Fly fishing: The big one

“I draw strength and peace from my hobby. Alongside my family, it’s the best way for me to balance my day-to-day work as Managing Director of Ginesta Verwaltungen AG.”

Morning and evening are the time for fly fishing. This is when the fish become more active, leave their hiding places under the cover of dusk and hunt for food in the shallows close to the shore. During the day, they are shy and stay in shady, deeper places. When the sun goes down, however, smaller and larger circular waves show their activity in the water. Fly fishermen call this period between day and night the “jump of the evening hour”.
Fly fishing is an ancient way of catching fish. References to artificial flies made from pieces of fur and feathers can be found in Greek writings dating back over 2000 years. At first, only a line was used for fishing, later a rod and reel were added on which the line was wound. For a long time, this form of fishing was considered an exclusive, elitist hobby for upper-class men. However, what English aristocrats at the time described as “recreation for the thoughtful man” increasingly developed into a recognized and popular trend sport for men – and women. It is now estimated that over one million women worldwide have discovered this outdoor pleasure for themselves, which corresponds to around 15 to 20 percent of all fly fishermen.

Fly fishing
Among others, the Swiss Charles Ritz (1891-1976) revolutionized fly fishing. Ritz was not only a famous hotelier, but above all a passionate fly fisherman. He also fished together with the writer Ernest Hemingway, who became world-famous for his novella “The Old Man and the Sea”, among other things. Hemingway wrote the foreword to Charles Ritz’s book “Experienced Fly Fishing” – it is still regarded as the “bible” of the trade. Today, very light and slim rods made of carbon fiber with a cork handle are used for fishing. Barbless hooks are used, which are less likely to injure the animal and can therefore be gently returned to the water.
The fly – insects are the natural food of fish – is mainly used to catch fish in flowing waters. They are used to catch salmonid fish such as trout, char, grayling and salmon. It doesn’t take much strength. What is important is casting technique, patience, attentiveness and the ability to do the right thing at the right moment. And, of course, stability is also required, for example when positioning yourself in the middle of torrents. You should not be alone when making risky maneuvers.

Engaging with nature
A skilled fly fisherman spends a lot of time observing his surroundings. He usually has knowledge of fish biology, studies the life of insects, has an insight into the chemistry and physics of the water and pays attention to the weather, wind and water level. Fly fishermen are all-round talents who are always discovering new things. We fly fishermen attach great importance to catching fish as carefully as possible. The interaction with nature and the careful way of fishing are also what fascinates me so much about fly fishing. There is also the meditative aspect of fly fishing, which for me is an important balance to my everyday working life.
Around 20 years ago, the well-known Swiss fly fisherman Hans-Ruedi Hebeisen introduced me to fly fishing on a course. It didn’t take long for me to learn the optimal casting technique with all its special and trick casts. Today, I prefer to indulge in my hobby on torrents and rivers in Switzerland, Austria and the Black Forest. The feeling is indescribable when you can cast to a handsome trout on sight and see the fish rise to take the fly. In addition to the perfect cast, how you present the fly to the fish is particularly important. You have to believe in your fly a little and have a lot of patience. Fly fishing is the art of seduction.

Artificial flies attract fish
Artificial rather than real flies are used as bait. Tying flies is an art in itself. The author Juliana Berners (born around 1400) of the first technical book “A Treatise of Fishing with an Angle” already knew this. Here, Juliana Berners describes how to make artificial flies from natural materials such as feathers and fur as realistically as possible. Tying the artificial insects requires dexterity, imagination and manual skill. I imitate natural fish prey such as flying, land and water insects. Sometimes I also experiment with my own, freely invented creations. For me, fly tying has become a favorite activity on winter evenings, where I can daydream about the beautiful hours by the water.

Tradition and exclusivity
If you look at the exclusive rods, reels, clothing and well-kept materials, fly fishing may seem like an elitist, expensive sport. But in reality, all you need for this sport is a fly rod, a fly line, a reel and a so-called leader. The main task of the leader is to create an even transition from the relatively thick fly line to the hook eye. Sooner or later, every fly fisherman succumbs to the temptation of an exclusive rod from England, the motherland of fly fishing. It is therefore not surprising that English rod manufacturers pay attention to tradition and exclusivity.

“In fly fishing, as in your job, you need patience, respect and the skill to do the right thing at the right time.
Fly fishing is not about the quantity, but about the experience.”

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