Article by Robert Wallace
Fly-fishing is a sport that challenges the fishermen's ability to catch fish using his brain as well as his knowledge of survival. If he can catch fish with a pole, a string and some feathers just as his ancestors did, he could survive without modern day equipment. That is true for some fly-fishermen, others like the challenge their own ingenuity.
Challenge: Construct Your Own BoatUsing their own ingenuity to catch fish, may lead some anglers to go to the next step of designing and building his or her own boat. Since boats can be built from a wide variety of materials and designs, constructing your own boat can be quite a challenge. For the naturalist, fishing out of your own boat is the ultimate challenge.
Choosing a Boat DesignDepending on the waters the angler wishes to fish, anglers will have a variety of boats to choose from. However, beginners will want to start with a basic plywood boat design. It is the strongest material and very easy to work with.
Many simple designs will give the novice boat builder experience in material handling and confidence. If you have experience, then check your local library for a designs and materials.
Flat Bottom BoatsBuilding a flat-bottomed boat would be the easiest and most versatile boat for flat waters as well as slow moving streams. This kind of boat will give the angler more stability when fly-fishing.
Like fly fishing, starting out with the basics will make things easier and more enjoyable. Using materials like ply wood will be less costly and at the same time, it will allow you to gain knowledge of the boat.
Do-It-Yourself Bragging RightsCombining the two will give the angler bragging rights and something to show off, even if it is just a simple boat. Just imagine the satisfaction you will receive from building your own boat, tying your own flies, and catching fish using these materials.
Fly fishing, fly tying and boat building will challenge and give satisfaction to the person who likes to be self-sufficient and loves to enjoy crafts. It is through pushing yourself and your limits will keep you physically and mentally fit for anything life throws your way. Additionally, there is no satisfaction like the satisfaction that comes from surviving on things you made by hand.
There is only one way to experience such satisfaction. You have to try to do it all yourself. When you succeed, you will be rewarded with the knowledge that you can survive on your own.
