
Images: Jeremy Roberts and Tim Romano. Words: Todd Tanner.
Why are so many of us drawn to fly fishing?
It should be obvious that we don’t fly fish because it’s the easiest way to catch fish, or the most effective. We choose the long rod because it’s more interesting, and more challenging, and because we understand that there’s a direct correlation between the energy and passion we put into our angling and the myriad benefits we ultimately experience.




![Fly casting is the heart and soul of fly fishing. Good casting opens up an entire world of possibilities. Poor casting holds us back and limits not only our success but our enjoyment. When we internalize the principles of casting, we take the single most important step forward on our angling path (photos: Tim Romano [top], Jeremy Roberts [middle, bottom]). school of trout](https://www.hatchmag.com/sites/default/files/styles/preload/public/sot-essay-10.jpg?itok=H4Mv4i_h×tamp=1628691284)













![Newcomers tend to measure success based on very narrow parameters. In reality, success wears many different faces (photos: [from top] Tim Romano, Jeremy Roberts, Tim Romano, Tim Romano). school of trout](https://www.hatchmag.com/sites/default/files/styles/preload/public/sot-essay-18.jpg?itok=Y0xHZWMl×tamp=1628691284)

![Ultimately, the more we put into our angling, the greater our rewards (photos: Tim Romano [top], Jeremy Roberts [bottom]).<p><em><a href='https://bit.ly/3xDkfr2' target='_blank'>The School of Trout</a> holds weeklong classes each August and October on the banks of the famed Henry's Fork in Idaho. Classes are available for both experienced and beginner anglers.</em></p> school of trout](https://www.hatchmag.com/sites/default/files/styles/preload/public/sot-essay-22.jpg?itok=FOrOhrn1×tamp=1628691284)
The School of Trout holds weeklong classes each August and October on the banks of the famed Henry's Fork in Idaho. Classes are available for both experienced and beginner anglers.