5 RULES of Fly Fishing

5 ways to be a HUGE fly fisherman.
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[@edpeter9411]

I agree 100% with rule number 1. I fish for the pure enjoyment of the total outdoor experience, pure and simple. And stewardship is just as important to me. Well done!

[@BigFishOff]

Pure enjoyment? This guy can't fish without filming himself.

[@seanfisher236]

@@BigFishOff have you seen a KZbinr in real life ???

[@dillonbuhl2921]

@@BigFishOff I have a feeling that's not true, I'm sure he fishes a lot.

[@CONEHEADDK]

The best part of flying is, that it's more fun to not catch anything while fly casting than spin casting.

[@Adroit1911]

Baitcasting can be fun too. Like if you're one of those guys that climbs a tree to get your fly back, you'll probably also enjoy untangling a random backlash.

[@dadeking5472]

Yes

[@goldenretrieverdad]

Yeah ok, says the guy that gets skunked.

[@petechagnon787]

The great Bliss Perry spoke of this in his book "Fishing with a Worm"

[@KellyH6312]

I’m calling bullshit!!

[@kurtfrancis1524]

My feeling of being overwhelmed when going into a fly shop delayed my entry into fly fishing for years. I wish I had met a guy like Ben years ago.

[@stevenm6301]

Same.

[@Respect.The.Grind..]

Lol why, most guys at fly shops are some of the coolest people you’ll meet

[@hobbyoftheday4017]

I got into fly fishing literally only to catch blue gills for catfish bait, I have since caught the fly bug it's a very enjoyable and connecting way to fish. I still like dropping a live gill into a deep river bend for big catfish but seeing a deer hair popper you tied get crushed by a small mouth is a whole different story!

[@theodorerzepski8491]

Agree with not "pounding them". In My state, Connecticut, some guys follow the hatchery trucks. Then catch as many as they can.

[@eixr]

I didn't know fly fishing could be on a pedestal when I started. It was just my dad and me, throwing bass bugs with our $25 and $35 (he had a more expensive rod than me) 1980 Eagle claw and Fenwick fiberglass fly rods from the sporting goods store, cheap ass plastic waders and converse shoes. Banging that fly out 30-35 feet on a good day. An elitist sport? I thought dad was just too cheep to buy bait. Oh yea, he was. I still love the cheap fly rods today. A TFO is as pricey as I get. Had my $35 Gander Mountain closeout special out on Sunday. Catches fish as good as any.

[@jaynesjunction]

Spot on Ben - There is soo much that goes into fly fishing... from rods, reels, lines, tippet sizes, and the vast assortment of flies. I think that is what a lot of us enjoy about it is planning and execution, and the anticipation... at the end of the day, I am happy just enjoying the time out on the water waiting to set the hook.

[@danmassaviol8646]

I delayed for most of my life getting into fly fishing soley for how pretentious it was perceived where I grew up, right or wrong. Upstate NY watershed for NYC, remember as a kid skipping school for trout opening day… good times! I have finally come around to it, as a whole , different type of community.

[@johnmccormack7360]

The Catskills! I know them well it sounds like we had the childhood. I went back last year and fished Junction Pool in Trout Town USA with my cheap fly fishing gear. Didn't feel any different to me. I still love any kind of fishing. Opening Day was a holy day for me and all my friends.

[@frankwestphal4525]

Personally I think fly tying is an art because you’re expressing yourself in the flies you make. Likewise I think the same of people who make their own lures

[@katietrotter9374]

What do your flies say about you?

[@mollett89]

Peeing into the wind is definitely my favorite part about going fly fishing

[@tinkatul]

This is one of the Hugest mindful videos from the Huge channel. Very serious and fun at the same time. I had to pause it every now and then so as to let the jokes "sink" in. One more thing, from the vast variety of fun and well-suited explanatory images Ben uses for his videos, the one from time 2:13 got me really baffled; "don´t use´em to call your mom!" haha was a good one, but seriously, what might have that that guy been trying to do? Looks like an expensive piece of recording equipment there on one side of his face, and a trout on the other. If arty, way off.

[@stevenvalverde9324]

Absolutely the greatest video on KZbin. I'm new to fly fishing and I've tried the craziest things to catch fish. It's just a blast to try everything. I fish every chance I get. Its been the greatest thing, I get so much out of it.

[@tbsomerville5798]

Finally I found someone I could relate with on the water. Keep up the great work!

[@shaunmarshall9638]

Ben, thank you so much for always making your vids, you (yes, you alone) got me into fly fishing late summer 2020 and i will keep doing it until i can't. You rock!

[@HugeFlyFisherman]

Thanks, Shaun!

[@JeremyAndersonBoise]

Dude, this made me proud of and for you, Ben. Shaun, fly fishing is the best decision I ever made.

[@latedinn]

word but I think fly fishing can be a spiritual practice. sorta like you said - helps mental health. fly fishing (not spin reel fishing) focuses my mind and shuts out everything else in my life

[@charleyhendersonj.r.6297]

Finally a fly fisherman that sees fly fishing the way it's exactly supposed to be ...thank you

[@kiviuq1552]

Excellent video. I always appreciate you reminding others to respect Nature without being patronising. Thank you.

[@hgj2019]

Fellow huge fly fisherman here. I REALLY LIKE your rules. I’ll add one…it’s FISHING, not CATCHING. Don’t get bent outta shape when (not if) you get “skunked”. Enjoy the scenery, enjoy the outdoors, enjoy the company, enjoy FISHING. 😎

[@josephclarkson1134]

I thought this was going to be silly, but these are great reminders. Cheers to HUGE

[@gandaulf_fpv6925]

LITE my fav brother, Thank you for the peaceful video in these trying times. Much love Brother.

[@rogergardner7740]

Good job Young man Adding respect to other fisherman upstream from you giving them more than enough space And casting your secret fly to that ausing? Inches from his hands that yells out " what ya usin? And yelling back "take it, keep it" Nice video Roger Gadner Boise, Idaho 45 years fly fisherman:)

[@GS-rj4dq]

Yay Monday! Great video with breakfast..

[@8234catch]

Best video yet. Perfect.

[@mathewneisen335]

I agree absolutely with rule #1. My Brother in Laws, who are spinnrodders, once told me that they don't understand fly fishing. I said I'm just a jerk on one end of the line who's waiting for a jerk on the other end of the line. My setup is just different.

[@chrisheimerl5862]

Outstanding! 👍🏻💪🏻🙌🏻

[@stephencarter7181]

I have watched several of your videos. I am subscribed. Luv you man! This particular video caused me to comment for the first time. Great advice. Especially the end. Yes, barbless hooks, for the trout and to make it easy to pull the hook out of yourself. And yes, where sunglasses or glasses or shop glasses. You only have two eyes.

[@HugeFlyFisherman]

Thanks for watching, Stephen!

[@seanfisher236]

Agreed!!!!!! I live in Northern California and fly fish all over here. And the trash is something els.. My kids and I bring a garbage bag with us everywhere we go fishing. sometimes 3 bags does the job.

[@doggyllama1]

You're not alone, I bring a trash bag and pack out other folks trash too!

[@flyingdutch9818]

Well done sir. It’s all about the vibe

[@np9548]

Awesome video!

[@jasperredican4987]

Couldn’t say it better for rule #1. I think deep down, most fisher people fish for similar reasons, and it’s not to look cool. It’s an escape into nature and you get to interact with some neat fish along the way. It boosts mental health too

[@kymerdeth]

It's still ok to look down on anyone that is not fly fishing, right? :) Love your videos, stay huge.

[@deanc8077]

Good topic sound advice. Ben.

[@francob9303]

Great set of rules, well done and fun! When I was learning fly-fishing in the early 90s, it was referred to as the "quiet sport". Complete opposite to the attitude I see in many of the movies shown at the flyfishing film festival that tour several cities. You catch a fish, not score a touchdown. Thanks again for the great video and service to the fly fishing community 👍

[@kevinkiernanoutdoors3413]

I like rule #1. Some fly fishers look down on the ones that fish with spin equipment. Sometimes they even say mean things to the spin casters. As you said “it’s just fishing”.

[@bpdp379]

Dry flyers look down on nymphers who look down on streamers who look down on euros who look down on….

[@clrobinson1776]

Thanks. I needed to hear that. Fell in love with fly fishing when I attended a Casting Carolinas’ retreat for women cancer survivors. I do feel overwhelmed with all the “trappings of the sports”.

[@zanemasslich2673]

Like your style. Thx.

[@Skedawg88]

Beer in hand, as always. Love it.

[@seanbeck1370]

Shout out MD DNR. Come fish the shad run this Spring and we can light up the poacher hotline together!

[@denelvo]

Those drone shots! I would hike for 3 days through there without having fished.

[@joshduff8989]

No rules: I once had a week of late-summer fishing in Idaho where I noticed I was getting takes on my hopper at the end of drifts. I started swinging the fly at the end of dead drifts and started picking up some nice rainbows. Pretty soon I was basically just swinging my hoppers and strikes increased. It has NEVER worked since.

[@adventureproductions7432]

I do agree big river fishing can be less challenging. But I consider it more sporty or outdoorsy when I am scaling cliffs and physically getting through a stream with no path. By taking bluelining to the extreme up mountain sides. If you're just fishing along a river or in a boat then yeah it's just fishing.

[@tduvall13]

😂 The McCannell ladder dig was clutch hahaha

[@manygates]

pinching barbs, thanks man, best tip out there ..!

[@rushthezeppelin]

"fly fishing is not an art" Me who just learned this summer how to do some of the fancier touch and go spey casts, "and I took that personally"

[@harryurban4219]

Good list . I really like rule number 1 .

[@tomhh9161]

i can't agree more, fly fishing is definitely not an art. It's fun and can be learned by anyone. Characterizing fly fishing as an art makes it less accessible to people who might want to give it a try for the first time...

[@austinelliott2798]

If I cannot be a badass, artist, philosopher, outdoorsman then I have no more purpose.

[@danielburgess7785]

Got tired of bait and jigging. Tried to learn to cast and found out that if it "felt" right it probably was right. Getting everything out of my brain except how it felt there and then. Cleaned out tons of garbage from my (systems engineer) professional life and calmed me the bleep down.

[@Charsept]

3:50 I did see that one coming. I fly fish with bare hooks tipped with fish bites at the beach and half gram Japanese "area" spoons in the streams. If it works, it works. No dogma on the water 🤘

[@nikkh.3510]

Was recently reminded to always carry the sacred tp in my fishing bag 🤣

[@microdolo]

There is a little artistry to fly fishing. Not everyone can do it, even with the best of instruction. But agreed, it's not a Zen thing, it's a fishing method. I love chucking the baitcasters and spinning rods as well. I simply love to fish.

[@ed-jack4124]

Good stuff man. Also, that jackass @ 1:27 needs to be carrying more gear...Jeebus. Looking forward to another go this spring! The pack looks good! (so far)

[@matthewmurphy1882]

Agree 100% but number 1 I have some feedback Some of us may have studied philosophy, could be a philosopher for a living. I think Joe Humpry is a good example. I agreed about the pedestal, but using a form of activity for a type of meditation is called "Transcendental Active Meditation". This is notated in the Analects of Confucius, and also embraced in Kyudo (way of the bow), Bushido (Way of the Sword), Love your humor, and channel! Keep it Huge

[@_nickhill_]

I prefer a hopper under a streamer, but whatever floats your boat! 😂

[@kirkstark3870]

My number one rule is have fun and notice not only the river but what is around it

[@VOGTLANDOUTDOORS]

It's a LITTLE "spiritual". A teeny bit. Sometimes. NOT always. But sometimes. Mostly when you really need it. If you can remember even one time when you saw "that spot" and made "that cast" and hooked "that fish" that was right where it SHOULD have been and you landed him and he looked at you and you looked at him and he said "hey dude, put me back" and you said "sure dude, I was going to anyway."... ... then it was a teeny tiny bit spiritual. ;-) But mostly it's just good clean fun looking cool casting while standing in flipflops in a knee-deep river in the warm summer sun, with people on the bike bridge above you stopping to watch how cool fly casting CAN look... and that's good enough for me. - Mark | VOGTLAND OUTDOORS

[@SanctumOfDreams]

My buddies will ask me “did you see so and so caught 50 fish in this run??” I’m thinking wow that’s… scummy. And those people will fondle all those fish to get long arm shots for fish brain. I really enjoy fishing alone because when I fish with them it’s always “I’m on the board boys catch up!” And give a scoreboard announcement for every fish they catch as if I’m counting

[@williambarrow6127]

I think you nailed it

[@tryptaman4315]

I’m new to fly fishing. Avid bass angler.. live scope and the whole sha bang.. the fish handling and not beating schools to death is something I am not competent at 😂 I’ll catch 100 and move to the next school.

[@tryptaman4315]

With that said. If you ever wanna come bass fish 3 lakes; and 2 rivers in Louisiana/ Texas COME ON

[@mgeiman]

100%! Do 5 more and could have called it the Ten Commandments of fly fishing

[@MikeMarloweMentalist]

Whoa... Wait.. i just grew a beard, got some sweet rio stickers for my rod vault and ordered a moonshine rod to look good next to my tenkara rod for the gram... And now you put this info out there?!! Im so lost man. Nietzsche was right- fly fishing is for suckers. I give up. Im gonna be a chef instead. Gotta go- Tattoo appointment and hair dye appointment. Thanks Ben. Dreams broken.

[@peirules154]

I just enjoy being in the mountains in the fresh air. One day fly fishing. Next day chucking bait and walleye fishing lol

[@jeremycampo5495]

I agree , fishing is just pure fun

[@brianreed3811]

So, I shouldn't target spawning big browns for the cover of American Angler in closed water without a license?

[@poppymonroewild]

Hahaha i love it. It's just fishing. Couldn't have said it better.

[@charlieboutin3341]

Huge! 👍👍👌🎣

[@adamw8469]

I kinda feel morally superior and artistic when I fly fish, especially when I Tenkara fly fish. People are instantly impressed, that’s what attracted me to the noble sport.

[@Spellcheekswammablamma]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@thomasham8892]

Sounds good to me!

[@ronaldfisher222]

Good video

[@joncothranphotography9375]

LOL!!! Great video! Thanks!

[@davejames990]

All good rules especially honor the fish. I rarely touch them. The Ketchum Release works great. Got your hoody Ben. I do Suck at Flyfishing. It calms the trout.

[@jaketippet530]

"In order to appreciate releasing a fish, one must kill a fish."-Lao Tsu

[@ThriftALife]

You forgot the rule that you're only permitted to wear Simms, Patagonia and Arc'teryx.

[@jakeroth3879]

Yep, the internet has definitely fucked up fly fishing….

[@Hrogthar]

A River Runs Through it did that before the internet lol

[@themaddscot]

Yup, as well as my joy of camping / off roading - everyone is a social media film maker or "influencer" these days. Trails are like a movie set... ugg.

[@zekragash4294]

@@Hrogthar I didn't watch that movie until a year or two ago for that reason. My mom had four boys and a couple of years ago, she said it was one of her favorite movies, not for the fishing. I found it in the bargain bin some time later and bought it. Guess who the black sheep was in our family?

[@user-ju6od2uk6e]

I wish I would’ve started watching you a week ago before I bought a moonshine 5wt.!! Oh well I’m already thinking about other wt. rods lol fml

[@EnterNameHere373]

I fish for fun. I don’t use anything crazy expensive. A cheap fly reel and rod works for me. Nice fallfish will fight hard and they take everything!

[@GerdyOutdoors]

Loved it. Dead on!

[@myrlstone8904]

Well said

[@bssaassin1900]

You forgot the beer! You always need to have beer in your provisions

[@standingbear998]

It isn't fly fishing that is on a pedestal, it is fly fisherman putting themselves there. Touching fish or taking them out of the water is not a problem when done properly. Leaving them in the water is good when you can.

[@dakotawright9211]

Bureau of livestock and mining had me rolling haha

[@callenarmbruster4168]

4:03 do they make hopper nymphs?

[@keatonskyles5414]

I like the music. What’s playing?

[@leighblocks1175]

Going barbless is one of the best things I've ever done.

[@mattchirhart9678]

Great tips, I think the last one is the best. Sunglasses 100%

[@natedoggraymond]

As a matter of opinion, I think fly fishing is a sport and an art and I don’t think classifying it as such rules out the idea that anyone and everyone can try it and be successful at it. This is true of other sports and arts, you can try basketball or painting and be good at those too. But they take time to get good at. They take practice. And that’s part of what makes fly fishing such a lifelong hobby. You can simply never know it all, so you can improve indefinitely. I teach my loved ones how to fly fish happily, and therefore have no problem helping others learn, but I do think fly fishing is the bomb and it is a wonderful pursuit of something great. And although it’s not a mystical pursuit, I do think fly fishing takes you to places and situations that really make you learn about and appreciate the outdoors. Therefore, I also consider myself an outdoorsman in part because I fly fish. Also as a matter of opinion, I fish with barbs because I don’t have the confidence to land fish without them. I see the point in crushing them, but I also think it’s acceptable to leave them and aspire to crush them one day. Or to have a few flies for my newbie friends and family to keep their fish on with. I of course believe in handling the fish carefully and ensuring the hooks are removed carefully as well, barbed or barbless. Yes we are stabbing fish in the face, but we are doing so because we have the skills necessary to get them to take a fly. And we can teach those skills to others and share the love of fly fishing!

[@sdriza]

Strawberry wheatie doughballs for carp?

[@tracyb1577]

Happy Huge day everyone!

[@Johntasticful]

TP in backpack so important

[@noblestsavage1742]

I’m undecided on the barbless issue. Everyone says go barbless but where are they getting that idea from? Barbless hooks bite a lot deeper into the fish and can pierce the brain or the eye from inside due to their proximity to the mouth. Barbed hooks don’t do that.

[@deweytarver8985]

LMFAO🤣🤣, Amen Indeed! Good one👍

[@stevenagy5353]

That ladder comment 👌

[@JuliusPlissken]

I will NOT get over myself, thank you...

[@paulowens6838]

I love rule 1. I like to go to Orvis and ask them questions about Centerpin fishing and watch the look of disgust come onto their face. hahahaha.

[@christopherstout9894]

I like you hood collar thing.

[@ryandelaney9236]

I usually have people tell me it's elitist to fly-fish. I've been chirped on the river more times I can count for throwing a fly line. I usually tell them they can give it a shot and they float away.

[@chrissardi2433]

I get that man I fish beside the pin guys it pisses them off

[@christopherjohnson3679]

I’m just glad to hear someone else use the “get over yourself” line

[@themaddscot]

Bam... perfect.

[@Hrogthar]

I think the first rule is a bit of a contradiction to the last rule. Should other people think fly fishing is some mystical art/religion/sport? If that's what they personally take out of it, go for it. If you feel like you're getting something more spiritual out of being close to nature and making a pretty cast, more power to ya. If that's what it means to someone, who am I to take that away from them? Rivers are beautiful, primal places that really speak to a lot of us in one way or another. As well as the fish in them. I think we tend to get annoyed at the new anglers that don't know what the hell they're doing or talking about, yet call fly fishing an 'art' because they see a lot of the masturbatory media made by fly fishers that think they're the next Ernest Hemingway. Even if those guys are super annoying, there's also a lot of old timers that legitimately have amazing stories and experiences that ARE special in a mystical kind of way. Sometimes you just have to parse out what is genuine and what isn't.

[@HugeFlyFisherman]

Yeah, that was the point.

[@Hrogthar]

@@HugeFlyFisherman That's what I assumed. Just adding to the discussion!

[@peters6850]

"Forest circus" 🤣