News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Gary Kuch taught the basics of flyfishing to 16 women last week.
More and more women are taking up fly fishing. Last week, Gary Kuch of Sisters made venturing into the fishing waters a little easier with a two-hour clinic held at a home just east of town.
Some 16 women turned out for an hour-long discussion of the art and its equipment, followed by a hands-on session in the pond at the house.
The event grew out of a desire expressed by a friend to have a simple, no-pressure introduction to fly fishing. Kuch agreed to help out. The woman told some friends; they told some friends and before Kuch knew it, he had more than a dozen women to instruct.
The first hour was devoted to discussions of equipment, with a little etymology thrown in. Mostly, Kuch said, he covered what to spend money on and what not to spend money on.
"The rod is the most important thing in fly fishing because it throws the line," he said. "You want to put all of the money you can afford into your rod."
When the group adjourned to the pond, Kuch provided individual, hands-on instruction in the basics of casting.
Kuch said he's fished all his life.
"Sixteen years ago, I took up fly fishing and it's become a passion," he said.
An engineer by trade, he responded to the technical aspects of the art. He and his older brother and father took classes through the San José Fly Fishing Club.
Kuch and his wife, Barbara, visited friends in Sisters and fell in love with the area - and especially the fishing. They moved here a year ago.
"It's a great place to fly fish," Kuch said. "There are so many opportunities, it's mind-boggling, really."
The participants in the class enjoyed it and came away knowing a lot more about fly fishing.
"It was excellent," said Leslie McHugh. "It was informative - just a wealth of knowledge."
Unlike most participants, McHugh has some experience. Retired now, she said, "I've got time now to think about fly fishing."
McHugh fishes with her husband and loves the time on the water.
"Even if you don't catch fish," she said, "if you're on the Metolius, my gosh, that's therapeutic all by itself."
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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