The resounding success of the recent Casting Across Fly Fishing Podcast episodes entitled Cast1 has reminded me how important it is to communicate and consume the most essential aspects of fly fishing.

This initial 9-part  series was curated for those interested in fly fishing and those who may have recently started. But early on, it became clear that there was a tremendous value to angling veterans as well. The basics of fly fishing, like the basics of any hobby or profession, are the fundamentals upon which everything else is built. So if you’re just getting out the blueprints, or you’re living on the top floor in comfort, you ought to appreciate – and maybe even inspect – the foundation.

Here are reasons why you, or anyone else, should go back to the basics of fly fishing… regardless of your experience:

You’re curious.

You’ve seen someone standing knee deep in the current, basking in the bucolic  scenery. He had a fly rod in his hand. It seemed to tie everything together, almost like that fishing pole was the key to enjoying nature at another level. Wanting this return to nature, this peaceful rhythm, you go into  fly shop.

Then you see the rack of $500 “keys to enjoying nature” and turn around to contemplate bird watching.

Prior to wiggling a fancy fly rod around in a shop, it is worth watching a handful of YouTube videos aimed at beginners. If there is a local club or shop offering a 101-level class, go and ask questions. Don’t leave a stone unturned.  Figure out all the ins and outs, then head outside. Get as much of a grasp of the basics as possible before diving in head and/or wallet first.

You’re confused.

Perhaps you have been fishing for a while. But things aren’t working quite right. Your cast might sputter at certain distances. Knots snap with an alarming frequency. Or, you just aren’t catching fish.

All those issues require attention. Especially that last one. Really, it is worth figuring out if you want to continue in fly fishing.

Gear doesn’t make the angler. A great guided trip in Montana doesn’t make the angler. Grinding it out week after week, getting skunked and frustrated may have it’s virtues. But it doesn’t make the angler, either.

There is the chance that you missed something. Or, due to eagerness you glossed over something and didn’t get an essential piece of what you need to do. There may be one tiny facet of one small aspect of what your doing that needs a simple tweak. The basics of fly fishing generally cover all the important stuff, so they’re a good place to start.

You’re confident.

Is there any merit in going back to the basics if you’re a pro  (or, the fly fishing equivalent of a professional)?

Absolutely. Primarily, because we’re human. That means we drift in our technique and in our area of focus. Consequently, we become myopic and develop bad tendencies. These problems might not be enough to warrant concern. But the consummate expert ought to desire less of a margin for error. Anything that can be done to smooth the slightest wrinkle has exponential value when you’re already close to peak performance.

In other fields, there is a centering value that comes with training camp, recertification, or a breakdown of essential metrics. Serious professionals do those things to stay at the top of their game. If you’re serious about fly fishing, why would you eschew something that can similarly help you?