t catch any fish!” The shop employee is nodding along, but at a rhythm that clearly demonstrates his well-honed skill to hear without listening. His thousand-yard stare is evident to everyone but the ranting grump.

After nearly two decades of formal, empirical anthropological research, I’ve developed an efficient classification system and taxonomy for the types of individuals one encounters in fly shops. As a former fly shop employee, an occasional customer, and a curious observer of awkward situations, I believe that I am uniquely qualified for such a study. I’d like to present my completely objective findings.

One quick note: I try to be as gender-inclusive as possible when I write, but here I’m using male pronouns. I’m sure I’ve noticed the following behaviors/traits in women, but honestly, in my mind these characters are all men. A braver author than I can write the “Annoying Lady Anglers” article.

The Gear Guy / The High Roller Is it new? He wants it. Will it be redundant? It doesn’t matter. No plans to fly fish for tuna? Well, you never do know when a 14-weight might come in handy.

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