We got the question so often we thought it would be good to write an article about it. For fly fishers it might be a weird question because it's so obvious. Not everyone can accurately explain it though, so it's an interesting one to think about for a moment. We asked around and these are all the things that people love about fly fishing.
In direct touch with the fish
Because you hold the fly line in your hand and strip it in, you have a direct connection with the fish through that line. That means that when there's a bite or a strike, you'll feel it very well. This adds to the feeling of fishing, of skill and being in touch and in control of what you're doing.
Activity in nature
Moving around
In a way fly fishing is like hunting because it involves moving around, sneaking up on fish, observing what's happening and anticipating. This adds to the game and tension in positive way, and makes catching a fish extra rewarding.
Casting
There's just something with the casting that makes it an activity that's soothing. The back and forth movements are calming and get you in a very relaxed state. You're actively doing something (versus just sitting down for hours) so after a few hours of fishing you really feel relaxed and recharged.
Being in nature
With any form of fishing you'll be in nature. With fly fishing you also move around a lot, so you get to take in a lot of scenery, spot wildlife and appreciate everything that nature has to offer.
Matching the hatch
Chances of catching a fish will increase dramatically if you know what the fish are feeding on. This means looking around, observing and gaining knowledge through research.
The term 'matching the hatch' means that insects are hatching and that your fly matches with that hatch. But of course there's not always a hatch. There might be insects underwater, small baitfish or other things that the fish are feeding on. You can research this up front to make sure you truly understand the fish you're going after.
All of this is something that fly fishers really enjoy, and it makes it even better if the research gets rewarded with a nice catch!
Fly tying
Fly tying is not for everyone. It involves a little investment in gear and materials and most of all: a lot of time. In return, you'll get what every fly fisher describes as 'the best thing': catching a fish on a self tied fly!
Gear
This is probably true for every hobby: nerd out on the gear. The materials, production methods, technical assembly, there's just something about fly fishing gear that makes it perfect to go into a rabbit hole of information. Just don't believe everything you read 😉
All in all it's different for everybody, but the most heard reason to love fly fishing is probably the fact that's an active form of fishing. You're not sitting down waiting for the fish to come to you, instead you try to find them actively in their own habitat.
If you're interested in reading more about fly fishing, check out our article on the history of fly fishing.
