In theory, fly-fishing is a simple sport: Pick a body of water, choose a fly-fishing rod, select your “fly” (or bait), tie a secure knot, cast your line and, hopefully, land a fish on the other end.

I learned the basics of small water fly fishing from my dad, a former Orvis guide and dry fly purist, who favored the small creeks and streams of western Virginia where I grew up. I used to question ...

Fly fishing at its most basic level is just another technique for catching fish. On a deeper level, it’s both a blood sport and an art form that is partly based around making the act of fishing more ...