New In The Shop: Wild Wander Co. Fly Fishing Collection

Fly Fishing is a popular sport in North America that has history dating back to Japan and Macedonia as early as the 2nd century. It has been the topic of great writers and its long and romantic history was part of the appeal for WWCo. collection. As well as the attunement to our waterways and habit of the species who live there.

Fly fishing differs from regular fishing in a variety of ways. Most notably, the line on a fly fishing rod is weighted and cord-like and on the end are tied on “lures” known commonly as flies.

Flies can be extremely light and made with feathers, mammal hair, thread and other synthetic materials. The heavier fly line is cast both in front of and behind the angler in an almost “lasso” type movement to build momentum for the cast. From there the techniques and gear used change depending on the habitat and fish that are being targeted.

“Fly fishing requires being highly attuned to your natural surroundings - the temperature of the water, knowing which insects are coming out, and attempting to replicate (and in some way become a part of) the subtle flow of nature. I was taken by the intense seasonality of the sport, and originally had hoped to create something of a calendar of the year based on flies. Through my research on hatch cycles of flies I quickly realized this would require something so regionally-specific it would render it a life-long project. It's still stuck in my craw though, and I hope to one day map out the small corner of our state through flies.”

Colorful, whispy, trailing, and flashy materials are tied intricately onto the shanks of metal hooks to mimic invertebrates and smaller fish species that fish make meals out of. Many anglers create their own flies based on hatches of nymphs and other insects in the areas they’re fishing.

“While I started the project focused on the more technical aspects of hatch cycles of mayflies, I quickly became fascinated with the art of fly-tying. Fly-tying is such a unique craft that in some circles it has become completely detached from fishing as its own art-form. Using "recipes" from fly-tying books, "dressers" spend hours recreating Victorian Atlantic salmon flies using exotic feathers and hand-braided silk. These flies will likely never see the outside of a picture frame, but represent the continuation of a would-be forgotten art form.”

Interested in learning more about fly tying? Check out this list of some of our favorites:

• Alvin Dedeaux
• Svend Diesel
• Tim Flagler
• Tom Rosenbauer

Clara adds, “As a calligrapher, I admire the continued practice of outmoded craft of these fly-dressers, but felt relief that the pseudo-science behind the fly recipes was left to history. The Victorian fly was a status symbol, creating the illusion that participating in the sport required a far-flung colonial empire of birds to harvest. Fortunately, fish are far less discerning than their sporting counterparts, but the perception of fly fishing as a sport of exclusivity remains.”