Dear Paul,
Thanks so much for your email - we are always
delighted to hear from folks getting back into
fly fishing. We have a terrific section,
called
Fly Fishing 101 which will help you a great
deal - yes, things really have changed in the
years you've been gone. You will probably see
the biggest changes in fly rods and the lines,
so take your time in purchasing a new outfit.
Also, register for our Bulletin Board and don't
be afraid to ask questions. The Fly Anglers
OnLine folks are most willing to help you out.
Glad you found us,
Deanna Birkholm
Publisher, FAOL
The name may be changed, but the content is
pretty much the same. You may be surprised
to learn the response to the email above is
also pretty common. It happens more than
you might expect.
The back story is similar too.
The person fished with their dad or other
family member as a kid - perhaps even did
some fly fishing. They may have also tied
some flies. But along the line, as they
grew up, life got in the way. Girls, cars,
school, college, work, marriage, kids, house,
mortgage, all the normal distractions. Then,
years later, the thought of fly fishing surfaced.
Who knows what the trigger may have been.
For a friend of ours, he was in Las Vegas
hotel watching a fishing show on tv, and
thought he would really like to try that.
And he did. A magazine article or chance
conversation with a friend all can lead
down the path to a stream or pond.
Whatever the reason, the adventure and
journey start all over. Anything from
years ago pretty much doesn't apply,
unless those early years included some
real instruction on insects and reading
the water.
For others, it is an invitation from a friend
to join them fishing. Perhaps the person is
a spin fisher, but the friend sees the
possibility of converting them to fly fishing.
Rick Zieger has done that many times. It actually
is fun, and something of value to both people,
since no one ever teaches anything without
learning something himself.
Take a kid fishing? Not my first choice.
Before you start on a nasty email to me,
consider this: If you do have a kid in your
family who has expressed an interest in
fishing, (note, I didn't say fly fishing)
sure, go ahead and take the kid fishing.
Don't plan on fishing yourself, just pay
attention to the kid and making sure they
get a good start. Down the line it may
'take' and perhaps you will have a fishing
buddy - in fact, one who might take you
fishing in your later years. But in reality,
the kid isn't going to be involved much in
the sport, and if he/she purchases anything
for fishing it will probably be the entry level
stuff from the mass retailers. They also aren't
going to do anything to help maintain or preserve
the watershed nor the fishing opportunities.
That takes adult leadership and involvement.
I don't have a figure handy on how much of our
excise taxes on fishing equipment has been spent
by the federal Recreational Boating and Fishing
Foundation, but it is very substantial. As in
the millions.
JC and I watched one of the Boating commercials on
television this morning, and I'm sorry, but I just
can't justify spending $20,000 and up on a boat.
At least not to fish from. Yes, I know it is done,
but on the other hand, take a look at today's 'family'
where half of the marriages end in divorce. What
single mom or dad can afford to take the kids
fishing? There isn't time much less money.
My sincere recommendation is to spend whatever
excise tax money is available for advertising
on getting the message to the folks who did fish
years ago - and whose lives are now at a place
where fly fishing not only gives them a recreation,
but also a means of improving their mental health.
(I'll bet you there is a way to justify that one.)
Forty-five years old and just getting into fly fishing?
You bet. Welcome aboard. Boy are you going to have fun.
Just look at all the goodies you've missed in the years
you've been gone.
And there are wonderful places to fish you didn't
even know about back then. What a delightful
adventure you have before you.
Enjoy, you're old enough to appreciate what you've
missed - and wise enough to know you have a lot to
learn. What a terrific journey.
And we are here to help. Don't hesitate to ask. ~ The LadyFisher
If you would like to comment on this or any other article please feel free to
post your views on the FAOL Bulletin Board!
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