WP2

Kaleb Stroman

Professor Benz

WRIT 1133

29 April 2019

WP2

            To most, fly fishing is seen as just another way to catch fish in a different setting and it is just a more complicated way to catch those fish. But when talking to fly-fisherman, fly fishing is more than that and when talking to Michael Agostinho, an expert fisherman and high school teacher, he describes what fly fishing means to him and why it plays such a significant role in his life.

            When looking up the academic definition of fly fishing it says that it is “the sport of fishing using a rod and an artificial fly as bait”. Looking at the sport in very simple terms, that’s exactly what it is. The whole goal is to go out and catch fish using this method of using a fly and fly rod. However, while sitting across from Michael Agostinho and listening to him answer questions regarding the sport, it is much more than that. It is part of his lifestyle and has played a large role in the type of person he is, and what he values. 

            “Patience, one of the most important things in life is to learn to be patient” says Agostinho, as he answers the question what is the most important thing you’ve learned from fly fishing?

            Previously, before this question, he discussed about how having etiquette and giving up time are also valuable things when fly fishing but having the patience not only to hope for a fish to rise to your fly, but also with the people you are with and surrounded by. When fly fishing it is important to have the patience for those things, but he talks about how that translates to his life.

            After we discuss what he’s learned from the sport, I ask the question; What is your favorite part about being part of the fly-fishing community? “The outdoors aspect is important, and it’s kind of a seasonal sport as well” he says. He talks about how July is his favorite time to fish because it spreads out the crowds but also people have the opportunity to fish many different areas.

            If you could start all over, would you do it the same way?  “Honestly, if I had to start all over, I may have made a career out of it”. As a high school teacher at a school called Legend High School, fishing is available to him on breaks and weekends, and to most fly-fisherman this is a dream. But to Michael Agostinho, this could have been a reality. As a man that grew up in upstate New York fly fishing the Delaware river, and moving to Colorado, he has learned and experienced a lot to be at the point where he is at fly fishing.

            “I am also a student of the sport, but also a historian of the sport, so I’ve read some books from guys like John Garrick and Walt Franklin” he says.

            With two famous authors in the fly-fishing community, his background knowledge and experience has led to a successful life in fly fishing. Not only is researching history and staying informed about fly-fishing that is important to Michael, but also he informs the public through his blog; Mayfly Musings. Through these posts, Michael not only discusses what his trips and adventures were like, but in these discusses certain fly patterns and tactics that are effective on the specific river and time of year that he discusses.

            “I’ve seen the sport change that it’s more accessible to the masses, so there’s more beginner classes and entomology classes, shops are a lot more friendlier than they used to be” says Michael.

            As we discussed how the sport has changed, it was interesting because I have only been in the sport for a few years now, so I haven’t seen much change at all. Though, with Michael’s background in fishing different waters, he has a better feel for how things have changed. During the interview he talked about how he likes the summer time for fishing because “people spread out”. In Colorado with over 300 sunny days in the year, the idea of fly fishing has came to many peoples minds. During the winter months, people don’t want to travel far, so rivers can get crowded, and that is when “etiquette” comes into play. 

            “I think that’s good to get more people in it, but the negative side is then you have people who don’t necessarily respect it, as much as maybe someone like I do, and so you end up picking up their trash or having to deal with some interesting folks on the river” says Agostinho.

            In reality it can be seen that the most that fly fishing has changed over the years is not the fact that there are new tying materials for flies, or how rods are no longer bamboo, but rather how so many people have taken up the sport. Like Michael says, “you have people who don’t necessarily respect it” which can make it difficult to enjoy it as much as people would like to.

            “I don’t know who said this quote but, there’s something along the lines of when you go fishing you don’t go to kill the fish, you go to kill the negative part of yourself” says Michael.

            He then goes on to talk about how when things are difficult in his life with things like work, and life, he goes to the river and he “disconnects from reality, and connects with the river”. Profound, and a fair point because it seems like fly fishing does that not only for Michael but for lots of fly-fisherman. Like Michael said, fly fishing takes you to the outdoors and to some beautiful scenery. For many fishing is to go out catch some fish and then go home and eat it. Simple as that. But for Michael, and many fly-fisherman, it’s more than catching the fish but enjoying the outdoors aspect and enjoying the serenity and peace that comes with it. Here in Colorado and many other places, trout don’t live in ugly places, and because of that, fly fishing is more than the trout. It is the experience.