We keep hearing that fly fishing is good for your mental health. It gets you out in the natural world, involves problem solving, and keeps you active and moving throughout the day (unless you sit in a drift boat watching a bobber). But is it always good for your mind? Are there times when fly fishing can make your mood worse, and are there things you can do to make sure a day on the water is good for you? I discuss this, and play devil's advocate a bit, with Melissa Ceren [35:20], who is both a fly-fishing guide and a licensed therapist. We had a fun conversation and I hope you enjoy it. In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions from listeners, including:
- If I break a section of a rod, why won't a section from a different rod fit it? Are the diameters different in different types of rods?
- Are there benefits to fishing nymphs without an indicator?
- When fishing, are you more likely to change the fly size up or down if the one you're using is not working?
- Am I missing some flexibility by not carrying two rods when wade fishing?
- What is the best way to fish for a trout that lives under a bridge?
- When I get a tangled mess I usually cut everything off and re-tie. Should I be carrying a safety pin to untangle my leader?
- I am having problems with drag when fishing straight upstream. Do you have any tips to help this?
- I keep foul-hooking small brook trout when using a dry dropper. Why does this happen and what can I do to avoid it?
- I accidentally dropped my fly box in the river. I don't see any rust on them, but should I throw all of them out?
- What is "attitude" when discussing the choice of dry flies?
- What is your current recommendation on the noise created by studded boots or metal wading staffs?
- I have gone on 8 saltwater fly-fishing trips and have been skunked on 6 of them. It's a combination of bad guides and bad weather. What can I do to avoid this?
- What is the best way of getting my fly off a branch if I don't want to wade in and spook the pool?
Related - Episodes
Todd Tanner [43:02] is a lifelong fly fisher and journalist and spent years as a guide on the Henry's Fork, one of the best (and toughest) dry-fly rivers in the world. He also prefers not to fish nymphs. Todd shares…
This week's podcast is a recording of a live interview I did with Sue Doroff [48:56], co-founder and outgoing president of The Western Rivers Conservancy, which does amazing work throughout the West by buying valuable riparian land, making the surrounding…
Tom shares his off-season routine for gear mainteance and answers our first voicemail request for tips for the older angler. These tips apply to a lot of us, though, so it is a good listen all around. Call us at…
