Fly fishing solitude is not something you’ll find during vacation season and most weekends. In today’s climate, with growing pressure on the rivers, it takes some work to find a stretch with no other fly fishers. Yet, it is still doable. Click here to listen to how you can discover more fly fishing solitude.
Listen to our episode “Finding Fly Fishing Solitude”
At the end of each episode, we often include a feature called “Great Stuff from Our Listeners.” We read a few of the comments from this blog or from our Facebook page. We enjoying hearing from our readers and listeners, and appreciate your advice, wisdom, and fly fishing experience.
What do you do to get away from the fly fishing crowds? Post your ideas below!
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Hi — I really enjoy your podcasts. I think I have listened to every one, usually while delighting in a little solitude walking my dog after dinner. I just listened to “Finding Fly Fishing Solitude” and loved it! I think it’s the best episode. I really connected with the value of solitude to recharge and establish a little space from the daily chaos in life. For me, fly fishing is as much about finding solitude as it is about catching trout. I have three primary places I fly fish, and all share solitude as a primary attribute: Every summer my brothers our sons and I drive 5 hours from Denver, then with the help of an outfitter, hike another 2+ hours into a back country campsite in a remote location in a. . . ah, . . . an un-named wilderness area. We spend 5 days fishing at least 6 miles of freestone river, and will usually encounter no one but us. This is where I learned to fish with my dad over 40 years ago, and where my son learned to out-fish me. Second, I belong to a fishing group that has negotiated access to numerous small streams with local ranchers — I pay a rod fee when I go, but end up with access to wonderful meadow streams where we are guaranteed to be the only anglers on a given day. I don’t mind paying, as I also know I provide the rancher with a little income that helps him keep his land, and hopefully maintain fish habitat. Third, maybe a little more controversial, I have access to a stretch of private water on the South Platte — it’s shared with about 30 other people, but I carefully plan my excursions there to ensure solitude — “off season,” weekdays, or late in the day. At least half the time, myself and my partners have the river to ourselves. A half day on the river, where my attention is focused on presentation, seeing the fly, getting just the right drift, is more refreshing than spending two days doing anything else. I just wish my lovely spouse of 31 years appreciated the benefits of (my) solitude as much as I do! Keep ’em coming —
Great to hear from you, Jeff! We love the fact that you listen to our podcasts while you’re walking your dog. Your three places for fly fishing in solitude sound tremendous. It’s a good reminder how you can find solitude in various settings–even on rivers which get more pressure than others. And yes, sometimes you have to pay a rod fee to get the kind of access you need. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Hey guys; been listening to your podcasts and this one struck a cord. I grew up fishing with my father on the South Platte in Hartsel Colo. at a club he belonged to. I do not ever remember seeing others on the river it was just us. And we never were close together. But that was when I was young and I moved to the Northwest and the first time I went fishing here we walked down to the river and there had to be twenty people. It reminded me of a dance as everyone seem to cast at the same time. I was married within a year and kids right away. Fishing became something I did.
But that change last year and I found my solitude, Funny it was with my son who dragged me out to go fly fishing with him. We went to a river only ten minutes from downtown Seattle. I was worried there would be people everywhere, but the 18 times we fished it we only saw 4 other people. Walking the river became something we both luv. We found another close by river east of us and the only things we have seen are Elk, Deer and Bear there. We walk the river spending hour upon hour fishing, jumping each other, but it has become a way the two of us unwind and escape the world. PLUS CATCH FISH
This is a great story, Dace! It’s a good reminder that it’s never to late to resume fly fishing after taking a few years off for whatever reason. It’s also a good reminder that you can sometimes find solitude even in more urban waters. I’ve had the same experience on the Milwaukee River just minutes from downtown Milwaukee. I’ve had a few days where I’ve only seen one or two other people fishing. I’m glad you’re finding this to be a good way to unwind and get away from the normal routines of life.