Charlie Horn got hooked on fly-fishing more than 50 years ago.
Now the retired biology teacher shares his love of science and sport fishing during a popular beginner fly-fishing class offered through the Lookout Mountain Nature Center.
“It’s not about just catching a fish,” says Horn, who began fishing on the Red River near Gainesville, Texas, as a teen. “It’s about our relationship to the natural world. I teach about water quality and riparian ecosystems, and the goal is for my students to become better stewards of our wonderful Colorado.”
Since moving to Colorado in 1967, Horn has found favored spots along the Gunnison River, the South Platte River and Spinney Reservoir. He started teaching the beginner fly-fishing class six years ago.
The day-long workshop is offered monthly from May through September for $10, and classes fill up well in advance. Today Horn will take a class — limited to 12 participants ages 13 and up — to the North Fork of the South Platte River inside Pine Valley Ranch Park. They’ll spend the day delving into the science behind fly-fishing.
“We start out with aquatic entomology,” Horn says. He discusses how water levels and water quality affect the trout population, and looks at the life cycles of mayflies, caddis flies and stoneflies.
Horn then covers the basics of tying artificial “flies” to replicate different insects for bait.
“We use barbless hooks for catch-and-release,” Horn says. “It’s much better for the fish.”
Knot tying and casting the line are also important skills for beginners to learn. “It’s a very hands- on experience because you are creating your own tackle.”
Students are often perplexed by the casting action required for fly-fishing, which differs from using a spinning rod. As with any sport, it takes plenty of practice to master the correct movement.
“You may have to unlearn some muscle memory,” Horn says. “With a spinning rod, it’s all in the wrist action. But with a fly rod, it’s all in the shoulder.”
After covering flies, knots and casting, Horn takes his class down to where the river feeds into nearby Pine Lake. Students with a current fishing license can practice their new skills for a few hours at this stocked lake.
Horn notes that most of his participants are interested in more than simply frying up a freshly caught trout for dinner.
“Concerned citizens should know what’s happening with our water systems,” he says. His ideal students “are aware (of) the natural world and interested in conservation.”
