I was basically a natural upon wading into the sport of fly fishing, the grace and beauty of which that film captures. Brandon Heath of Cohutta Fishing Company, who spent about four hours guiding me through the business’s two-hour Intro to Fly Fishing class, basically confirmed it. “Women often get this part faster than men,” he told the group of four others – all females – huddled over the thin, clear pieces of fishing line each was trying to form into the violent-sounding surgeon and blood knots.
IT’S ALL IN THE WRISTWhile Cohutta Fishing Company offers Intro to Fly Fishing courses monthly, in addition to routine All Day on the Water School, those wishing to try their hand in the Scenic City have a special opportunity April 6-27. Robert Prytula, a former fly fishing guide, current member of Federation of Fly Fishers and East Tennessee representative of the Mid-South Fly Fishers, is offering a class structured for the beginner or novice angler as part of Chattanooga State’s continuing education courses from 8 a.m. to noon. Cost is $100.Visit chattanoogastate.edu/ for more information.
The surroundings looked more like a place where women congregate to create crafts than a fisherman’s supply store. The walls were a rainbow of colorful string and eye-catching feathers. Even the lures themselves, lifelike as they were, appeared like whimsical accoutrements perfect for a child’s Halloween costume or toy box. For Heath and other fishermen, it’s more akin to what a shoe store is for women: a place to recharge your batteries and replenish your collection … and possibly spend a lot of money. While rods start at around $120 and reels around $40, you can spend as much as $1,000 on one. That’s why Heath – who wouldn’t share exactly how much he’s spent for fear his wife would find out – advises shoppers to “cast before you buy.”
“It’s like a car,” he says. “You want to test drive it before you give them your money. It’s an investment.” He recommends starting out with a medium/fast rod (a No. 6 is the average for beginners), although you’ll need a shorter rod for small spaces like the many creeks and streams around here. Other considerations are the species of fish you hope to catch, the types of water in which you intend to fish and, of course, your price range. It’s important to clean and properly store your equipment after each use, much like you would your Dior pumps, in order to get the best and most use.
“A lot of times when people hear fly fishing they automatically think trout, but you can fly fish for anything,” says Heath. He proved it with a video of a man on a wakeboard wrestling with a 300- to 400-pound mako shark attached to the end of a barely visible line. After a thrilling high-speed chase – or rather pull – over the water, the man won.