Having been acquainted with flyfishing for a relatively short period, the sheer depth and breadth of this sport continues to surprise and delight me. My foray into flyfishing has delivered many insights into the pastime, the people involved in it, and the subtleties of our fisheries.

Perhaps the most striking feature of this niche of fishing is its practitioners. Unlike any other type of angler, flyfishers are particularly – almost to the point of being blinkered – invested in their pastime and fisheries. They are both knowledgeable and opinionated, on a range of topics from aquatic entomology to streamcraft, to the more exotic nymphing techniques and Spey casting to name but a few. Many have been involved in the sport for decades, and have developed their own methods and techniques to great effect; they are, for the most part, generous and willing in the sharing of their knowledge and strategies.

My first year of flyfishing has revealed to me exactly why many flyfishers are so heavily invested in their sport. The first reason is the learning curve. It’s quite steep, and requires a good deal of time and persistence if one wants consistent results. I spent an enormous amount of time researching the various aspects of flyfishing, and an equally large amount on refining my casting technique. The sheer volume of knowledge available to the novice is overwhelming, often leaving them more confused than educated. In these early stages, success is hard-won – a fish caught is exciting, but hardly believable. I think it is the challenges we meet, and the small successes we have in those early stages, that produce the devotion seen in many flyfishers.

I also believe it’s the very personal nature of flyfishing that contributes to this mentality. Having observed, spoken to and read the books and forum posts of countless flyfishers, it’s clear that no two have exactly the same preferences or approach. It’s this open-ended nature of the pastime which gives each angler the leeway to produce their own flies, leaders, and techniques. Put another way, flyfishing is a very involving, active form of fishing. It demands a great deal of effort and attention to get good results. It requires persistence and patience, both of which I’ve needed to summon on many occasions.

It was curiosity that brought me into flyfishing; it is the mix of art and science, the challenges and rewards, and the captivating beauty of the fisheries, that keeps me practising this brilliant pastime.  Flyfishing is difficult, but well worth the effort.