by Lou Gros

My obsession with fly fishing began at a very early age while paddling up and down the bayous of south Louisiana. When the final school bell rang on Friday afternoons, it was impossible to contain my youthful enthusiasm. My father would satiate my brothers’ and my desire to hook “the big one” by taking us on the canals of the Bayou Black area every chance he could.

I can still vividly recall the scene. He would sit on the front deck with a paddle in one hand and his fly rod in the other. My brothers and I would pile up in the rear, always jockeying for position to make the perfect cast at the next perch hole. It was pure excitement to see our bobbers dancing and then vanish when a fish engulfed our live worms.

Even more amazing than our bobbers were the sights and sounds of the aggressive strikes my dad would entice using his fly rod.

Fly fishing is unique. It is poetry in motion. It is easy-listening music.
Fly fishing is a quiet sport. It requires patience, coordination, technique
and stealthiness.

The pursuit of fish with a fly rod resembles hunting and stalking.
The object is to get close enough to the target to present the fly within
striking distance without spooking the fish, which takes much practice.
The good news is everyone can learn to be a fly fisherman no matter age
or gender. It is one of the few sports in which the skills do not diminish with age, but become refined as the years pass. Fly fishing takes you off the beaten path, causing you to become consumed by your surroundings.

Fly fishermen are a different breed. A common bond forms between long rodders, creating lifelong friendships. Novices and experts alike are eager to share their vast knowledge and experiences gained over time.

Every spring when the days get longer and the temperatures rise, my thoughts turn to casting poppers to perch and bass in backwater canals. I daydream of stripping spoon flies by tailing redfish in Terrebonne Parish’s duck ponds and marshes.

Fly fishing has been good to me. I am fortunate for the places it has taken me and the good folks I have become friends with over the years. For those who have not had the pleasure, there has never been a better time to get introduced to fly fishing. In the past couple of years, increased competition has driven down the price of equipment. The cost of a fly rod and reel was several hundred dollars. Now, a beginner can buy a combination outfit for much less. Huge outfitters, such as Cabela’s or Bass Pro Shops, offer everything you need to get started.

I also highly recommend taking a fly casting lesson or two. It is very important to learn to cast correctly and not develop bad habits. Most fly shops offer classes to help you learn the various aspects of the sport and give you the foundation you need. Take advantage of the unlimited volumes of books, fishing magazines and DVDs available on the market today. PoV