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Fly-Fishing:
A soothing sport of purity, grace and form

By Kathleen Spring, Rocky Mountain Fly-fishing Retreats for the Mind & Spirit

A gift of fly-fishing lessons is a gift for a lifetime. It’s one of those rare sports that combine grace with skill. In addition to being one of the oldest methods of fishing, many people consider it to be the purest form of fishing.

Most people have formed their picture of what fly-fishing is through books and movies, like Norman McLean’s "A River Runs Through It," with its spectacular mountain backdrop. Others prefer the more lighthearted books of John Gierach (who lives in Colorado), such as "Trout Bum." He says that a large portion of his readers have never been fishing, which goes to prove what fun it is, even if you’re just listening to the tall tales. Other fishing classics to pick up are "The River Why" and "Flyfishing the High Country."

As complicated as it looks, a person can learn the basics of fly-fishing in half a day. We often get women buying their husband a gift of fishing lessons, where he comes up on a Friday night, gets up early and fishes all day, and returns home that afternoon. The beauty of the sport is that it can be done alone, enjoying, with the guide, an exquisite sunny day, often much of it in complete silence, except for the sound of the line slicing through the air. Single fishers usually want to keep things simple and they stay in room at a lodge, taking in the hot tub, or sitting by the picture window while warming next to the fireplace. The ultimate experience is renting a private cabin on private waters, knowing that you are the only person on acres of land, fishing those waters.

Although most of Colorado is above 5,280 feet (the "mile high state"), much of it is flat terrain for easy walking. However, most of our clients prefer a little hiking to a lake in the pristine landscape of Rocky Mountain National Park. There is both walk-wading and lake fishing (from shore or off a float) available among the snow-capped peaks or in mountain meadows, with their golden aspen groves and old ponderosa pines.

On the other hand, we often get small groups of businessmen coming up and renting a lodge for the weekend, spending their days fly-fishing, and their evenings around the fireplace getting to know their business partners in a more relaxed atmosphere. Sometimes we put them up in an exclusive lodge that is a brand-name fishing equipment manufacturer. While the lodge has a rustic log architecture, the meals are cooked by a master chef. An executive told me, "On the last day, it snowed, but we didn’t care. We came back, changed, and had some drinks by the fire the rest of the afternoon."

The third most frequent fishing groups we see are father-son (or mother-child) outings. They go out on a three-day package that includes the first day with lessons, the second day on the water, and the third day on a float (raft). One father told me, "We had the best day ever." They got more time to talk and laugh than he could ever remember.

Colorado is unique for its fly-fishing because he has more rapid water than most states, particularly out East. It’s a good idea to hook up with a professional, licensed guide, even if you’re experienced, to get the lay of the land. They can tell you what fish are biting and where on any particular day. Our guides are also chosen because of their friendliness. One angler said that, "My guide was more excited when I caught the fish than I was."

A fly-fishing outfit and accessories are more basic than people think. You need an 8 to 9-foot-long rod, either a standard crank type reel, or an automatic. Then there’s the balanced line and a tapered or monofilament leader. The artificial flies (or lures) are generally very light, and should be made specifically for the type of water you are fishing in (in this case, Colorado’s rapid waters). While fly-fishing is available year-round, the best times on the rivers are late March to November, and the lower rivers or the national park is late June to October.

But don’t worry too much about this. Most fishing schools or resorts will rent you a rod, reel and waders for about $20 a day. This way you can experiment inexpensively and you can decide later, with more first hand knowledge, what feels good for you. Also, when you’re a newcomer, don’t worry about the vest you often see fly-fishers wearing. This is usually worn by more experienced anglers who go off on their own, or are on a float all day or an overnight trip. Your day guide will carry most of your supplies, and they’ll even help you if you get tangled up.

When you start your lessons, you don’t even have to know how to put a fly on your line or know all the proper verbiage, like “rigs” and “leaders.” Your guide will take you through the fundamentals of fly-fishing. You’ll learn to read the water, learn where trout live and why, understand pocket water, and how to hook, catch and release trout.

A good outfitter will also give you a list of what to bring, such as sun screen for Colorado’s 320 days of sunshine! Both experienced and novice anglers will find a day out in nature fly-fishing will be recounted for years to come in physical, emotional and spiritual tales.