What happens when a fishing novice meets the scenic landscapes of Utah? Join Explorer Julia as she attempts to slow down enough to understand the art of fly fishing.


Let me be frank – I’m not a patient person. Fishing isn’t my forte. I can count on one hand the number of fish I’ve caught in my life. Maybe it’s time to change that. 

I’m road-tripping in Utah and am taken aback by seeing fishers wading in waters along the highway. They’re knee-deep, standing in streams, and looking every bit the part. Kind of like Super Mario’s long-lost cousin in white waterproof overalls, apparently called waders. Unlike speed demon Mario though, these fishers are slow-moving. 

I watch the anglers cast their lines, flicking them backwards and forwards, swirling them in the air until each line meets the water. Every bit of movement is like anglers’ performance art. I’m transfixed. I’ve never seen fishing like this before. The mountainous setting made it seem so serene too. What is this almost hypnotic type of fishing I’m watching?

 

It’s not quite camo gear but this angler sure is blending in

What is fly fishing?

Fly fishing, to some, is akin to anglers’ art. It’s a specialised angling technique where the angler uses a fly rod, reel, line, and featherweight artificial bait termed ‘flies’ to catch fish. The purpose of using an artificial fly is to present the lure to the fish in a way that looks natural to the food fish eat, such as insects. 

These flies are intricately crafted with materials that mimic the real deal, and if you were to try to spot the difference between the two, you’d be hard-pressed! The types of flies used can be classed into four categories: wet flies, streamers, emergers, and dry flies. Each one has a specific use to entice your desired fish – bass, salmon, trout, and bonefish, to name a few.  

 

Pretty fly for a fly that’s not a fly

 

Anglers cast a line with an artificial fly as bait on the end, which hovers above the fish. When the fish latches onto the fly, the angler quickly sets the hook, forcefully pulling on the line and retrieving the fish. The rods used for fly fishing are made out of carbon fibre or fibreglass and are typically longer than those used in other fishing sports.

Want to keep it even simpler? Try Tenkara Fly Fishing

Fly Fishing in Heber Valley

I’m a novice when it comes to fly fishing (well, fishing in general), so I hook up with folks at Fly Heads Fly Shop in Heber City, Utah, to go on a guided fishing trip. Heber City is in the heart of Heber Valley – the jumping point for outdoor activities surrounded by Utah’s ‘Alps’ and the Wasatch Mountains and moments away from Provo River.

The lower part of the river near Deer Dam attracts avid fly fishers and is regarded as one of the best places in the state to cast a line all year round. The river’s long, flat stretches are advantageous for anglers trying their luck catching Blue ribbon, Brown, Cutthroat, and Rainbow trout. 

Roughly half an hour after walking into the store to get fitted in my fishing attire, I’m standing in the shallow waters of the Provo River. It’s overcast, but that doesn’t deter my chances of getting lucky with my line. 

Want your own fishing threads? We reviewed the Women’s Fly Fishing Range from Patagonia

 

Am I doing this right? I feel ridiculous

Lessons From the Fish Whisperer

‘To learn how to catch a fly, you need to think of it in two different languages. When you’re using normal tackle, spin, spinning or bait casting, it’s the weight of the lure that takes your presentation out to the fish, but when you’re fly fishing, it’s the weight of this heavy line that takes the light and featherweight flies’, my guide Marty Howard tells me. 

‘You have to learn how to manipulate that line so it looks natural when the fly lands on the water’, he says. 

Howard is a local legend in Utah’s fly fishing community, appearing on TV shows and authoring books to promote the sport.

‘We’re going to learn something new every time you put a fly rod’, Howard says as he goes through his tackle box to choose a fly to hook at the end of the line. Once the rod is ready, my guide demonstrates the different cast types.  

Find more handy fly fishing tips: Our Guide to Fly Fishing For Beginners

 

Marty Howard, the legend tasked with getting me to focus, fly, and fish (in that order)

Uh Oh, My Turn

After watching the pro at work, it’s time for me to attempt something that looks effortless. He tells me where to position my hands and fingers and how to stand. There’s so much to know about how to fly fish – how to tighten the line, where to put my fingers, how to throw it over my shoulder. ..

‘As you fly fish, it’s more of a process than the pursuit.’ Howard’s words ring in my ear. 

I’m going to tell you now – it wasn’t for me. My many attempts to cast the line fail. My line either gets caught in trees or lands metres from my feet. I feel better when my guide admits he still practises in his backyard, casting the reel on his lawn. 

‘You start to progress through learning how to get the fly to where you need it and casting a fly’, he tells me. ‘Once you start to understand how it all works, you can actually draw up to get the fly where it needs to be.’

 

Taking the time to properly prepare everything is well worth it

Embracing the Unfamiliar

Step by step, we go over each action of how to cast the reel. First you bring it up slowly then: 

‘You chop the block like you’ve got a cleaver in your hand’, he says as he casts the reel to demonstrate his ‘block cutting’. 

‘There’s still a challenge to it, but for me, there’s nothing more exciting when you’re trout fishing and seeing a fish come up and take your fly off the surface’, he says. 

Practice makes perfect, and we spend the morning trying to land trout. In the end, it didn’t matter if I caught any or not. Standing in the middle of a stream, watching the water flow by me, made me realise a thing about patience.

While I would normally feel frustrated for my ‘incompetence’ in normal day-to-day life, being here in nature, surrounded by mountains, I feel calm, patient, and in good spirits.

Read more: My First Fishing Lesson Rewarded Me With a Hobby for Life

 

As far as taking things slow goes, this is a pretty enjoyable way to do it

Patience Isn’t As Elusive as Fish

It would be nice to be rewarded for my efforts, but it takes time to hone a new skill. For now, I’m content with wearing wet waders and patiently trying something new. And perhaps just being immersed in the natural beauty of Utah and slowing down was what some people might call a good day’s fishing.  

 

Julia D’Orazio was a guest of  the Utah Office of Tourism  and  Go Herber Valley. All thoughts and opinions are her own. 

FAQs Fly Fishing For Beginners

How much does a guided fly fishing trip on the Provo River cost?

Fly Heads Fly Shop offers guided fly fishing trips in the Provo River. Single-person half-day guided trip is $US300 ($A461) or a single-person full-day guided trip is $US425 ($A692) with lunch included.

Where else can I have a guided fly fishing experience?

Do an online search for guided fishing trips in your area – there are plenty more out there! If you’d prefer to read about exactly what to expect, explorer Gemma enjoyed a guided fly fishing trip in Tasmania’s Central Highlands, and our content editor, Jess, had a great time on a guided fly fishing trip with Tom’s Outdoors in Tumut, NSW.

Where are some good spots to go fly fishing in Australia?

There are tonnes of great places to cast your line in Australia. Explorers Nick and Lucas had a great time fly fishing in Kosciusko National Park, Wangaratta in Victoria has a bunch of great spots to try, and you can’t go wrong in Victoria’s High Country.

Where can I go fishing in Australia?

While most fishers try to keep their favourite spots on the down low, we’ve got some location guides to help beginners get out amongst it. Check out the best fishing spots in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. 80 Mile Beach in WA is said to be pretty swell (but is a bit more challenging!) too!

How do I cook a fish on a campfire?

The first time you prepare a fish you’ve caught on a campfire for dinner is a little daunting, but follow our guide to cooking a fish on a campfire and it’ll be second nature in no time.

More Great Articles About Fishing

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