Sharing the art of fly-fishing
LOCAL TROUT UNLIMITED GROUP SHARES KNOW-HOW
Whether whip-casting from a river bank or out in a belly boat, there is just something about flyfishing which captures the wonder of all who see it. The art seems complex, subtle, elegant and mysterious, but for Trout Unlimited Canada Oldman River chapter president Josh Markle, a devoted practitioner, it is all about unity with a deeper sense of the natural world.
“I think what separates fly-fishing from typical going-out-to-the-lakeand-catching-dinner-fishing is it is not just consumptive, it is also appreciative,” he says. “It is like other activities, bird-watching for example, that demand you be present in your environment and paying attention. You need to be paying attention to entomology, and the bugs that are coming off. The conditions of the water. The conditions of the weather around you, and all types of different trees behind you, which play a role, the wind ... You have to be really focused and present.”
Markle rejects the notion that not just anybody can fly-fish. In fact, he and other Oldman River chapter members are out to prove the exact opposite by holding a series of seminars with high school students, and with the general public, for those who might be interested in learning a few of the basics.
The first of these public seminars is scheduled for Saturday at the Helen Schuler Nature Centre, and is already completely
booked. However, those interested in taking part in a future seminar can leave their name at the Nature Centre or contact the Trout Unlimited local chapter through their website at oldmanriverchapter.com.
“Last year we spent about $5,000 investing into our educational programming,” explains Markle, “and this year the Alberta Conservation Association actually awarded us a $3,000 community education grant to support our initiative. We have bought a group of high quality fly-fishing rods out of that; so if you want to come out to one of our sessions, or call us to come in, you don’t actually need anything. We supply the rods and all the materials needed.”
Markle hopes those coming out to this Saturday’s session, and future sessions, will go away inspired to give fly-fishing a try on their own.
“I hope they go away stoked on the idea of going out to fish on a river,” confirms Markle.
“Whether that is accompanying someone who is fishing, or fishing themselves, I just want them to be out there. As for the technical aspects of fly-fishing, I want them to, after our session, to be able to go out and under good conditions get a fly out there and maybe catch a fish.”
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