The true spirit of Flyfishing

Everyone has his/her dream-location for fly-fishing.  Whether it's for some trout, tarpon, pike, coarse-fish or grayling, on those pictures we see passing on the internet or social media, there's always something particular about those "dream"-locations.  Mostly you don't see groups of 10 to 20 fishermen at those spots.  Is this the reason why it is a dream-location?  Or is it the amount of fish, or the size that is caught which determines if it is a miraculous spot or not?

Honestly, my opinion is that the amount of fisherman is the most important reason for this matter.  I will explain it by a personal adventure a had about 3 years ago in Spain.

Like a lot of fishermen (excuse me for not mentioning the fisher-women), who are married or in a relation, there is always the problem of the partner who is not fishing, or that has other interests. Every now and than I go on a holiday to Norther Spain in the Catalunya-region.  My wife and daughter are "beach"-people (meaning: swimming, sunbathing and playing in the sand).  If you can hold me on the beach for about 3 hours, you can call yourself a successful person. So we have a little agreement on whom is doing what on the days we don't do any activities as a family.  My plan is taking the car, prepare a journey on Google Maps (the best tool in centuries!!!) and taking off with my GPS to locations which look promising on the map.

That way I have discovered some fantastic rivers.  For instance I have discovered the Muga-river near Albanya (a little village in Catalunya-pyrenees).  No, it is not a 20+ meter river.  It's a little stream in the Pyrenees that is mostly a combination of rapids, puddles and a lot of nature.  But what was the most important factor that made this river fantastic?  I didn't see any other fisherman!  No competitions where held there!  For my opinion, the true spirit of fly-fishing is not compatible whit competition.  It is not natural!  We take extreme caution to cast with low-aftma-equipment and microscopic flies, imitating local insects, just to be able to fool one or two fish.   And than you have competition, just caring about quantities and sizes, no matter what.  How can you possibly be enjoying nature, water, freedom, if you are bounded by what the guy several meters next to you is catching?  I just don't get it!

When we go fishing, it's about catching the fish on the spot en being happy to have caught that one.  It's not about testosterone-driven club-challenges, trying to make the other one catch less than you or trying to cheat to get higher on the result-page.  It's not about being better than the other one, but it's about sharing your encounters, patterns and spots so everyone can enjoy our sport.  

I understand that some people need to measure themselves to others, in order to feel like an important part of society.  That's something that has been a part of history and has offered more problems that solutions.  So think about this the next time you take part to a fly-fishing-competition: your not in the fly-fishing spirit at that time.  Your just in a competition, using fly-fishing skills and techniques.  Your not really trying to catch fish, you just try to be better than the other competitors.  At that moment you're not really more than a coarse-fisherman, like I see them on sunday-mornings on the canal near to my house.

If you really want to experience that true spirit of this fantastic sport: Go explore, go to new places where no-one has told you about.  Encounter wildlife, whether it is an insect, a reptile or even a ferret, following you on the riverbank, as I experienced.

This is my message to all those fisherman, whom are missing the point about Fly-fishing.  Stop competing!  Take my words and go out there.  There are still a lot of waters to be explored!  You will not fail by trying, because it's not about catching fish.  It's about adapting you to nature and being part of it!  It's about the journey!

Enjoy that journey!

Some fisherman called Tom

 

Shop review Fario Jan - English version

In our series on flyshops we land for our first review in Egem (Pittem) in Belgium. Fario Jan exists more than 10 years, It's the shop which is ran by Jan Declerck with passion and knowledge.

Centrally located in the province, under the shade of the big radioantenna of Egem, he is strategically positioned for both West and East Flanders. For me it was one of the first fly-shops I visited, as a new-be to fly-fishing-sports. The assessment of my knowledge by Jan was subsequently correct, because he was able to give the necessary advice to help me on the way as a young fly fisherman.

Several years of experience and fishing later, we come to Jan for a coffee (what else, if you know everyone visiting is offered a cup of coffee) and for some small talk, or rather talk about small flies and nymphs.

He started by trading second-hand flyfishing-gear before Jan started his store in 2006. The demand for new and specific tying-material and fishing-gear helped making the choice for starting up a full-time business. First located in the private-part of his house, the shop is now located in the attached surface, with large windows for a clear view in the shop.

We asked Jan why he only sold fly-fishing-stuff. The quality of the material and good advice for customers helped making this decision. "I do not know enough of coarse-, carp- and lure-fishing in order to give customers enough and correct advice" he claims. An honest answer as you know that he really can offer anything for fly fishing. He is also proud that every rod and line that is offered, was tested by him personally on the water so that he can compare the actions and so can offer the appropriate combination. But it still (for now) is a niche market and in terms of sustainable commerce of this concept, it is not so easy nowadays. A few years ago he also felt this issue, making him decide to temporally only open shop  on Wednesdays and Saturdays. But the future is bright! Soon the shop will be open on more days  and expand the product range. Some new brands come in and he will significantly increase the choice within the current brands. "I want to give the customers what they want. That means I have a lot more need for "specials". But I enjoy doing this. We will be starting very soon with the construction of our new store, on a prime location near a pond. The space will increase to 150sqm "that means that the shop wil be almost five times as large as it is now.

If we are to ask Jan what he thinks about the future of fly fishing in Flanders we get a (surprisingly) positive answer. Despite the fact that there is a lack of good youth-education, he sees the rise of a new generation of young people who put the corny character of the sport aside. This is where the future is heading! He already has many contacts with many associations, and where they invest it, he sees an increase of youth and older youth, which he can only applaud, and so do we!

He himself is an avid lake-fisherman. Especially Kluizen (Gent-Belgium) is his favorite water in Flanders. But Slovenia, Italy, Austria, France, Germany and many other countries harbor many waters where Jan still wants to go back sometime. Enough experience thus! Canada is also on his wish list, but hey, on whom's not?

Especially the sea-bass-fishing is on the rise, according to Jan, More and more people want to experience the drill such a sea monster. The Euro-style nymphing on streams, become more and more common, and there, especially in Czech-nymphing, there is a significant lift. He is also one of the few with such an extensive assortment for this style of fly fishing. An entire wall in the shop is devoted to it. But soon (the material is on its way to Egem whilst the writing of this report) there is also a novelty coming in: Neon Mini Chenille. Currently, he is one of the few distributors in Europe besides the producer, Flybox, itself. Very soon the rods of Greys and Hardy will be added to the range (models for 2017). Jan will be announcing the arrival on his social media himself.

Jan himself has been more than 25 years on the water, which ensures that he has a huge baggage of experience and knowledge, which he gladly shares with his clients and acquaintances. Not only the fishing-techniques but also the flies to be tied. Once being a competitor in fishing-competitions, he knows the things to be known on the banks and in the water.

He hopes that the future will bring a lot of innovation to both the young and older audience. And of course that fly-fishing evolves in the same way, so it can be taken off its dowdy cloud and finally become a trendy sport.

At Fario Jan you can find everything for fly fishing. Both fly tying and fishing gear, material for micro nymphs as well as for larger streamers, and the complete equipment for the fly fisherman. The top-materials from Guideline, Hanak, Kamasan, Hayabusa, Flybox UK, Wychwood, Venyard, Wapsi-Hends, Stonfo, Danvise and many more are available at Jan's shop. For the time being only open on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, but soon many more. Check out his site or Facebook-page for the correct opening hours.

Follow Fario Jan on Facebook or on his website. Or visit the shop and see for yourself!

On the occasion of this report Jan also is giving a 9ft # 7 rod travel path. Visit the Vliegvissen Scheldevallei-FB page to get to know how to win!


Tight Lines!