Participating in fly fishing comes with learning about the reservations, opinions and preferences of your fellow angler. Some of these, like catch & release, draw some pretty serious divides. Some don’t. Either way, it’s pretty standard that you form some of your own opinions along the way.
In light of that, here’s one of mine: One of the best ways to get the most out of fly fishing is to fish on local water.
Catching big browns on Montana tailwaters is a load of fun and a fantastic way to build experience on the water. For most of us mere mortals, though, this is far from anything “local.” And while these coveted trips can form some wonderful memories, there is something special about putting in the time to be intimately familiar with a piece of water. Naturally, it’s often easier to know the fishery when it’s closer to home.
I’ve spent a lot of time fishing for spotted bass over the past 4 or 5 years on one of my local rivers, and its unique challenges have had a large hand in building my techniques for other fishing situations. This river barely exceeds 100 cubic feet per second at its lowest flow, and for the most part it’s pretty narrow. Because it’s in Mississippi, the thin dimension of the river is accompanied by overhanging trees and bushes on every bank that isn’t a sandbar. Learning how to cast on it, especially with a 9 foot rod, has provoked me to pull out a few hairs, but because of this I’ve been better prepared for accurate and tight casts on larger river systems.
This is only one of many examples of how this specific river has contributed to my personal improvement as a fly angler, but the most important thing it’s given me is the opportunity to get outside somewhere and fish. Regardless of whether your local water is a small river, a farm pond or a blue ribbon trout stream, they all offer that same opportunity to go and experience an amazing local ecosystem.
You may even be surprised with how technical your fishing is close to home. I’ve gotten better at fishing that small river over the years, but I’ve been skunked more often than not. If your local spot has carp in it, you may find yourself scratching your head after the fifth fishless day and wondering what you’re even doing in the first place.
Maybe the challenge is the best part, or maybe it’s the camaraderie of tapping into the local fly fishing community. Whatever it is, I love fishing locally equally as much as every faraway trip I’ve ever taken. I think it’s just as important, too. Not only does it offer the opportunity improve personally and build relationships with other people, but it also fosters a sense of conservation on another watershed that probably has a big need for it.
Randolph Mikell is a Christ-follower and outdoorsman. A native Mississippian, Mikell decided to explore his local fly fishing scene. He found an unsurprisingly small number of fly anglers and a large number of fish willing to take flies. His time in the outdoors has brought about friendships and experiences that he cherishes continually.