Road To Redfish – Path Of The Fly
When Gary Hurley (Publisher of Fisherman’s Post) approached me to talk about an idea that he had for a recurring feature article, I was all ears. He wanted to chronicle the progression of a novice fly fisherman (Gary himself in this instance) over the course of a summer season, on a quest to ultimately catch a redfish on the fly. Of course I jumped at the chance to help, not only to shamelessly promote my own business, Circle H Charters out of Wrightsville Beach, but to also have the opportunity to paint an uncomplicated, reasonably inexpensive picture of learning to fly fish in and around the Cape Fear region.
Contrary to popular belief, fly fishing can often be the single most effective and certainly one of the most exciting techniques to catch a redfish, especially in the shallows.
Gary and I have already met a few times to discuss fly fishing theory, basic casting mechanics, and a logical timeline for our summer challenge. We rigged up an 8 weight outfit (pretty standard for reds, as well bonefish and bass, and a detailed discussion of the different weights and setups will follow in the near future) and moved out to the parking lot to practice some exercises to help improve the timing and rhythm of Gary’s casting stroke.
Some of Gary’s students (in addition to Fisherman’s Post, Gary also teaches English at Cape Fear Community College) will be happy to learn that he even received some homework. He was to start, and continue throughout our entire series, to pick up a fly rod at least twice a week for 20 minutes and work on form, timing, and rhythm, as well as new aspects of the cast that would be introduced at the proper time during the learning process.
We did, though, run into one snag early on. It was a disagreement over whether or not Gary was a natural, or was it that I was just a very gifted instructor. I’ll let you guess who was on which side of that particular argument. But in all seriousness, Gary was throwing a pretty loop and even beginning to incorporate a double-haul, both aspects of effective fly casting that I will delve into further as the summer wears on, after just a few informal lessons and solo practice sessions.
In the following months I will try to de-mystify fly fishing for the interested beginner by breaking down each step and aspect of the learning process into specific feature articles where you, the reader, will be able to follow along with Gary and myself as we work together in the field toward the common goal of catching Gary’s first redfish with a fly rod. Gary and I have already begun our journey together, so the next few articles will bring everyone up to speed and explain in detail such topics as why even choose fly fishing at all, basic casting mechanics and improvement exercises, and then move on to equipment and rigging, and then later cover additional casting techniques. Thos lessons will bring us into the second half of the series that is to include advanced casting, “on the water” casting and line management, and ultimately into the final stages of finding, fishing for, and catching redfish on fly.
By breaking down fly fishing into many simple facets, we hope to show that common misconceptions regarding the sport should not hold you back from exploring the advantages and thrills that fly fishing has to offer. Lots of emphasis is often misplaced on fly casting alone, and so much so that it may intimidate many potential beginners. However, as one of the greatest fly casters and fishers, Lefty Kreh, once said, “If you spend a lot of time fly casting, you are not necessarily fly fishing” (or something to that effect).
It is pretty obvious that the more your fly stays in the water, as opposed to in the air, the better your chances of catching fish. Although you have to become proficient enough in your casting to consistently place the fly where it needs to be, and “practice makes perfect,” the cast is still only one aspect of fly fishing as a whole. On that note, all of my instruction will be directed toward fly fishing and, more specifically, “fly catching.”
In closing, I hope everyone will enjoy following along with Gary and I as we embark on this exciting quest. Maybe you’ll even put the teachings and tips to practical use and begin on your own path to enjoying all the joys the long wand has to offer.
Thanks for reading!
Capt. Jon Huff is owner operator of Circle H Charters, an inshore fly and light tackle guide service based out of Wrightsville Beach. Jon splits his time between running inshore charters, fishing offshore tournaments, and co-managing Intracoastal Angler. (910) 617-2619, www.circlehcharters.com
