We are So Darn Lucky

In a recent conversation, a friend nailed the spirit behind California Fly Fisher. “It’s about the adventure of fishing in our state,” he said, and he was absolutely right. All fishing trips are adventures, inasmuch as the outcome is unknown when first starting out. One might say an adventure simply is an exploration of the unknown, which in turn means there’s an aspect of discovery and maybe even excitement.

California is extraordinary in the range of fly-fishing adventures that it offers, and this range is perhaps the most extraordinary of any state in the nation. At the very least, these adventures fit one or more of four categories: locale, quarry, approach, and intellect. The first two, the adventures of locale and of quarry, are easiest to grasp and are intrinsic to the geographical nature of our state. For locales, we have saltwater and freshwater environs, warm waters and cold waters, mountains and valleys, and notable changes in latitude. All of these aspects influence where we find fish and define the particular fish species available to us at particular locales.

The adventure of approach pertains to the gear and tactics we use. One-handed fly rods, two-handed fly rods, switch rods, Euro-nymphing rods, tenkara rods, rods long and short, whippy and stiff, with lines that float, sink, plummet, and types of casts and tactics that would require a platoon of fingers to count. Using tackle, casts, and tactics competently, successfully, is intrinsic to the adventure of fly fishing.

The fourth category of adventure is intellectual, applying one’s mind to solve the problems we face when fishing. An obvious example is fly design — you venture into the unknown when you give your own twist to an existing pattern or when you create a new fly. The same is true when trying to improve tackle, casts, and tactics. This solving of problems, especially tactical, is a huge source of pleasure for many fly fishers. From frustration comes joy.

However you define an adventure, in California, an open, curious mind will allow you to take advantage of angling opportunities (and problems to solve) that many states lack. When it comes to fly-fishing adventures, ours is truly a land of plenty. Get out there and explore.