Tales of the feather | Kern Valley Sun

Most fly fishermen tie their own flies, and some even have made a good living at it. 

For the ones who don’t tie their own flies or don’t too often, there are those who do and sell a big portion of what they make. However, there is also an “unspoken tradition” for those who do tie their own. This tradition occurs when two fly tiers meet and exchange flies or offer some of their own creations for free. This time-honored unspoken tradition has brought many anglers together. This story is about one of those times.

From the time an angler receives their first fly from a seasoned angler, they know this unspoken tradition will follow them for the rest of their fly-fishing days. So they unselfishly offer up one of their own to someone who happens to be fishing the same water. This tradition carries with it “tales of the feather” that the receiving angler will soon not forget. Here in the Kern River Valley, it is not uncommon for anglers to meet and exchange flies and information.

The time spent on the water is one every angler looks forward to. On the water, their troubles disappear, their worries float away on the wind and their mind is set on enjoying nature and trying to outsmart the fish they seek. They remember every small aspect of that day regardless of whether they were successful. Every time they go out on the water, they always bring back some memory of that day’s events. How the water was moving, was it clear or stained, slow or fast, all of which they remember for the next time they go out.

When they meet someone out on the water, you will always hear, “How’s it going? Doing any good?” The serious angler will always answer the same: “I am just glad to be out on the water.” Then they will most likely engage in some friendly conversation and exchange flies and information. This small exchange has made many a lifelong friendship that always brings a smile when they think back to that time. This time, the anglers were a father and son duo out exploring the Lower Kern River with the two new fly rods they both purchased. Not knowing too much about the river, they were both using some store-bought flies that may catch fish, but not on the Lower Kern River.

The seasoned angler they met carried on that unspoken tradition and offered up some hand-tied flies to try their luck with. Here they both eagerly tied on their new flies and quickly made their offerings available to the fish they sought. It did not take long for both to hook into a good-sized fighting fish. The quiet that nature is known for was shattered by the shouts of joy and enthusiasm from both father and son. This one simple gesture from a seasoned angler will forever be etched into their memories. Carry on this unspoken tradition.