Photos by Melania Mahoney
There is a certain sense of mystery that surrounds fly-fishing. The gear is very different from what is used in conventional fishing, fly-fisherman prefer to get in the body of water they are fishing rather than sit on a peer or in a boat, and those colorful fly-fishing “flies” are works of art – not squishy, dirt-covered night-crawlers. Anyone can demystify the sport by seeking out quality guidance, obtaining adequate gear, and being patient.
“It’s a very serene sport, because fly-fishing often happens on streams and other quieter bodies of water,” said John Charvet, who writes a fishing column for the Sun. “I have done some fly-fishing down in San Diego and in some beautiful streams and rivers in Colorado. Fly-fishing is the kind of individualistic endeavor I really enjoy.”
The best way to learn about fly-fishing is to take a course or series of courses. There are many schools in the country, a handful in California, and now there is one in Sonoma – Leland Fly Fishing Ranch. It is best to get both dry land and on-stream instruction. Most schools will provide students with loaner equipment. Sometimes it’s better for students to arrive with no gear, because the school instructor will know what gear will work best.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to have been able to teach the sport, because it’s very fulfilling to teach people of all ages something that is so special,” said Eddie Schoenbein, who is the general manager of Leland Fly Fishing Ranch. “Fly-fishing is the most graceful way to catch a fish and the first fish you catch on a fly rod changes your life. It’s another great reason to get outside and enjoy what nature has to offer.”
The reason most fishermen choose to fly-fish is because the gear offers a much more precise challenge than spinning reel fishing. With spinning reel fishing, a line is cast with some shiny bait or a worm, it plops in the water, and the fisherman waits for a fish to bite. This tactic works just fine for many fish, but the big, tasty fish tend to be smarter. A fly-fishing fly looks and behaves like the real flies fish feast on.
In fly shops, collections of flies are displayed like ancient artifacts in a museum. Like such artifacts, fly-fishing flies are priceless to those that use them in their sport. They are designed to look like real insects, so fly fishermen match their flies with what the local fishermen are after. Fly-fish fly tying is something many anglers pursue. A passing knowledge of entomology, the right materials, time, and lots of patience are all required.
Fly-fishing line is hollow and lightweight, so it floats calmly on the surface. This is especially important when casting. Choosing a rod to start out with can be tricky, going for a 7 weight fly rod can be a good place to start. When one casts a fly-fishing line, it lands gently on the water. Casting is often done while the fisherman is in the water, which allows for much mobility and the ability to adjust to different water conditions. For these reasons, fly-fishing is a journey into the finer elements of fishing in general.
Matt Cline, who owns Cline Cellars in Sonoma, has been fly-fishing for almost 35 years. He squeezes into his busy schedule three or four trips a year, even though the grape harvest coincides with the best time of the year to fly-fish. He recently spent ten days fishing with local fishing legend Axel Schug on the Big Hole River in Montana. They caught plenty German brown trout, native rainbow trout, and the occasional whitefish.
“What I like most about fly-fishing is that it is very calm watching the river and that it keeps my mind off work,” said Cline by phone while he was on his fishing trip. “Fly-fishing is a lot like wine-making, because there are so many variables. In both, there are many different effective methods you can apply.”
Cline and Schug spent most of their time wade fishing, only occasionally using a drift boat. He said the idea is to work in one area at a time, because not every part of the river holds fish and that the fish move throughout the day. They were getting out to the river at 9 a.m. to fish during the may fly hatch, when fish are feeding off the newborn flies. In the evening they caught spruce moth hatches, another of the trout’s favorite food.
In northern California, there are many places where fly fishermen can cast their lines, including Frenchman Lake, McCloud River, and the Sacramento River. Schug fly-fishes in a private pond in Sonoma where he catches plenty of large mouth black bass. The Russian River has a rich fly-fishing history and there are plenty of prime spots to catch trout and bass along the winding river.
Any person who is 16 years of age or older must posses a sport fishing license before doing any fishing in the state. Many types of licenses are available, including a one year Resident Sport Fishing License ($41), which is valid January 1 through December 31, a One-Day License (($13), and a Two-Day License ($21). Licenses may be purchased at all Department of Fish and Game License Sales Offices, through their web site, and from license agents.
“Fly-fishing creates the best excuse to spend excessive amounts of time in the most beautiful places in the world,” said Leland Fly Fishing Ranch owner Josh Frazier. “I welcome and encourage everyone to feel the same excitement that floods my body when I take my first step into a cold stream and prepare to cast the morning’s first line.”
For more information about fishing licenses visit dfa.ca.gov.
