Fly
fishing is a passion for many people. It's not so much about catching
fish; it's about the experience of standing knee-deep in a cool trout stream
amid the splendor of nature, patiently waiting and watching for fish to
quietly reveal themselves.
And, it's true that trout live in the most
beautiful places, from Tennessee, Pennsylvania and New York to Colorado,
Montana, Alaska and the Northwest, to France, Russia and South America.
The
sport of fly fishing is booming in popularity. Once considered a
predominantly male sport, more women than ever are today learning to fly
fish. I use the word "learning" because no one ever stops
learning the skills of fly fishing.
Because
fly fishing requires deft skill rather than brawn, many women are in fact
excelling over men in the sport. Joan Wulff, for example, has become one
of the world's great fly fishing instructors. Winner of an international
and 17 national championships, she can cast a fly an incredible 161 feet, about
twice the distance of a typical cast and more than half the length of a football
field.
Even
if you've never had a fly rod in your hand, taking the first step toward
learning is easy. Here are some simple steps to begin:
Check
the local Yellow Pages under the heading Fishing Tackle Dealers (or
something close) to find a shop that specializes in fly fishing.
Visit
a shop or two to get a feel for how novices are welcomed. Most fly fishing
shops are eager to help beginners and can recommend local guides, or
instructors. But don't buy anything without taking a first lesson.
Call
local instructors that fly fishing shops recommend and talk to them about
lessons and their teaching approaches. It really doesn't matter whether
they are "Orvis approved" (even though Orvis, a fine equipment
maker, certifies instructors across the country) or affiliated with any
particular company or school because most instructors are dedicated to the
sport.
Take
some lessons. Most instructors will provide everything you need, from
equipment, waders, boots and flys, to lunch.
Once
you are hooked on fly fishing, ask your instructor to recommend what
equipment is best for you. There are many choices in fly fishing gear,
and it's best to have guidance from an expert. Many instructors will
often go with you to a fly shop to help make the perfect selections.
A
day of fly fishing lessons will cost anywhere from $90 to $150, depending on
where you live. Package deals are available. But, regardless of the
cost, and whether you stick with a lesson or embrace it as a lifetime passion,
you will celebrate every moment of the fly fishing experience.
Fly
fishing is a passion for many people. It's not so much about catching
fish; it's about the experience of standing knee-deep in a cool trout stream
amid the splendor of nature, patiently waiting and watching for fish to
quietly reveal themselves. 
The
sport of fly fishing is booming in popularity. Once considered a
predominantly male sport, more women than ever are today learning to fly
fish. I use the word "learning" because no one ever stops
learning the skills of fly fishing. 
Even
if you've never had a fly rod in your hand, taking the first step toward
learning is easy. Here are some simple steps to begin:
Call
local instructors that fly fishing shops recommend and talk to them about
lessons and their teaching approaches. It really doesn't matter whether
they are "Orvis approved" (even though Orvis, a fine equipment
maker, certifies instructors across the country) or affiliated with any
particular company or school because most instructors are dedicated to the
sport. 
A
day of fly fishing lessons will cost anywhere from $90 to $150, depending on
where you live. Package deals are available. But, regardless of the
cost, and whether you stick with a lesson or embrace it as a lifetime passion,
you will celebrate every moment of the fly fishing experience.