One of my favorite memories in life happened when I was seven years old. My dad surprised me by purchasing a boat to fish thelakesaround my hometown. Russellville City Lake was full of large bluegill. Every summer, the fishwould form colonies of connected nests called beds. The fish would congregate and were feeding aggressively. It was an opportunity for a kid to catch a lot of fish.
An enhancer to their summer spawn, the willow hatch, would occur around the lakes and rivers of Alabama and Mississippi. Willow flies are a species of a may fly and their massive hatches along rivers and lakes are well known. They have multiple hatches throughout the summer months and create a feeding frenzy for birds andfish alike.
My Dad was the only guy who tossed the long stick or fly rod in our community. He lived for the hatch. It occurs a few times during the summeron lakes and rivers. I quickly learned when the flies hatched, the fish went nuts. You could not cast a spinning reel with a mayfly imitation, only a fly rod. So, my dad taught me the art of fly fishing which I dearly love today.
I’ve been blessed to flyfish for many different species in different places. Each trip is a learning experience and forces me to trouble shoot. From the Czech Republic to Austria to the United Kingdom to British Columbia, to the Caribbean to Oahu, fly fishing different places teaches one to assess the water and fish, problem solve while adjusting your approach. My enjoyment for the sport is ultimately catching the fish, but the preparation leading up to hooking the fish is my favorite part.
There are five types of waters to catch fish: lakes, tailwaters, freestone rivers, spring creeks and the beloved chalk streams. A tailwater is a fishery that is a result of a release of water below a dam. The cooler water creates an environment supporting trout. Other fisheries may include a freestone river which runs from snow melting off mountains, mostly in the western part of the United States. My favorite bodies of waterarespring creeks andchalkstreams.Chalk streams are rivers that rise from springs in landscapes with chalk bedrock. Over 90% of the world’s chalk streamsare in southern England.
We all have a role in making sure our fishing waters are respected and well maintained. One lesson I’ve learned from my trips to England and the fishing community is holding ourselves and others responsible for the preservation of fishable water. As much as I like to catch fish close to home like grass carp, bass, crappie and white bass on the fly rod, being tuned in to the importance of supporting clean water is a must for our fishing future no matter where you live.
Fly fishing has evolved over time. The exact origin of fly fishing is debated, but it’s believed to have originated in ancient Rome or ancient Macedonia. Roman poet Marcus Valerius Martialis wrote about fly fishing in a poem. Claudius Aelianus described a method for catching fish using an artificial fly. Fly fishing became popular in England in the 15th century, where it was shaped into an art with new flies, rods and casting techniques. The three wisemen of fly fishing, Englishmen Halford, Skues and Sawyer paved the way for modern fly fishing.
One can fly fish anywhere. Some of the most enjoyable catches have been in places one would never believe there is a trophy fish. For example, a “city lake’ in Ridgeland, Mississippi produced multiple 18-poundgrass carp on a fly rod. It took me over a year to figure out it’smovement and feeding patterns. After multiple futile attempts, I was able to trick the fish on the infamous“wonder bread fly” or a grass blade imitation fly tied by nuns. Again, the problem solving is the best part of the sport.
Most fish, bass and trout can be caught either on the water’s surface of sub surface. I prefer sub surface as some of my biggest fish have been caught sub-surface. Fishing in Missouri 17 years ago, I obtained an IGFA World Record Citation for landing a 20-pound, 30-inchbrown trout on a 6X tippet. I was watching the fish feed as I would notice the inside of his mouth, which is white, flash as various food sources floated by the fish. I tied on an equivalent to acrappiemarabou jig, made one drift over the fish, he took it and game on! After a chase around the river, I was able to land the beast and could not believethe size of it in the net. As with any sporting activity for hunting or fishing, patience and a stealth approach works.
There are many techniques associated with fly fishing. For example, fishing in saltwater, larger rods, lines and methods are somewhat different than fishing for trout or bass. I enjoy my redfish trips to the mouth of the Mississippi River and Florida Panhandle as we site larger redfish from a flat boat. Finding a fish and making the right cast at the right time can pay big dividends. Ironically, one of my largest redfish or what we call a “bull red” came off a blind cast to a row of grass. The fly landed right on the edge and the bull came and out ate the fly. The bull red made a dash to open water running line down to reel’sspool before I took control.
Both Tarpon and bone fish are exciting fish to catch. Recently, I learned about the bonefish of Oahu and traveled over to catch some prized bonefish. I fished at the end of the runway of the Honolulu International Airport in a flats boat. Many beautiful fish were caught that day. The gulf coast of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana produce some amazing tarpon. I’ve had several encounters with tarpon up to 75-100-pounds chase my fly and turn around as they saw me on the casting platform.
Mississippi is located from a geographical standpoint a day’s drive from rainbow and brown trout to tarpon. My favorite trip of the year is my annual pilgrimage to the Ozarks fishing spring creeks in Missouri and Arkansas. A six-hour drive will put you in the heart of spring creek flyfishing. This past November, I found a stream which reminded me of the European streams fished with clear water and nice trout. As for a saltwater experience, the drive to the coast is close for all Mississippian.Red fish, speckled trout and occasional migrating tarpon can be casted to in the warmer months of the year.
If you are interested in learning more about fly fishing, there are multiple resources available. YouTube is my source for videos and instruction. The Orvis Company which has stores throughout the United States including one in Jackson is an excellent resource. I’ve taught casting lessons for 15 years in either Kansas or Mississippi on Saturdays. The courses are free and the team at Orvis is extremely helpful. A typical casting Class, 101 last around a couple of hours. In that time, you will learn techniques and develop skills overtime by practicing.
I have often said, nature connects us in ways to life we’ll never understand. I enjoy sharing my stories of trophy catches and even those small 4-inch fish caught natural to the stream like a brook trout. My love for fly fishing started early. A gift from my late father. He passed it down from someone who taught him. I enjoy passing my love of fly fishing along with teaching others. I view it as a rite of passage as the river has a way of connecting you to nature and family. The 1992 film, A River Runs Through It, gave us a glimpse of what this sport means to those who love it: God’s grace, Life’s constant flow and the interconnectedness of life and nature.
Tightlines!
John Langcuster resides in Ridgeland, Mississippi. Langcuster has been fly fishing over 50 years and has multiple fly-fishing awards including trophy fish citations from the states of Missouri, Virginia, West Virginia and Arkansas. He also has the IGFA Trout Slam Certificate along with being recognized with a potential IGFA World Record catch. Langcuster has also achieved the Wyoming Grand Slam Award. Langcuster had contributed many hours educating to new and seasoned anglers around techniques and travel. He has fished in numerous locations throughout the world including Europe, Caribbean, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and multiple trips to western and eastern United States and Canada.
