Many folks take up fly fishing but quit after a while. I suppose we get attracted to hobbies for one reason or another, and once we learn more about them our interest wanes for who knows why. Perhaps it’s not as fun as we imagined, or the hobby is too costly, or maybe it’s harder than it looks. For fly fishing, the most common beginner complaints are the cost and the difficulty as compared to other fishing techniques. I attempted to address those two fly fishing complaints in my beginners blog, but I know that fly fishing still requires a certain adventuresome spirit to fully embrace it.
My friend, Chan, took up fly fishing less than two years ago. Without much instruction, but with an inquisitive mind and a desire to explore on his own, he’s finding the sport suits him just fine. He recently let me know he had visited Santa Clara in December in the same vicinity that I wrote about in my July 1, 2011 blog. The fishing encountered some snow, but Chan had enough success that he decided to return today for another shot at those wild brown trout, in the middle of a surprisingly dry and slightly warm winter. I asked if he could visit Baker Reservoir along the way to verify reports of no ice, and he obliged.
As you see, Chan did very well today. Although he did not say, based on previous comments from him and the condition of the fish in his pictures I know the trout were released to grow another inch or two, or perhaps three. And to think Chan started fly fishing less than two years ago. Let this inspire those of you who still wonder if the sport is too difficult to produce any real enjoyment.
Well done, my fly fishing friend. Maybe you’ve inspired some of us to strike out in the cold of winter and emulate your effort… and may we also reap similar rewards.
