Amongst the numerous species that are available to chase on a fly, there are some that I would describe as honest. Those in the fishing world maybe familiar with ‘the honest fish’ but I will attempt to define what it means and why they are so vital to fly fishermen. Much like ying and yang I hasten to add there are also dishonest fish. There are certainly a number of species that I have targeted that are downright devious. This second group are the fish of madness that can take a fisherman and warp their minds.
When you work your way up the skill ladder as a fly fishermen, you spend your life trying to become more proficient in the game of cat and mouse. It begins with casting ability, tackle proficiency, and then rivercraft or flats craft. When you first venture out with rod in hand and flies in your pocket, you are hoping that if you can make a reasonable cast with leader and fly attached correctly then there is a fair chance that your efforts will be rewarded with that electric tug on the end of the line, the joy of feeling the rod come alive in your hand, and hopefully if all goes well the connection with that fish before releasing it to fight another day. This is where the honest fish plays a vital role.
In essence an honest fish is one that will reward the angler when they combine their skills to get it right. On a river for example this could be a reasonably accurate cast, a relatively drag free drift and a fly that has not hit the surface like a bouncing bomb. The honest fish at this point will obligingly do what it is meant to do: ascend gently in the water column, sip your offering before giving a good fight that does not include rushing for the nearest tree root or heading downstream under a bridge.
For many this first honest species is a trout. Trout are predominantly honest and if you do your part, most of the time they will oblige. However they do not suffer fools. If your cast is sloppy or you are still fishing with the remainder of a tapered leader from four years ago that resembles a small maritime hawser, don’t be surprised if all does not go according you plan. I would caveat this with the lesser known sub species of trout, Salmo Trutta Demonicus that definitely falls into the devious category I mentioned earlier. You will know full well if you encounter one of these as they will demand only the highest standards. Only flies presented on very long, very fine leaders combined with flies so small that a magnifying glass is required to tie them on may prove successful. Their more common name is the ‘educated trout’.
For those that have had the chance to fly fish in the salt and particularly the flats of the tropics, there is one species that has always been honest and that is the bonefish. Although known as the grey ghost for their infeasible ability to vanish on a flat, generally speaking if you present the correct cast with a reasonable fly choice, a life like strip, the bonefish will reward the angler by easting his offering followed by blistering runs of speed. I was recently reminded of this while fishing the flats of Providence in the Seychelles. Although primarily a giant trevally destination, every so often the tides align on a certain flat that allows big bonefish to slide over the apex from the oceanside and feed on the abundant crustacean life. These fish average some 5 lb with the odd specimen over 10 lb in no more than four inches of water. Fish after fish slid down towards us often following your fly all the way to the rod tip before pouncing and making you hope you have enough backing.
Anglers must beware that there are also some thoroughly dishonest fish out there that will spurn you and crush your spirit. Foremost above all of these is the permit. The permit is highly aware of its surroundings and although you might have made the perfect cast with a fly that has a proven track record in the perfect spot (despite it being directly into the wind) it will inspect your offering and nine time out of ten will turn its nose up and head in the opposite direction. I know some who have fished for years for this elusive species and still not actually landed one. It holds a power over you bordering on obsession and can drive you slightly mad.
I personally also place the Atlantic salmon in this category. After many seasons watching fish behaviour in Iceland I can attest to their lack of honesty, although in their case I suspect apathy rather than a conscious desire to drive fishermen to distraction. The clarity of water and the high rock cliffs overlooking pools allows a unique ability to study how fish react to flies as they swing through. I have seen salmon attack a hitched tube on the first pass, but equally have seen a fish have the same fly swung over its head repeatedly and suddenly decide to take on the 20th pass. I suppose it is this aspect of salmon fishing that always brings hope and keeps us casting.
Fishermen love an honest fish, but I also think that the longer you have spent chasing species on the fly, the more we gain a healthy respect for those species that challenge us to distraction. They are the ones that keep us awake at night devising new tactics and fly patterns that are going to make all the difference. However after a quest of chasing these difficult advisories, it is always the honest fish that refreshes the soul and brings a smile when all goes according to plan.