Tying with Kids...Round 2

Tying up a storm...A beautiful sight

I was beginning to question my rationale.  I had only just returned from a two week trip abroad and the tying clinic was on Saturday!  "Stay calm," I thought.  With all arrangements seemingly in place, maybe my anxiety was unwarranted.  But I get this way when I host events.  I want to ensure each and every participant finds value in what we are offering, especially with a tying clinic.

This was the 2nd annual Kids Tying clinic, and I was excited to have nine children signed up to participate.  Tim Bjork and Jason Burt were kind enough to join as Tuesday Tyer expert instructors, and Nick Lowery from the Capital Journal joined to share his love for the sport.  Of course, many parents stuck around as well and really helped out.

After some careful reflection, all of the Tuesday Tyers who participated had so many positive things to say about the students in this year's class.  To the four first-year students: your determination and excitement fueled the fire within all of us.  Trying something new can be difficult, but you showed no signs of distress or discomfort.  The immediate skill at the vice was also a surprise to us.  Some of the flies produced by these first time tyers rival those that come from all of our vises, and I'd be willing to bet that they will catch just as many fish (which is a lot)  : )

To the returning students: we have officially dubbed you all "rogue tyers".  This was so fun to see from our perspective, because as a fly tyer, experimentation is a part of learning.  After that first fly, you were ready and willing to try some new patterns.  My constant requests for questions were only met with, "nope, we're good" replies.  Fur and feathers were flying everywhere as you were swapping fish stories and pattern advice.  If you ever wondered what the Tuesday Tyers crew does during the winter time, all you needed to do was look to that table of kids.  That's basically it...  Again, the skill and excitement shown at the vice brought us all a lot of joy.


So from all of the Tuesday Tyers, I'd like to thank everyone who participated in this fun event.  We could not have done it without some great sponsors and local businesses who helped out a bunch.  Please check them out when you have some time, and support fly fishing in South Dakota.  Their logos are listed below.  

We hope to continue this tradition next spring, hopefully making it more beneficial for all in attendance.  Until that time, please make a commitment to get your children out with a fly rod.  Whether in the backyard or off the dock, practice will help build confidence, and that will help them catch more fish.  Getting out on the water wouldn't hurt either, so get out and enjoy some parent sibling time!   Have a great summer!  

Why I Fish...This might take a while.

A carp bolting back onto the flat.  It never gets old.  

I bet the most commonly asked question of fishing enthusiasts by friends and family who are rarely seen holding a rod and reel is, "So...Why do you fish anyway?"

I never really have a good "elevator" reply for why I fish.  Mainly because there are a variety of reasons that seem to change each time out.  I know I'm guilty of mentally asking the same question of others who enjoy a pasttime that's not my cup of tea.  It may be difficult for them to express just how much they enjoy a particular activity, and it may not.  It really doesn't matter.  If something makes us happy, and is not immoral, I'd say it doesn't require explanation.

I, on the other hand, would like more people to pursue fly fishing.  I believe that more fly fishing enthusiasts in the world mean more people working hard to protect our wildlife and fisheries.  For that reason, I need an elevator pitch.  I need a quick statement that let's people know why I fish in hopes that they will be intrigued enough to inquire further into the prospect of trying for themselves.  Maybe by the end of this I'll have something thought out.  Until then, here is a list of my top ten reasons I love to fly fish.

9 - The moment when you hook into a big fish:  I was standing in the cold Rapid Creek water approaching a deep hole.  New to fly fishing, this was trial under fire.  A seam holding two big fish and my constituents giving me the first shot at landing one while they watch from shore.  Finding a sturdy hold in the creek, I begin casting to the top of the hole.  Time and time again my fly drifted through with nothing to show for it.  It seemed like I stood casting to those trout for an eternity.  As a noob, I felt the seconds turn into minutes and began worrying about the guys on shore.  Are they checking their clocks?  Do they want to start casting?  But my comfort level was still well enough to keep on.  These were the biggest trout I had ever presented a fly to, and I wanted to know what it felt like to land one.  With each drift I would watch as the trout lazily swayed from left to right munching the entire time.  Until, one seemed to open it's mouth wider than it had before.  My indicator twitched only slightly when I set the hook.  "A snag," I thought, while I lifted the rod.  It felt like a cinderblock on the other end of my 5x tippet.  And then the head shakes began, and the fight was on.  My heart and mind started into race, almost against each other.  One trying to determine how to land this fish among the fast water below, water hazards and slippery rocks, the other just trying to give me enough blood to stay conscious.  The brown didn't fit in my net, but I got it to hand.  I was mocked the rest of the day for having a "barbie" net.  I'll never forget the hookset.  Like a cinderblock.

8 - Solitude:  Standing all alone on a stream when big snow flakes are falling;  casting to 7 lb rainbow trout when it is 10 degrees and the wind is howling; casting for carp on the flats of Lake X...the list goes on and on.  Having always held professional positions that require a vast amount of communication, fishing provides a getaway.  No problems, no deadlines, no worries.  The only listening that is required is to nature and the only talking I do is with my golden retriever.  It's an amazing feeling.

7 - Fishing in the rain:  The pitter-patter of raindrops on my hood creates music to my ears.  The droplets falling from the bill of my hat make me feel sheltered and warm in my fishing cacoon.  The smell makes me feel like a kid.  And the fish...boy do they bite in the rain.  I don't know if I've ever had a bad day fishing in the rain.  And not many other people like to do it, so someone has to catch fish on rainy days!

6 - Anticipation, daydreaming, and possibility:  I don't only tie flies in the winter like many folks.  Often on weekends and lazy weekday evenings, you'll find me at the tying bench, or table, or nightstand, or whatever will hold my vise, dreaming up new patterns and the fish that will eat them.  On the water, like most people with fish on the brain, I always believe that next cast is going to produce a fish.  One last cast usually turns into 10 or 20.  One of the great things about fishing is that you never really know what will fall for your presentation until it happens.  You never know which spot is going to hold that fish you've dreamed up while tying.  I still get giddy and excited before a fishing trip, even the short ones around home.  I guess I'll probably still enjoy it until that feeling goes away, maybe even after.

Vote for this photo on TU's facebook page Nov 3-11
I could win a fly rod!!

5 - Getting up close and personal with a wild animal:  I wish I had taken up flyfishing as a young child.  I recall with great delight my childhood visits to the grandparents' house in Spearfish.  Standing on the bridge near the fish hatchery scanning the creek below for feeding trout was a favorite pastime.  I could always spot  them in the turbid water and only wanted to get a closer look.  They are all so unique and beautiful, like a fingerprint.   Each warrants special attention when they are brought to hand.  Great care is taken to release them unharmed (outside of the small hook hole in their mouth) and as much time as they'll allow is invested in watching as they escape back to the honeyhole.  You can't get any closer to enjoying nature and not taking a life.

4 - Skillz pay the billz:  As often as I try to find solitude while fishing, I am happy to share a fishing hole or location when fellow fishing enthusiast are present.  More often than not, I will also end up sharing my strategy for catching fish with them.  I am usually very fortunate on the water, which has a lot to do with the lucky flies that I tie, and people take notice.  "what are you using?" they'll ask after I release a few fish.  I'll take a second to explain the fly and give them a look at the pattern I'm using before they're almost guaranteed to reply, "I've got a fly rod at home somewhere, I should get that thing out".  Plain and simple, I can catch fish with a fly rod when others won't.  I've landed fish after fish in locations surrounded by bait and artificial lures alike without seeing another fish brought to hand.  I have confidence in this tactic and take a lot of luck out of the equation.  With the fly, I'm presenting to all of the fish's senses vs. a select few.  They can't help but eat it.  

3 - It's very challenging:  Now that I've explained how well fly fishing works, I'll get to the caveat.  Fly fishing gets easier with education.  I've been humbled many a day fishing for various species in various locations.  Even today I find myself in situations, chasing fish that I'm not prepared to pursue.  Fly fishing requires constant improvement and improvisation to stay one step ahead of your quarry.  This applies at the fly tying desk as much as it does on the water.  Preparation and education are key to being a "good" fly fisher.  I love getting smarter every day.

2 - Evolution:  Our family fishing tournaments remain as some of my most cherished and vivid

memories from childhood.  It was here where I began to evolve and adapt as a fisherman.  It all started with salmon eggs.  What a great way to catch trout as a kid.  I wittnessed the largest rainbow I'd ever seen caught when I was around 11 or 12.  Hanging out of its mouth was a red and white daredevil.  I never used live bait after that.  Soon I discovered gift shop flys and their propensity to attract rainbows behind a clear bobber.  I would draw crowds because I was catching so many fish.  Everyone wanted to know how I was doing it, and I had no idea why it worked.  I sure put the acting hat on though.  Could have given me one of those meaningless awards they give to celebrities for pretending to be other people.  My uncle gave me my first fly rod and introduced me to fly fishing cinema.  Trout Bum diaries was the first video I watched.  I was hooked forever.  I enjoy reminiscing about my progression through the phases of fishing.  I only wish that I had been introduced to fly fishing at a younger age.

1 - Spending time with good friends and family:    While solitude is more my game nowadays, I still find great value in fishing with those that I enjoy spending time with.  My dad and brother always entertain me, while the tuesday tyers continue to surprise me with their talents.   My girls have continued to show interest and have caught some fish all on their own.  I hope they both stick with it.  My favorite fishing partner, however, is Lucy.  She's the best dog around and even loves fishing more than me.  She told me so.



If you don't fly fish now, I hope you will consider trying it.  If my reasons don't persuade you, maybe you can think of a few others that would make it sound more appealing.  If you love to fish, I'd like to hear why.  See if we have some common ground.  Now go fishing.  You deserve it!

Fly fishing Misconceptions

Stock dam largie on an articulated worm

"You can't fly fish in Pierre...Can you?"  

"Don't you have to go to the hills to fly fish?"  

"I didn't know you could catch bass and walleye on a fly rod."  

"Isn't fly fishing just for trout?"

When I first got into fly-fishing, I thought much the same about this great sport.  Of course, I loved catching trout, and fly fishing is a very effective way to do that.  But I never, in my wildest dreams, thought I would be hammering huge white/smallmouth/largemouth bass, northern pike, carp, walleye, buffalo, gar, catfish, chinook salmon, crappie, bluegill, perch and yes...rainbow trout, all from the finest state capital in the country, and all on the fly.

I participated in the free kids fishing weekend at Downs Marina this past weekend by doing fly tying demonstrations for all the kids after they got off the water.  A great event for kids in the Pierre/Ft. Pierre area.  I was encouraged by all the great questions asked by kids interested in what I was doing and the flies I have tied.  "What fly is hardest to tie?" "What is your favorite fur to use?" "What is your favorite fish to catch on a fly?"  "What can you catch with this fly?"  It was really great to chat with kids about the effectiveness of fly fishing and how it relates to the type of fishing they've grown to love.

The parents, on the other hand, were shocked to see me at such an event.  The questions at the start of this post were prevalent.  But that's ok!  It was great to chat with people interested in the sport of fly fishing.  Even better, it was awesome to dispel some prevailing myths in my home city.  My favorite bit of dialog came soon after I had finished tying a murdich minnow:

Interested Pierre resident:  So do you just tip that with a minnow then?
Me:  Nope, this, by itself, is the minnow
Resident:  And they eat that??  (his reaction was priceless)

I'm not surprised by the responses.  It's not a big thing in South Dakota.  Especially in one of the Walleye meccas where a white bass is considered a nuisance to many and carp are considered "ugly" and "slimy".  I welcome the chance to tell people about what I do, why I do it, and how I believe it will likely be the next big thing in South Dakota fishing adventures.

I also believe spreading knowledge will help advance the sport as a whole.  Engaging young people is paramount, but any opportunity to inform adults about the benefits of fly fishing need to be cherished.  I made a lot of progress with the general public this past weekend.  I look forward to future conversations about this "next big thing" in South Dakota fishing.  

Fly fishing...The Next Generation

Hooking a capital city walleye

I firmly believe that fly fishing is the next big thing.  It's already big for those of us who are committed, but I'm talking about the majority.  Everywhere I go, people want to talk about fly fishing.  And this is a very GOOD thing.  More fly fishing enthusiasts means more conservation minded individuals to help protect our waterways and ensure future fishing possibilities.  But how do we get them hooked?  Heck, do we even want them hooked?

I get it...We like our fly fishing the way it is.  We don't know more anglers crowding up our rivers and streams.  But imagine how much nicer our waterways would be if we had a large majority of our fishing enthusiast friends joining the fight for conservation.  Pretty great feeling right?  Here are some tips to promote fly fishing in your community.

1.  Engage Youth:  If we were playing Family Feud, this would by far be the #1 answer!  Engaging youth means engaging the future generation of leaders (and their parents).  Get them active, invite them to participate, give them free things and help them catch fish.  We hosted a free kids fly tying clinic at which all kids were mentored by a fly tying enthusiast, got three nice patterns and a free fly rod out of the deal!  This summer, we'll be taking those same kids out on the water to test their new gear.  Kids free fishing weekend and outdoor university are both on the calendar this year as well.  Engaging kids can be like a snowball effect.  Get one rolling, and others are bound to jump on board.

2.  Dispel fly fishing myths:  This is easier said than done, but necessary nonetheless.  Free radio spots, letters to the editor, social media updates, and blog posts are great vehicles for telling a story about fly fishing.  Center this promotion around events and activities, provide great information, and offer free tips for fly fishing success, and you will have a much more informed public my friend.

3.  Make fly fishing easily accessible for all:   I have been very active in community events so far this year.  With the free fly tying clinic under my belt (story soon to come), and other events on the calendar,  it's easy to stay engaged while spreading a message about fly fishing and conservation.  One thing I'd like to do this summer is to set up a free fly casting lesson booth outside on a random weekend.  I would be very interested to see how many people would like to try or have questions.

4.  FISH!:  Leading by example is the best way to get the proverbial foot in the door of an angler's curiosity.  Once they witness your success via the fly, wax-nostalgia might bring them back to the old fly rod their grandfather gave them back in the day.  It might also prompt them to go home and take a look at that old rod to see what all the fuss is about.  Who knows, a few online video tutorials, casting practice in the backyard and the first time taking it out in the boat may send them on a crazy train straight to fly fishing fanaticism.