Why Fly Fishing? (vs. other methods of fishing)

I found myself wandering around the backyard, carefully examining the ground for a choice specimen.

A short checklist ran through my mind which included size, color patterns, and textures. Within a few minutes, I collected a small handful and brought them in. Surely at least a couple would be useful. I was gathering chicken feathers for my friend Dillon, to be tied in the imitation of a nymph (an immature insect) and cast into the Umatilla River. A fish on the other end would complete a process that demonstrates one reason we love fly fishing.

In Dillon’s words, fly-fishing is an angling method that holds space for “putting your own spin on it.”

From the workbench to the river, a unique approach is encouraged. However, the goal for every fly-fishing angler is the same: simulate the look and presentation of a fly so well that your quarry cannot tell the difference between your fly, and its many prior meals. Additionally, natural materials often provide the best imitations. This is the reason you’ll find me gathering loose feathers from the yard, which previously had no practical use.

Imitating a fish’s natural food source goes beyond the materials one chooses to toss into the water.

For example, picture a grasshopper that falls from a tall strand of grass which overhangs the river. It lands on the surface and makes an urgent effort of kicking its legs towards the bank. Another example, a nymph drifts slowly through the current as it transitions from its hold at river bottom to emerge at the surface. The angler must negotiate their rod and line system in a way that replicates these actions and environments. Constant focus and engagement are required to have success.

For comparison, allow us a brief description of using PowerBait Trout Bait on a spinning rod.

First, it’s important to note that we encourage all ethical methods of recreational fishing, which includes the use of PowerBait. It’s safe for fish, easy to use, and biodegradable. We have NO qualms with this method of angling. From a practical application perspective, the goal is to throw a marshmallow-like wad of brightly colored, smelly dough that the fish simply can’t resist. It can be set below a bobber or weighed down to float a short distance from the bottom of the water you’re fishing. The angler can slowly reel in, or they can set the rod down and simply wait for a bite. The slow pace, and fact that the bait does not replicate natural processes is where we feel more inclined to fly fish.

Regardless of whether you throw flies, use a spinning rod, or use any other method, there are commonalities.

As Dillon says, “you can never truly master it all.” But we think it’s a worthy pursuit anyway. Chasing fish in wild places is not a bad way to live. Side effects often include a greater understanding of the natural world, and the interconnectedness of all its parts (including us). Throwing oneself in the middle of a wild environment and acting out the existing processes gets at the heart of why we love to spend time on the water.