Craig Fellin of the Big Hole Lodge came up this week to check out the Missouri and to fish with me for a day. Leaning more on the purest side of fly fishing, we were looking for heads and chucked streamers in between. Again, the weatherman was about as wrong as could be so we took advantage of what clouds we did get and got a few to eat on top when we saw them. This gal took an ant...yep.
We did stop off at one run and I went down and dirty for them and proved that fish will still eat as long as you give them what they want. It was stupid good with nymph-rod in hand--anything bright and wormy or big and buggy with high water collapsing the banks and March browns still poppin. There's also one other critter that is making a solid showing. I'll let you figure that one out for yourselves.
We talked quite a bit about the state of fly fishing throughout the day. It seems Craig and I have pretty similar views about it, which is pretty refreshing and will hopefully set the foundation for a strong relationship as I look forward to partnering up with him on some things in the future. As for the discussion, it's apparent that there's a dichotomy of fly fishers out there and some of the big brands are working hard to find their niches--some are trying to have it all and I'm not sure you really can.
I like making parallels when talking about fly fishing or teaching fly fishing concepts. For instance, the cast is a lot like the golf swing. Everything from the shape of the swing, the similar dynamic of how the club flexes to generate power and even the state of mind the golfer and the caster share all relate. I think when talking about different philosophies of fly fishing, which sets the course for finding a niche, we can make a parallel to music.
I realize there are a lot of genres of music out there but all can pretty much be separated into either pop or folk. Rock started as folk but has become pop because it's no longer representative of the few. It's about the masses now and is influenced by mass media and ultimately, making money. Country music is the same. However, out of the transition of a genre becoming pop, some artists resist and create new forms of folk music like outlaw country or even punk rock. Certain genres like the blues and blue grass stay pretty true to themselves although there is some crossover. The important distinction is that pop appeals to the masses where folk represents a specific culture and isn't concerned about capturing such a broad population with the sole purpose of making more and more money.
Fly fishing has become pop music in my opinion. It's trendy and people are getting into it because there is a lot of money being spent on marketing to the masses. The images being perpetuated through the emphasis on fish counts versus learning the art of fly fishing and achieving success through the process is setting newcomers to the sport up for a pop ideology of what fly fishing should be and is disrespectful of where the sport came from and why one should participate and ultimately; diminishes the experience. Much like pop music, the product is getting watered down and I feel people paying $500 for a trip are getting ripped off.
There's a pressing need for guides to be rock stars, which means putting 50 or 60 fish in the net regardless of how one-dimensional or how stale the process is. I don't blame the guides at all because they are being influenced by the pop culture fly fishing has become. We all need to pay the bills, right? And if that means producing number and numbers only, then why would there be any effort at all to do anything but join the masses at the dam chasing bobbers with everyone else?
The big brands are trying to redefine themselves but they're not trying to find a niche; they're trying to have it all and in doing so, I feel they're just adding fuel to the fire. On one hand they are soliciting generational fly fishers like Craig, who have a strong presence in the fly fishing culture but then they also go after the "bro-bras" and the rock star guides, where doing row-arounds all day to catch 50 and never seeing new water or ever learning new techniques is considered a success.
The problem also comes from the consumer and the excessive culture we live in and create for that matter. For most of us it's tough to come back to the lodge and not feed into the act of bragging about how many fish were caught. It's what we value as a culture that unfortunately determines how we define success, (or even what music we listen to,) and being a renegade and emphasizing the process is dangerous because somehow we won't measure up. The fishing shows and the shops and the retailers and even some outfitters create this image that we all have to live up to but we as individuals also have to take some blame for not defining success for ourselves or as it pertains to music; just listening to something because you like it.
I've said this before on this blog but I feel like it is worth saying again. If the average person just wanted to put a bunch of fish in the net, there are easier and more affective ways than fly fishing. Fly fishing is the art of learning a discipline that includes things like fish behavior, entomology, and learning skills in casting and presentation. It is an art, not a science and we don't do it because we have to eat or brag about numbers; we do it because of the experience, which includes catching fish but also encompasses so much more.
I'm not a rock star (for a lot of reasons...) Does that mean I don't like my clients to catch a bunch of fish? Absolutely not and I think those that have fished with me know that. If I was known for anything I would like it to be because I was more of a folk artist that appreciates the nuances of fly fishing and the culture around it. I think it's important to learn about the bugs and how to read water. I think it's also important to appreciate the natural surroundings and to be able to enjoy that with a certain amount of solitude. I can produce the numbers if that's all you want. I trust that there are people out there that want more.
Keep 'em where they live...
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