Fly fishing has no age or gender barriers.
distance, often followed by another backcast,
and at the end of the backcast propel the line
forward, releasing it from your left hand (if you’re
right handed) when the tip of your rod is on the
horizon so it lands on target. This is easier to say
than to do!
Donald Beek and Adrienne with an Atlantic salmon
she caught fly angling.
‘streamers,’which imitate bait fish and leeches,
generally using a sink tip or full sink line.
Casting
The moment of truth comes at casting a fly —
usually the most difficult and frustrating part
of Fly Fishing for newbies. I would suggest that
beginners watch a demonstration on how to cast
a fly. Casting can be challenging, especially under
field conditions when you have to contend with
streamside vegetation and winds. Consequently,
there are many different casts.
You start by stripping some line from your fly
reel and laying it at your feet. Then you make a
‘roll’ cast by flicking your wrist forward to get
some line out on the water, lift the line with a high
backcast, swing the line forward to gain some
In the Good Name of Fly Fishing, Go Fish
Over the last couple of decades, fly-fishing
developed an elitist, upper-class reputation
purported by some nuts to have almost
metaphysical properties. This status of course,
is nonsense but the undesirable stereotype took
hold and remains to this day. Fly Fishing is not
a world unto itself, and I would hope that fly
anglers would not denigrate those who choose to
fish by other means.
Fly Fishing is an enjoyable, although
challenging, way to catch fish. It knows no age or
gender boundaries; and, once mastered, is a very
relaxing and rewarding activity. It’s also a great
way to catch fish once you’ve figured out how
to do it. It can be taken up at any age and most
seniors would have little difficulty becoming good
fly anglers. ●
Outdoorsman Duane Radford spends his
retirement in various outdoor activities: ice fishing,
hiking (ever watchful for bears), and fly-fishing
among them. To share his experiences, he’s also
a prolific writer and has written the book on
Canadian fly-fishing.
news&views SPRING 2019 | 31