There is something magical about fly fishing, regardless of your expertise
My passion for fishing exceeds my training as an experienced fly fisher and salmon angling guide. Every time I head to a trout stream or salmon river in Newfoundland and Labrador with fly rod in hand, I am presented with an opportunity to learn, explore, and immerse myself in something beautiful, peaceful and serene.
This is the wonder of fly fishing.
The walking trails leading to many of the pools along the rivers are amazing natural wonders on their own. Wonderful green canopies, countless species of native ferns, mosses, trees and wildflowers, accompanied by a cacophony of frogs, insects and songbirds. The earthy smells are amazing, all the more pungent after recent rains.
Greeting the river
For most anglers, exiting these trails and breaking out on the river has its own rewards. I never fail to stop and take a deep breath to become truly attuned to the music of the river. I fully embrace the surrounding landscape; greet the sun with my face; and always am thankful for this place and this moment.
Yet despite efforts to remain calm, the anticipation and the call of the river makes my hands shake and my pulse quicken. Preparing my rod and tying on a fly always seems to take an eternity.

Kastine releases an Atlantic salmon “giant” on the Humber River in Newfoundland.
I carefully scan the river for any signs of fish, sizing up the way the water moves, looking for those spaces where a fish may most likely be resting or holding. Every cast brings a new moment of hope. I cast the fly and follow it intensely as it swings or drifts through the pool. When the cast is finished there’s no disappointment, because I am thinking about the next. I make a new cast and each arc of the line is a reward of hope and optimism.
It’s been said that the definition of insanity is “doing something over and over and expecting a different result”. However, I say this repetition is pure bliss. On any given morning on the river, you may have more than 500 new moments of hope; what other sport or hobby can deliver such a buffet of endorphins?
Now, I’ve met other fishers like me. I see how their eyes smile and gleam when reliving their last outing. But truthfully, those are not the folk I am most excited to fish with.
Rather, I dearly love teaching people new to the sport how to hold a fly rod, to cast, to tie on a fly, to read the water, and most importantly, how best to safely play and release a fish. One of the greatest rewards of teaching & guiding comes when I see a novice peacefully casting on a river in a Zen-like state and then watch that person morph into a fishing zealot as a fish rises for their fly. Watching someone fall in love with a sport is almost as exciting and rewarding as fishing myself. It’s the pure joy of “sharing”. It’s not about the fish!
Other fish stories
Dianne is eight months pregnant with her second child. This hasn’t slowed her down much, however. With a fly rod in hand, we head to the water for a fish. Dianne is relatively new to fly fishing. Her interest though, has been nurtured over the years by our many conversations at yoga and the coffee shop. I would provide photos of the salmon I was releasing and, with Dianne’s artistic touch, the underwater shots were transformed into works of art. As Dianne likes to say, “Fly fishing for me is a mix of an outdoor sport with observation. While on the river I’m in tune with my surroundings. I want to be ‘in the moment’. I enjoy fishing mostly in the morning when the river is still waking up. The peacefulness inspires and influences my artistic style.”
Dianne is a natural with the fly rod and truly at home on the water, gliding up silently to anchor above the pool on her paddle board. With fish showing but nothing taking, I settle down next to a rock and take out the fly-tying vise. While bits of feathers blow gently in the morning breeze, I tie up my favourite Blue Charm fly. She ties it on and fishes down through the pool again. She is definitely in the zone. It’s not about the fish.
- Dianne had a baby girl.
The family that fishes together
My mom Tina, my sister Meghan and I are all yoga instructors. We all practise yoga daily and we all fly fish. The benefits of fly fishing are akin to yoga and meditation. When fly fishing, you are immersed in nature and become very focused on one thought, one task. You are unshackled from your devices, the troubles of yesterday and the challenges of tomorrow. It’s just you in the moment, the hug of the water, your rhythmic movements, and your breath. You have the chance to allow yourself to simply “be”. Be present, be yourself, be relaxed. Cortisol levels drop, breathing slows, heart rate drops. There’s a sense of accomplishment and reward because you have given time to yourself.
As with yoga, we are all in different stages along our fly-fishing journey. I suggest it is a journey to a destination of contentment because there is no pressure to do anything other than enjoy this ride together in the company of family. What is important is that neither of our shared passions come stamped with a defined finish line or best before date and there is indeed something beautiful in that reality.
Tina often says, “Tomorrow is promised to no one”, so heeding her wise words, we set aside some time to head to the river. With salmon season just opened here in Newfoundland & Labrador, it is a great time to get everyone out together. We pick a long section of river that neither of them have been on before, and I show them where to begin. I take a few casts but quietly step back to watch for a bit. This is the first time I’ve been out on the water with both of them this year and the joy we all feel is palpable. Their laughter washes over everyone on the river. No one minds, not even the fish. It’s not about the fish!
Soon the girls will be hungry, so I collect some drift wood and make a small fire on the beach. I’ve been preparing for this day; I boil the kettle for tea—a real china mug for my mom—and set out local honey, some cheese, and freshly-made muffins. We find some smooth rocks so everyone will be comfortable and sit for a snack. That familiar calm washes over me, reminding me again that fishing isn’t about the fish, it’s about the company, and the shore lunch.
Now I’d like to offer you an invitation…If you haven’t been fly-fishing, you just have to try it. Has it been a while since you’ve picked up the rod? Make a plan, the river is waiting patiently for you…and perhaps you have a friend who would like to join you. Share your passion. Bring snacks, your humour and love of the sport and you will all have a great and memorable time.
Local resources/fishing networks
- www.TightLoopsTightLines.com to book casting
lessons & experience based salmon angling packages with Kastine & Terry in NL. - Join the “Canadian Women Fly Fishers” group on Facebook or Instagram to connect with anglers in
your area. - www.NLFlyFishing.com for free advice on fly fishing lodges in Newfoundland & Labrador.
- www.KeepFishWet.org for current, science-based best practices for fish handling and catch and release.