Getting into fly fishing can seem like a pretty daunting task. What type of gear do you need? How do you fly cast? In order to help demystify the sport and make it more accessible to everyone, Patagonia launched the Simple Fly Fishing kit– everything you need, including guide book, in order to get started.
The Simple Fly Fishing kit ($255-$280 depending on rod length) contains a Tenkara style fly fishing rod, box of flies, line and leader, quick set up guide, and a new book by Yvon Chouinard, Craig Mathews, and Mauro Mazzo entitled Simple Fly Fishing: Techniques for Tenkara and Rod & Reel.
Anyone visiting Patagonia stores can also get advice about the best places to go fishing in their local areas, as well as information about tenkara style fly fishing with public clinics to be held in select retail locations in the coming days (there is one being held in San Francisco tonight).
With the Simple Fly Fishing kit, Patagonia is trying to bring the sport back to the basics of non-technical fly fishing techniques. Tenkara is the simple Japanese method of fly-fishing where only a rod, line and fly are used. In the guide book, Yvon Chouinard outlines this method, which he claims to be highly effective at catching all sorts of fish.
You will also learn how to discover where to find fish, at what depth, and what they are feeding on. The book describes the techniques needed to present a fly at that depth, how to make it look life-like, and hook the fish. With chapters on wet flies, nymphs, and dry flies, both the use of the tenkara rod as well as regular fly fishing gear is outlined.
One percent of the sales from the book go to the nature preservation and restoration. In addition, the authors are donating their entire proceeds from the sales of the first edition to the Native Fish Society, the Atlantic Salmon Federation, and 1% for The Planet. Temple Fork Outfitters, which produces the fly fishing rods for Patagonia, is donating $10 for each rod sold to organizations dedicated to river and creek restoration.