In this episode we WadeOutThere with Ashley Weber from Florida’s East Coast. Ashley grew up fishing in the Indian River Lagoon system along the “space coast” of Florida where she developed a deep connection with the ocean and salt water fish.
In this episode we WadeOutThere with Dave Stewart from Oregon. Dave started fly fishing at an early age. His father, who was a guide, and one of the earliest fly fishermen on the Deschutes River, would often leave him alone to fish and explore on the river for two to three days in between guide trips. Dave’s love of the outdoors and fly fishing led him to start The Wet Fly Swing Podcast, which initially focussed on steelhead, but eventually branched out to all things fly fishing.
In this episode we WadeOutThere with Andrew Grillos from Gunnison Colorado. Andrew learned to fly fish side by side with his father growing up in Colorado, learned to tie as a teenager, and eventually ended up guiding on the Gunnison River.
"First thing's first. There's always exceptions." - Sam Galt
Those early successes in fly fishing can be good and bad. I remember catching fish on the fly while working on the ranch in Montana as a teenager. The memories are sunny days, dry flies, and beautiful trout, without much thought to how or how many. Certainly "tactics" weren't discussed. But then, that was thirty years ago...
It’s easy for us to forget the thought that goes into how we will fish. Every next cast could be that special memory that keeps us coming back. Our minds tell us to Wade Out There. Get fishing. Start working that water. Kiki reminds us that just as we are problem solving through different water types during the day, we should also problem solve before those first steps in the water.
I laughed when he asked. "Seriously man. Should I be nymphing?" There was a frustrated chuckle in his voice. I think he knew the answer, but it is a fair question.
For many of us, tying flies comes after the fishing part. It's the next step, or at least, another step. If we enjoy it, embrace it, and continue tying, fly tying becomes just another aspect of fly fishing. Like learning how to tight line or chasing a new species. Tying, then, becomes part of the progress we seek, and as we learn new tactics and techniques for fishing, our tying evolves as well.