So, when I talked to Jim Strogen (fly fisherman extraordinaire) - a reel (pardon the pun) expert on fishing, a whole new world opened to me. Jim’s unassuming demeanor and casual down-to-earth conversation was punctuated with nuggets of what fly fishing really is and what it can do for a person. Jim said, “What is most appealing to fly fishers is that everything feels bigger on a fly rod. Another important benefit of fly fishing is that the fisher must focus on what they are doing all the time. And there is the creative challenge of accuracy… presenting the fly to the fish.” When he said “presenting,” it sounded like a gourmet chef presenting his specially prepared gastronomical delight to a diner. Jim agreed that the winning touch was finding what tasty morsel the “water diner” would like. He added, “Present a fly that is tempting to a fish that represents their natural food. (For example in fly fishing: a dry fly, the fisher’s fly rides, or floats on top of the water.) 

A fly fisher needs to be aware of currents in the stream, because they also are acting on the fly itself creating drag and impacting a natural float. Different techniques will have different reactions.” I learned about different techniques to help present a natural looking fly. Jim said, “I generally fish my fly below the water. For example, the mayfly nymph is in the aquatic stage for about a year and then it comes out in the adult stage for just 24-48 hours. It helps to have some knowledge of what the “bugs” look like - their size, color, and even how they move, so that you can better imitate the natural bug. To find out what the fish are eating, pick up several rocks in the riffle section of the creek and look closely. When you are finished; respectfully, put the rocks back where you found them so the bugs can continue happily in the stream. If you want to watch them more closely, a white dishpan is a great temporary viewing area.” 

 You need a license to fish. A resident license ($37) is good for one year from the date of purchase. For kids (10-17 years old), a license costs $5 and children (9 years and under) fish free. 

 Where can you find good “fishing holes”? For the trout, Green Valley Park stocks the lakes mid-October to mid-May. This is when the waters are cool enough. The trout is a cold-water fish. If the water temperature rises near 70 degrees or over, this is bad for the trout. During the whole year, other fish at Green Valley Lake are large mouth bass, crappie bluegill, catfish, and white Amur. Though you can fish for it, the white Amur must be released if it is less than 30” inches, because it cleans up the algae in the lakes. The bass fish requirement length is 13” or above. 

 Jim is inclined to catch and release. He pinches the barbs on his hook down, so when a fish is caught and put in his net, the fish flops around and usually unhooks itself. Then, the fish gets to dive happily back into water. 

 Are you hooked with fly fishing curiosity now? Jim teaches a regular fly fishing class through Payson Parks Recreation Department every couple of months. The morning session covers aquatic insects, flies to match the bugs, fishing knots, where to look for fishing lakes and streams, fly rods and reels, and the equipment fly fishers typically use. The afternoon session focuses on learning how to cast, working your fly line, setting the hook, and catching fish with a fly rod. Rods and flies are provided for free. Members of the Payson Flycasters Club/Gila Trout Chapter of Trout Unlimited help Jim coach participants during the afternoon session. Typically, each coach works with two participants. The first half of fly fishing education is indoors and then outdoors for casting, which is done in water about ten feet or less. Jim assures participants that they will catch fish by the end of the day’s lesson. He also works with an after-school program for kids in the 4th and 5th grades at Julia Randall Elementary School and with 7th and 8th graders at the middle school. 

 About mid-April, the crappies come close to the Green Valley Park shore as they prepare to spawn. This is a great time to target them with a fly rod. Green Valley Lake has 15 fish structures in groups of three sitting on the bottom of this Lake (many identified by orange buoys). Kids in the after-school fly fishing program put them together with help from Arizona Game and Fish Department. Payson Water Department provided the funds through a grant for the structures and deployed them in the lake. These structures attract bass, catfish, blue gill, and crappies. They are an important addition to the lake to improve fish habitat and provide better fishing. 

 I see people fishing from boats and float tubes. Jim likes to fish from the shoreline and is very successful. He holds a Masters in Fisheries Biology from the University of Michigan and writes a regular column (“Life on the Fly”) in the Payson Roundup. He has written for Trout - the Trout Unlimited National Magazine, American Fly Fishing Magazine and Arizona Wildlife Views Magazine. His next Fly-Fishing Class is October 9, 2021. Register by October 1st at www.paysonrimcountry.com or at Payson Parks Recreation Office. 

 If you go, may you catch the big one and have a delightful day learning how to become a good fly fisher!