Some Fish Would Hurt a Fly, That's The Point

Maybe somewhere over the years, you got up at 3:00 a.m., drove out to the Skokie Lagoon, found a quiet spot with a nice view of the water and cast one of those red and white fishing lures that bob up and down when something nibbles.

There's no red and white bob in fly fishing.  

"There is a big fishing community around here and within that there's a decent fly fishing community," said Curt Schlesinger, manager of Trout and Grouse in Willow Festival — a fishing and recreation shop that also offers fly fishing gear and expert instruction.

Fly fishing uses an artificial bate that weighs very little and moves back and forth quickly and precisely to imitate the prey that many fish species eat.  

"Anything will eat a fly," said Paul Melchior, assistant manager at Trout. "There are situations where a fly will outperform the lure."

Some nearby spots known for fly fishing include Skokie Lagoon in Winnetka, Independence Grove in Libertyville, even the south end of Lake Michigan. 

But the guys at Trout don't recommend driving to the lake and casting your fly on a whim. 

"We're still learning the lake," Schlesinger said. 

The business has been around for 37 years, starting in Northfield and moving to Willow Festival about six years ago. 

People who want to learn about fly fishing can get everything they need to get started, including expert instruction and a $120 to $250 starter kit.

"This is one of the most beautiful things that cannot be done electronically," Schlesinger said.

Click here to visit the Trout and Grouse website.