Simple fly fishing: techniques for tenkara and rod & reel PDF
Preview Simple fly fishing: techniques for tenkara and rod & reel
FLY FISHING “The lesson we learn from fishing with a tenkara rod is that we shouldn’t fear that a simpler life will be an impoverished life. Rather, simplicity leads to a richer and more satisfying way of fishing—and more importantly, living.” —Yvon Chouinard Modern-day fly fishing, like much in life, has become exceedingly complex, with high-tech gear, a confusing array of flies and terminal tackle, accompanied by high-priced fishing guides. This book reveals that the best way to catch trout is simply, with a rod and a fly and not much else. The wisdom in this book comes from a simpler time, when the premise was: the more you know, the less you need. It teaches the reader how to discover where the fish are, at what depth, and what they are feeding on. Then it describes the techniques needed to present a fly at that depth, make it look lifelike, and hook the fish. With chapters on wet flies, nymphs, and dry flies, its authors employ both the tenkara rod as well as regular fly fishing gear to cover all the bases. With paintings by renowned artist James Prosek, technical illustrations, and inspiring photographs and stories throughout, Simple Fly Fishing reveals the secrets and the soul of this captivating sport. Proceeds from this book are being donated to various conservation and environmental organizations, including 1% for the Planet, Native Fish Society, Atlantic Salmon Federation, and World Trout® Initiative. Simple Fly Fishing Techniques for Tenkara and Rod & Reel Patagonia publishes a select list of titles on wilderness, wildlife, and outdoor sports that inspire and restore a connection to the natural world. Copyright 2014 Patagonia Works, Revised Edition © 2018 Text © Yvon Chouinard, Craig Mathews, and Mauro Mazzo Paintings © James Prosek Paintings on pages 30 to 40 courtesy of James Prosek and Schwartz • Wajahat, New York Illustrations © Erik Brooks Photograph copyrights held by the photographers All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the publisher and copyright holders. Requests should be mailed to Patagonia Books, Patagonia, Inc., 259 W. Santa Clara St., Ventura, CA 93001-2717 Revised Edition Printed in Canada on 100 percent post-consumer recycled paper. Editor – John Dutton Book Designer – Christina Speed Illustrator – Erik Brooks Project Manager – Jennifer Patrick Photo Editors – Jane Sievert, Jennifer Ridgeway Graphic Production – Emma Wilson, Rafael Dunn Creative Director – Bill Boland Creative Advisor – Jennifer Ridgeway Director of Books – Karla Olson Paperback ISBN 978-1-938340-79-6 E-Book ISBN 978-1-938340-80-2 Library of Congress Control Number 2013957437 Publisher’s Cataloging in Publication Data Chouinard, Yvon, 1938- Simple fly fishing : techniques for tenkara and rod & reel / Yvon Chouinard, Craig Mathews, and Mauro Mazzo. -- Ventura, Calif. : Patagonia Books, 2014. p. ; cm. ISBN: 978-1-938340-27-7 ; 978-1-938340-28-4 (ebook) Includes bibliography. Summary: The best way to catch trout is simply, with a rod and a fly and not much else. Discover where the fish are, at what depth, and what they are feeding on. This book describes the techniques needed to present a fly, make it look lifelike, and hook the fish. Chapters on wet flies, nymphs, and dry flies, the authors employ both the tenkara rod as well as regular fly fishing gear. Paintings by renowned artist James Prosek, technical illustrations, and inspiring photographs and stories throughout.--Publisher. 1. Fly fishing--Handbooks, manuals, etc. 2. Tenkara fly fishing--Handbooks, manuals, etc. 3. Trout fishing--Handbooks, manuals, etc. 4. Fishing tackle. 5. Fishing rods. 6. Fishing lures. I. Mathews, Craig. II. Mazzo, Mauro. III. Title. SH456 .C56 2014 2013957437 799.12/4--dc23 1404 Contents FOREWORD Russell Chatham INTRODUCTION Yvon Chouinard CHAPTER 1: TROUT AND THEIR FOOD Yvon Chouinard, Craig Mathews, and Mauro Mazzo CHAPTER 2: FLY FISHING WITH WET FLIES AND STREAMERS Yvon Chouinard CHAPTER 3: FLY FISHING WITH NYMPHS Mauro Mazzo CHAPTER 4: FLY FISHING WITH DRY FLIES Craig Mathews CHAPTER 5: FISHING SITUATIONS Yvon Chouinard, Craig Mathews, and Mauro Mazzo AFTERWORD Yvon Chouinard ADDITIONAL RESOURCES INDEX Dusk on the Blackfoot River. Russell Chatham FOREWORD Russell Chatham The more complex technology is allowed to intrude upon the fundamental simplicity of fishing, the further one becomes removed from its core value. – Russell Chatham The fact is that fishing with an artificial fly has always been an elitist activity. Simply stated, the reason is that at its core lies a set of esthetic precepts rather fundamentally at odds with those of the common man whose approach to life’s various aspects is simple practicality. Be that as it may, at the end of the day fishing is still just fishing. Going back to its origins in Europe, fly casting was practiced in the realm of the aristocracy who owned and controlled the trout and salmon waters appropriate to its use. However, in the literature there sometimes would appear poachers who fell in love with the esoteric essence of this enterprise, and who were willing to risk imprisonment for the sake of its sensual rewards. Once transposed to America it became a tad more democratic; but just a tad, as wealthy easterners commandeered private waters in the Catskills and Adirondacks and formed exclusive clubs in New York. Enter the left coast, where many regarded the right as some version of an anthropomorphic museum filled with taxidermied throwbacks, and where fly fishing was mainstream from the start among the great unwashed. In spite of this, it has degenerated into a country club activity popular with the nouveau riche in which the accoutrements have become so ridiculously complex and expensive that Joe Six-Pack can only stand helplessly with his nose pressed to the tackle store window. One has to wonder how this happened. There are several very simple explanations. The first and most important is that because of our universal environmental crimes, we’ve ruined most of the fishing close to home: the all-important free fishing that youngsters could readily find after school on foot or by bike. Because of this, in the late 1970s companies like Fishing International and Frontiers began booking exotic world travel directed at, but not exclusive to, fly fishermen. This changed the angling pastime precipitously. Now, instead of throwing your waders and rod into the trunk of the car and driving for an hour from San Francisco to the Russian River, you wrote a check for a thousand dollars a day to go to Alaska, British Columbia, South America, Iceland, or Russia.
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