Thursday, May 02, 2024
I want to take my horses out and ride them, and today could be perfect. Here in Central Oregon, the weather isn’t yet summerlike enough but it’s warmish. This morning, there’s evidence that a gentle rain fell overnight. I have today off from my part-time job, and it’ll be great for doing almost anything: riding, photography, lunching out somewhere, gardening, reading. Maybe I’ll do it all!
Today’s wetness also has me thinking about a casual plan to go fly fishing with a coworker and expert fly-fisher. My coworker practices catch-and-release and emphasizes the sport over simply catching fish for consumption. I’ve long wished to learn how to choose appropriate bait and cast lines without tangling in surrounding shrubbery.
Past fly-fishing friends have told me that the sport is great fun and that they love being near or in the water and casting out. They explain that fly fishing is a more demanding form than bait-and-tackle; it requires them to master casting techniques, understand fish behavior, and tie their own flies.
They enjoy feeling connected to nature in beautiful, remote locations, immersed in natural sights and sounds. They can unplug and relax, appreciate the outdoors, and feel the thrill of the catch. Tying flies to them is an art form calling for creativity and personalization. Above all, the repetitive casting motions and intense focusing make them meditative, promote stress relief, and give a sense of calm.
I stay hopeful for opportunities to learn from a patient coach, to improve my coordination and control with a fly rod. Regardless of whether or not I catch any fish, a wonderful win would be gaining knowledge and skills to position, toss, and land my lines more correctly on/in the water.
Soon, I might have another opportunity to try again and learn the sport.
Dear Friends: It seems that fly fishing compares favorably with horseback riding. Diana
Diana's Morning Blog 
Diana, I’ve been debating about commenting on this. Though I decided that I would, maybe even should. My ex-son-in-law, Shane, is an expert in fly fishing. When they lived south of Sunriver, he taught fly fishing and fly tying. He loves the sport. Last I heard he did both catch-&-release, and catch-for-dinner. His brother, Seth, is a fish & wildlife biologist. Right out of college Seth worked for Florida Fish & Game. Now he works for Nature Conservancy. Seth opposes catch-&-release. He says it is really hard on the fish. Most states allow catch-&-release, even encourage it, as it is less harmful for the fish population than some of the other options, like poaching. Shane dearly loves his brother & respects him, but last I heard he ignored Seth’s concerns about catch-&-release. The reason I decided to mention this is that I know your To-Do List is very long, your time is valuable, & you have to be selective when it comes to how you spend your free time. I used to go out to the river with Shane & the dogs. I’d sit on the bank watching, sometimes photographing, meditating, or throwing sticks for the dogs to retrieve. All that was satisfying. Had it not been for Seth’s information, I might have tried to learn fly fishing. In the case of fly fishing & catch-&-release (as with most) I decided to follow the scientist. In Oregon this is a subject for much controversy. Kate
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Thanks for that perspective, Kat. I always thought of catch & release as the kindest way to participate in fly-fishing. Now, I see a need to start asking questions and become better educated, before deciding if the sport is for me. It’ll be interesting!
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Catch & release is definitely the way to learn to enjoy the sport/pastime. I am also an advocate of using barbless hooks. I don’t feel like I “lose” many takes because of them and they make the release easier. Often the hook just falls out when netting the fish and relaxing the line tension. And then there’s fly tying …
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