Aspen

The Soundtrack of the Stream: Should You Fly Fish with Music?

| Glenn Smith

Fly fishing is a rhythm. Cast, drift, mend, repeat. It’s the cadence of the river, the whisper of the line, the sudden, electric pull of a strike. But should it have a soundtrack?

Some anglers swear by the purity of silence—just you, the water, and the fish. Others like a little background music, maybe even headphones tucked under a cap, providing a personal playlist while they work a hatch. Is one approach better than the other? Let’s wade in.

The Advantages of Fishing with Music

1. It Sets the Mood

Music can shape the experience. A slow morning with mist rising off the water? Maybe some jazz, something with a little swing to match the rhythm of a dry fly landing just right. Chasing aggressive browns at dusk? Some bluesy rock or even a little outlaw country might fit the mood.

2. It Can Keep You Focused

If your mind tends to wander, music can be a good way to stay dialed in. A steady playlist might help you keep a patient rhythm while waiting for the right moment to strike.

3. It Drowns Out Distractions

Wind noise, distant highway hum, the occasional weekend warrior shouting about the one that got away—music can keep you in your zone and help block out anything that disrupts your flow.

4. It Adds Personal Enjoyment

Not every fishing trip is about hardcore technical casting. Sometimes, it’s about relaxing. If music helps you unwind while you stand knee-deep in cold water, why not?

The Disadvantages of Fishing with Music

1. You Lose Some of the Natural Soundscape

One of the greatest parts of fly fishing is the soundtrack nature provides: the murmur of the current, the slap of a tail, the sudden, sharp rise of a trout breaking the surface. Music can drown out these subtle cues and make you feel less connected to your surroundings.

2. Safety Concerns

Headphones can block out important sounds—like a fast-moving drift boat, a startled bear crashing through the brush, or a buddy calling out a warning. Even just background music on a speaker can dull your awareness of what’s happening around you.

3. It Might Affect Your Fishing Instincts

Fly fishing isn’t just about seeing the fish; it’s about feeling them. Sometimes, you hear the rise before you see it. If you’re locked into a song, you might miss that soft plop that tells you where to cast next.

4. It Can Distract from the Experience

Some anglers fish to disconnect. Adding music—especially if it’s coming from a phone—might keep you tethered to the world you’re trying to escape. Notifications, texts, even the temptation to check the time can pull you out of the moment.

The Verdict? It’s Personal.

There’s no right or wrong answer here. Some days, a little background music enhances the experience. Other days, the river itself provides all the sound you need. If you go for headphones, maybe keep one ear open. If you play music out loud, keep the volume low and be mindful of others who might prefer the quiet.

Because at the end of the day, the river has its own music. Sometimes, it’s worth listening to.

Local Fly Shops: Your Guide to Quality Fly Fishing Equipment

| Glenn Smith

When it comes to investing in  and committing to fly fishing gear, the options can feel overwhelming. From rods and reels to lines and leaders, the choices are vast, and making the right decisions can be daunting. That’s why relying on reputable fly shops, professional guides, and trusted industry leaders is essential for selecting gear that will last and suit your long-term needs.

Expertise Matters

Local fly shops and seasoned guides offer more than just a point-of-sale. These professionals bring years of experience and knowledge, and they understand that the right gear is critical for both performance and enjoyment on the water. Their recommendations are based on factors like local water conditions, target species, and your specific skill level, ensuring you get gear that will work for you—not just for today, but for years down the road.

Getting You Geared Up

A reputable fly shop doesn’t just push the most expensive rod or reel; they tailor their advice to match your needs and goals. Whether you’re a beginner looking for durable, versatile gear or a seasoned angler ready to upgrade, these experts help you find the right balance between quality and cost. Professional guides can also offer insights from the water, sharing what gear holds up in real-world fishing conditions.

Tried-and-True Brands 

Leaders in the fly fishing industry—those brands and manufacturers with long-standing reputations for excellence—should be your go-to for high-quality gear. Trusted names like Orvis, Sage, and Simms have spent decades refining their products. Fly shops often carry these top-tier brands, knowing they stand the test of time in durability, performance, and innovation. There are also boutique brands that are fantastic but come at a premium, are they worth it? Yes they can be, it’s up to you and you budget. Think of it this way,  A Timex and a Rolex are both watches but….

Think of it as Long-Term Investment

Fly fishing is a sport where investing in quality gear pays off in the long run. Reputable fly shops and guides emphasize this point, recommending equipment that won’t need replacing after a season or two. Rods, reels, and lines crafted from premium materials will last, saving you from constantly upgrading and allowing you to focus on what matters: enjoying your time on the water.

Customization and Fine-Tuning

Another advantage of working with experts is the ability to fine-tune your setup. Guides and shop staff can help you choose the right line weight, reel size, and leader length to ensure your gear performs optimally for the type of fishing you plan to do. This attention to detail is something big-box stores or online retailers can’t match, as they often lack the specialized knowledge needed to provide custom advice.

Supporting the Local Fly Fishing Community

When you purchase gear from a local fly shop, you’re not just outfitting yourself; you’re supporting the fly fishing community. These shops often serve as the heart of local fishing scenes, offering educational resources, conservation efforts, and a place for anglers to connect and share experiences. By supporting them, you’re investing in the longevity of the sport itself. Plus, how would a shop in Houston EXACTLY know what hatch is happening in Bozeman?

Is That it?

Fly fishing is a gear-intensive activity, kind of, but by relying on the knowledge and experience of reputable fly shops, professional guides, and industry leaders, you can make informed decisions that will serve you for the long term. These experts not only help you choose the best gear but ensure that your investments are built to last, allowing you to enjoy the sport for years to come. Once you’re set up you’re good to go; but like any interest, your always adding, changing, upgrading, fishing for different species, start fishing elsewhere, or what I like to say, “buying jewelry” because you want to…Trust me 

The Legend: An unlikely true story about personal change and a fresh pair of eyes

| Glenn Smith

The Legend had been guiding on the Frying Pan River for over thirty years, though few people knew his real name. Everyone just called him “The Legend.” His reputation stretched across the Rockies like the river itself—strong, steady, and impossible to rival. He knew the Frying Pan as if it were an extension of himself, every eddy, every riffle imprinted in his mind like a map. Anglers traveled from all over, hoping to catch even a fraction of the trout he seemed to entice on any given day.

That morning, as the light fog lifted from the river, The Legend sized up his new client. Derek was a typical novice—his gear mismatched, his waders still too clean, and his boots clumsy against the rocks. The Legend had seen a hundred Dereks in his day, all eager to impress, all about to be schooled by the river’s subtle demands. So the day began.

They waded into the river, the cool water pressing against their legs, and The Legend led Derek to a deep pool, affectionately known as M1, a prime spot for trout. He figured he’d spend most of the morning untangling lines and showing Derek the proper way to cast. He had his usual speech prepared about committed backcasts and the art of reading the water. But before he could offer a single word of advice, Derek did something that made The Legend pause and mumble, “WTF”?

Instead of lifting his rod in the traditional way, Derek swung it low, almost as if he were side-arming the cast. His line unfurled in a sweeping arc just above the water, not cutting through the air, but gliding along the surface. The fly settled with such delicate precision that The Legend had to blink. The trout must’ve thought it was the real thing because, before The Legend could process what he was seeing, Derek hooked a fish.

“What was that?” The Legend asked, genuinely puzzled.

Derek shrugged. “Just seemed easier than what I usually see.”

The Legend shook his head, sure it was a fluke. But then Derek did it again. And again. Fish after fish. Each time, he made that strange, low-flicking cast, and each time the trout responded. It was like watching someone break every rule of fly fishing… and somehow perfecting the art in the process.

By mid-morning, The Legend was in awe. He prided himself on mastering every casting technique there was, but this—this was something new. Something that seemed impossible, and yet, the results were undeniable.

Finally, The Legend couldn’t resist. “Mind if I give it a try?”

Derek handed over his rod, and The Legend mimicked the cast as best he could, the movement feeling foreign in his hands. It took a few attempts, but eventually, he found the rhythm—the subtle, horizontal flick, the way the line danced just above the water. It was like discovering a secret he hadn’t known was there, hidden just below the surface all these years.

For the rest of the day, The Legend practiced the technique, refining it, testing it in different parts of the river. The fish responded with the same enthusiasm for his fly as they had for Derek’s. By the time the sun dipped low behind the mountains, The Legend knew he had witnessed something that would change fly-fishing forever.

They called it the “Frying Pan Never, Ever Do that Flick,” a name that stuck as more and more anglers noticed The Legend’s new method. He taught it to his clients, and word spread quickly. Soon, other guides were asking him about it, trying to understand what made it so effective. Within a year, it was being used on rivers across the country, revolutionizing the sport.

Though the “FPNEDTF” or the “Legendary Flick” for short was associated with The Legend, he never forgot where it had come from. Derek, the rank amateur for somewhere The Legend can’t recall, had introduced it without even knowing what he’d stumbled upon. In the end, The Legend’s mastery of the river had been challenged by something as simple as a fresh pair of eyes—and it was a lesson he carried with him for the rest of his days on the water.

Finding Purpose: The Struggles of a New Winged Being

| Glenn Smith

I’d always known the water—cool, flowing, sheltering. In its currents, I had spent my days as a nymph, tucked beneath the stones and natural debris. The river was my home, my safety, where I could feed, mature without to much worry. But there was something deeper inside me, something I couldn’t quite name. It had been growing for days, an itch under my skin so to say, a pull toward the surface.

Today, the pull was unbearable. I couldn’t stop it. I tumbled off the stone the had been my home and I broke through the surface, feeling the weight of the water release me, and suddenly I was… light. I shed my casing with much effort My body had grown delicate. Wings—yes, wings—unfurled from my back, wet and fragile like the new dawn. What was this new world above? It shimmered and glowed.

Hope. It filled me. The sky, limitless and vast, whispered promises of something more. I lifted off the water and climbed into the air, wobbly at first but gaining strength, feeling the wind beneath me. I was made for this! The river below me became a distant memory.

But then… danger. A shadow flashed across the surface—silent, swift. A bird, its beak sharp and hungry, dove at me from nowhere. My new wings, so graceful moments ago, faltered. I spiraled in the air, narrowly avoiding its deadly grasp. I felt panic rise in me—what was I? Why was I here? Is this all there is?

More shadows moved below. The water rippled ominously as trout eyes watched from beneath, waiting for me to tire, to fall.

Despair gnawed at my insides. Was I only meant to be eaten? Was my transformation nothing but a fleeting moment of beauty, a brief life in the jaws of some greater predator?

But then, something stirred deep inside me. A memory, maybe, or instinct, telling me this was not the end. Not yet. I wasn’t meant to die here. I had more to do. I felt a new surge of energy, my wings catching a favorable wind, pulling me up, away from the hungry trout and snapping beaks.

I darted between the trees, weaving through leaves, narrowly avoiding another grasp. I could feel it now, a purpose—an unspoken command imprinted on me before I was even born. I had to survive, to mate, to give life to the next generation.

With a sudden burst of speed, I shot higher, soaring into the open sky where nothing could catch me. And in that moment, I knew. The world was harsh and filled with danger, but I had my part in it. I wasn’t just prey. I was part of something bigger, a cycle that stretched endlessly into the future.

I wasn’t afraid anymore.

I found a quiet space, hidden away from prying eyes, and began the final task that I had been brought here to do—laying the seeds of new life.

Tight Lines

The inherent personal IRRESPONSIBLY the river can cause

| Glenn Smith

I know it has been a long while since I have posted a blog here on Glenn on the fly; I am terribly remiss and want to fully apologize to all of you about the obvious lack of fresh content. I take that back, I’m not really that mad about it. Fact is, I have been guiding every single day. It’s been awesome… the fish are eating, the fights have been memorable and I am in high demand (thankfully). I start bright and early and end my day late. I had every intention of sitting down with my MacBook, writing up something inspiring, insightful and hopefully moving…then I get sleepy, sometimes quench my thirst with a tall, very cold one, stream something stupid on Netflix, fall dead asleep by 9pm with my iPhone alarm set at 6:35 am, as it is everyday of the season, to get up and guide all over again.

I love what I do, and not necessarily for the reasons you might think. It is absolutely fantastic to do what I do, especially for a living (and living this life). I constantly meet new people whom all have different fishing skill levels, be it fly fishing or whatever you all call that other kind of fishing… “the kind of fishing created by beer companies and the extruded plastics and barbed hook industry”, respectfully. But the truth be told, I LOVE what I do and what it adds to my life on a daily basis.

For the ease of reading and my predilection for lists, I will regale you with my reasons I feel lucky to do what I do;

  1. First and foremost, it is a beautiful activity to do. What we do takes place in breathtaking places, the motions are beyond poetic and the magnificent creatures we are trying to fool are simply gorgeous.
  2. The “Process” it takes to convince a fish to take feathers and thread as real is real, especially to trick the clever ones. It is not easy to master this sport, those who think it is easy are fantastically misled. A fellow guide summed that mindset up perfectly, “Everyone is a great guide or fisherman when the fish are eating, It takes much more skill to catch them when they’re not”.
  3. There is never ever a bad day on the water…mostly ups and very few downs. If your soul purpose is to “hammer” a ton of fish, you are completely missing the point of why you’re out there in the first place. (I suggest you look back to #1 of this list to refresh your memory)
  4. From a guide’s point of view, my point of view, the clients play an interesting part on this list. Some clients are of course, fantastic, some are far from that, truthfully. Those outliers should stick with pickleball, golf or reading and never touch a fly rod ever again. Simply, it would be inhumane to me and/or the fish we’re trying to catch if they intend to continue. People are very interesting and being out on the water, uncomfortably away from their cell phones, traffic, self importance and their world of comfort, their true colors come shining out. Be it fantastic colors ranging from of an amazing human of depth or the many shades of muddled black or grey of a dark soul. But one way or another their true character comes out for better or worse. I see it through him clear eyes, they become transparent like onion skin and it is just plain awesome.
  5. Joy. Joy on all fronts. Joy of seeing someone “click” and start getting it, doing everything correct, getting results. To me taking joy when they handle the rod with care, land the fish with care and taking joy in the simple fact they hooked a trout.
  6. Last of all on my list, that all involved become so focused on a small PMD dry, pulling a streamer or looking at strike indicator that we all forget about everything else that may be on our minds from the outside world.

This brings me to defend the title of this blog, Inherent Irresponsibility. Fly fishing allows this, welcomes this, almost endorses it in the most positive way. In a way to let the world go, stay completely present, become part of nature knowing you can’t change the flow of the river, nor when you get a strike and realizing that the fish doesn’t give a s**t on who or what you are.

I love this sport not just for what I stated above but for so many countless, intangible reasons. I will be much more diligent in posting on this blog for now on…possibly

Guide Glenn Smith

10 Things I Like To Remember as a Guide

| Glenn Smith

I love my job. I’m a professional fly fishing guide in the beautiful Roaring Fork Valley…Angling on the Fork, The Frying Pan River, The Crystal River and even down on the “Big Muddy” aka The Colorado river. as my mentor, John High use to say. We have so much access within an hours drive, no matter what direction you point.

We are lucky.

During the high season, many of us guides are on the water from 7 am until dark, 6-7 days a week, by choice. As the saying goes, “Make hay, while the sun shines” or something like that. In short, we need to work all we can, it will ineveably slowdown and guide work will dry up. But the inevetable will happen as summer passes by and the days get hot, we all start to get crispy, grumpy, short, sarcastic or more fishing appropiate, salty.

Just the other day I was out with some great people, some neverevers, but still nice people. Our day was strong, really strong, however that caused me undue stress and my temperment to be tested. Trust me, I was pleased with our success, but what triggered me was that the clients thought that this was the norm. They began to make it a compitition with total disregard for the fish and the art in which it took to catch them.

Nothing will set me off more than that. So I bit my tongue and tried to educate the newbies that we’re out here for more than numbers and a InstaGram photo.

This bring me to why I wanted to write a post on the 10 things I believe that all of us guides need to remember. So here we go:

  1. Always be educating all aspect of our sport from technique to etiquette, habitat to knots.
  2. Remember it’s a day of fishing for you, but it’s the clients “big trip” they may only do once a year. They are paying real money for your full attention.
  3. We are to be the example of what our sport coveys: Tradition, Awareness, Problem-Solving, Beauty, Stewardship
  4. Treat the fish with care and respect. They’re not disposable entertainment, they are our business partners
  5. Try to limit photos. There is no reason to take pics of every fish. Truthfully, if you do that it’s kinda sad really.
  6. I love this one. Think of how many “family memories”, stories, photos you’re part of. Daunting if you think about it. We are many peoples “life highlights”
  7. We are ambassadors out there-act like it. Don’t be a dick.
  8. Let things go, literally and figuratively, Release the fish quickly, let go of conflicts, don’t get agro if someone snakes your water, don’t get angry with lost fish, bad clients always go away.
  9. Try to get away from “numbers” as an endgame. Fact is, if you condition your clients to count fish that make it to the net and disregard the ones that “long distant released”, their next trip may not be as successful due to a number of varibles, so it will never produce enough as last time. Remember why your out there. Catching fish is awesome but a memorable experience and leaving happy far surpasses the count.
  10. Be a class act, we have a great job, the best job, that many people wish they could have..

Remember that.

The Day I Remembered to Look Up

| Glenn Smith

When you are out on the river fly fishing, casting, drifting and setting the hook are only a few of the things that need your undivided attention; but what is most important is to remember exactly where you are.

Tight Lines, Glenn

IMG_392120140724-064737-24457653.jpg20140724-064741-24461294.jpgIMG_8474 IMG_8835 IMG_3898 IMG_0295

Lesson Learned, When A Guide Gets Guided.

| Glenn Smith

Montana Float

When a client walks into my shop Taylor Creek Fly Shop in Basalt, I greet them with a “how’s it going, ready to catch some fish?”, make some small talk, get them “wadered” up and load ’em up in my truck to take them fly fishing. This is just business as usual, an everyday ritual. I will be the first to admit that it is easy to take all stuff, the ceremony of this for granted. I am here to tell you first hand, that I have learned a valuable lesson as of late; I do not underestimate the importance of what this day on the river might mean to these clients or shall I say, my guests.

Allow me to back track a week or two:

I just had my birthday at the beginning of September…thank you, and the opportunity came up for me to take a trip to Bozeman, Montana with my beautiful bride to be. If you don’t’ know, Bozeman is theoretically the the center of the fly fishing universe, it is a pilgrimage, a fisherman’s right of passage. I never have been there and was very excited to go. I wanted to earn my stripes.

When the dates of our trip were solidified, I started two weeks in advance to line up a guide, I started to buy bugs from my shop that would be unique enough to impress my guide and have some out of state special sauce that might just be the ticket for those legendary Brown trout and Rainbows from that Big Sky state. I spent time, a lot of time, going though my gear, getting rid of the things that I didn’t need and getting doubles of what I did need. Tippet, leaders, Dry Shake, Hoppers, Mice, Ants, everything. I made sure I had all the bugs I was told by my friends, clients and guides that have been there. I was very excited.

IMG_3630

At my shop, we have a great guy named Rich that lived in Montana, (in his truck, perfect) for a couple of years and offered to mark out his favorite places on a Rand McNally map of where that he love to fish, with add commentary stating “classic scenery with an old barn in field” or “fish the island loaded with Hogs…”. I’m not sure if that was exactly his wording but you get the drift.

I was thrilled to have his insight and a taste of a locals intel.

When the time came for us to catch our very early flight out of Aspen, I looked like a guy taking a fly fishing trip, somewhere else. I had my rod case in hand and made sure I didn’t let it out of my sight, ever. I checked all my gear, twice. I called the guide I hired to let him know that we were still on our way and I would hit him up when we got into town just to confirm that we were good to go. We went straight from the airport to the fly shop to get our licenses just to that out of the way, done and done!

IMG_0302

The point of this article has nothing to do with my fishing trip in Montana, which was epic BTW, but everything to do with being a engaged, hard working, understanding as a working professional fishing guide.

Now that I have been on the receiving end of the service I offer I now I meet my clients that booked their trip with me, as if they were as excited and prepared for their day with me as I was, when I first met my guide, Brett Seng at 6:30 in the morning in front of Rivers Edge Fly Shop in Bozeman. I was absolutely giddy, in the most macho way possible of course. By the way, Brett is the BOMB, hit the link and look him up…

I have seen a number of guides treat the day of work as a day of work. Get in, get out, done. Trust me, I have felt that way from time to time, especially at the end of season, we can get a bit “crispy”… but I am doing my best to remember, I have know idea of my clients story, I don’t know if they are excited to be out there or if it was just a lark to try fly fishing or if this is a fulfillment of a chance to fish in the Roaring Fork Valley. But what I do know, is what I felt when I was a client and not the guide and how everything was memorable. So whatever you do for a living, what you do will always be someones fond memory.

Sweet Brown

As we say, keep those line tight,

Glenn

Be sure to follow me @artofflyfishing on Twitter and Instagram

Famous Fishing Quotes-My Way

| Glenn Smith

Fishing-is..

So many have said so much about fly fishing- so much for this “quiet sport”. -Glenn Smith