6E
Wednesday, August 16, 1995
KULEISURE
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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By Ken Gates Special to the Kansan
Mastery of bumble puppies, zug bugs becoming popular; more women hooked to hobby
Angling fly doesn't take fisher king
Geron Bird, Wichita senior, grabs a woolly bugger and heads for fresh water to escape the stresses and strains of university life.
A woolly bugger is one of many thousands of fishing flies for the anglers.
Hairy marys, bloody butchers, zug bugs, bumble puppies and chartreuse everglows are some of the other files commonly used.
The popularity of fly fishing is on the rise. Today, more than 35 million Americans fly fish.
In the Lawrence area, local anglers fly fish at Douglas County, Lone Star, Clinton and Perry lakes. Trout and salmon are the classic fly fishing game, but most area fly fishers catch blugleigh, pan fish, crappie and different varieties of bass. Bird said.
"It's more challenging, and you catch less compared with other fishing," Bird said. "But fly fishing is more aesthetically pleasing and requires your undivided attention."
Bird's grandfather introduced him to fly fishing when he was 7 years old. This early exposure was brief, and only recently did Bird begin to pursue the sport with diligence.
Fly fishing is a sport of finesse, skill and patience. Great strength and athletic ability are not required, making it possible for almost anyone to enjoy. However, fly fishing is not as easy as actor Brad Pitt made it look in Robert Redford's film, "A River Runs Through It."
Experienced anglers gravitate toward fly fishing because it demands superior fishing skills and knowledge of the natural environment. Other types of fishing require considerable time spent waiting for fish to bite, but fly fishers are casting almost continuously.
Fly fishers are most successful when they closely observe what kinds of insects the fish are feeding on. When that is ascertained, the fly fishers choose flies resembling those insects.
The next challenge is to make the artificial fly behave exactly as the insect the fish is feeding on. Some insects land on the water, some insects only buzz around near the water's surface. Imitating the wide range of insect behavior is a challenge.
Herein lies the attraction many anglers have for fly fishing, the challenge to blend in with nature, become part of it, imitate it.
Books, instructional videos and clinics all
"I don't have time to tie my own files, but veterans take pride in tying their own, especially when they create their own and do not simply copy existing styles," Herbert says.
Tim Barrett, Eudora resident and radio broadcaster at KLWN in Lawrence, has been fly fishing for 14 years. Barrett and Eddon Bailey, Lawrence resident, co-host a fishing program every Thursday from 5:30 to 6 p.m. on KLWN, 1320 AM.
Doug Herbert, Overland Park Junior, first became acquainted with fly fishing while working at a backpacking store. As an employee, Herbert attended casting clinics at the store for free. Instructional videos also were helpful to him when he first began, he said.
The number of women interested in fly fishing is increasing. Kurz said. Women make up 70 percent of the casting clinics' enrollment.
Howell Raines, author of "Fly Fishing Through the Midlife Crisis," said the sport seemed to appeal to nonaggressive individuals with a deen regard for the outdoors.
Herbert said he loved fly fishing, but he drew the line at fly tying.
Observe nature closely for about 20 minutes before beginning to cast.
The more fishers can imitate the natural feeding process, the greater their chances of success.
Use a fly similar to the insects on which the fish are feeding. "Blend in with nature, be inconspicuous." Barrett said.
Kurz's store also offers casting and fly-tying clinics. The casting clinics are offered one day a month from March through October. The tying classes are six-week sessions geared for serious fly fishers.
"Fly fishing is to fishing as ballet is to walking," said Raines in his book.
Kevin Kurz, owner of K & K Flyfishers' Supply, 8643 Grant St. in Overland Park, sells everything needed for the novice fly fisher to get started. He also sells equipment for seasoned veterans.
"You can fly fish for any fish that swims, and you can fly fish in winter if you have open water," Barrett said. "In fact, the best crappie fishing is in the winter."
For best results, Barrett said fly fishers should remember the following
- Don't be discouraged if you don't get the hang of fly fishing immediately. Improvement comes with experience like anything else.
Jay Thornton / KANSAN
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Will Gault. Wichita graduate student, fly fishes at Potter Lake. Gault, who has been飞鱼 fishing since the age of 10, usually likes fishing in local farm ponds.
Equipment to get started costs $60 to $75, but if one gets interested, fly fishing quickly can become an expensive hobby.
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are available for those interested in getting acquainted with fly fishing.
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