photography by Bert VanderVeen

Pass over any mountain stream and you’re bound to see them: Fishermen, knee-deep in water, gracefully whipping a line back and forth over the surface. Fly-fishing, as it’s called, is an ancient method of angling that remains one of the country’s top leisure activities.

But unlike conventional fishing that relies on live bait to lure fish, fly-fishing applies the art of deception. Fishermen hand-tie artificially made flies to their hooks in hopes that fish will mistake them for the real thing. Because of its unique approach, fly-fishing takes a lot of practice, and more importantly, a lot of patience to master.

That’s where Jeffrey Wilkins comes in.

Wilkins, a Triad native, has taught hundreds the fundamentals of fly-fishing through courses at Guilford Technical Community College, and also through his own company, Jeffrey Wilkins Fly Fishing. He says people often get the wrong impression about the sport, assuming its intricacies make it impossible to apprehend.

“It’s kind of like riding a bike,” he says. “You’re going to fall down a few times, but eventually, it’s going to work. And when it does, it’s really something special.”

What got you interested in the sport?

Basically, my dad was the first person to get me started. There was a creative side to fly-fishing that wasn’t present in other types of fishing. That really appealed to me. It’s just something that, the more I did it, the more I wanted to do it.

What’s the biggest difference between fly-fishing and conventional fishing?

Probably the biggest difference is just all the equipment that is used. With normal rods, you just press a button, practice a few times, and you’re good to go. It’s not that fly-fishing is difficult once you understand how the equipment works, but it is different in that it requires someone to show you how to do it.

Do you have any helpful hints on casting a fly-fishing rod?

To be honest, the best thing is to get a good book or video. Or better yet, a certified instructor! But if you get on the Internet, you can find all sorts of helpful stuff. Try You Tube or hook.tv. Once you get some basic knowledge, the key is to practice.

Where are some of the best local spots for fly-fishing?

The best spots in the region are probably the Tennessee rivers, the Holston and the Watauga. They’re comparable to anything out West. We have the Smith River in Virginia — the intermediate to expert fishermen really love that place. Then there’s Stone Mountain State Park, which is great for beginners. Those are all in the mountains, so you’ll be fishing for trout or smallmouth bass. Locally though, you can fish for bass, bream — anything that’ll hit the fly. I’d say another place is the North Carolina coast. Saltwater fly-fishing has gotten pretty popular.

Could you describe some of the classes you teach?

At GTCC, I teach a non-credit, continuing-education class. I typically do it five times a year; twice in the spring, once in the summer, and twice in the fall. I also do some classes for the city of Greensboro out at Bur-Mil Park. But instead of several weeks, it’s only one day, which works out better for people on a tight schedule. No experience is needed to sign up. You can call them at 336-373-3802 or visit burmilpark.org for information.

You also do some guided trips too?

I do daytrips, along with two- and three-day package trips of all sorts. Some popular locations include the Holston and Watauga Rivers in Tennessee, but I also go to the Jackson and Smith rivers in Virginia, and the small streams and rivers of Northwest North Carolina.  These trips normally include guided fishing, lodging, and food. All participants need to bring is their gear and themselves. I also do a big trip out West once a year — usually to Wyoming, but also Montana, Idaho, and New Mexico, to name a few. 

Do you have any memorable moments from these trips?

For me, the best memories come from my students. One of my favorites happened pretty recently. I was leading a group on the Smith River — one of the toughest places to fish — and one of my students was able to snag a brown trout — one of the hardest fish to catch. To see her go from knowing nothing about fly-fishing to making an advanced-level catch was so special. It just summed up everything I love about the sport — I thought, ‘That’s why I do it!’

For information on courses and trips, go to jeffreywilkinsflyfishing.com . While there, you can also visit his online shop and sign up for a weekly e-newsletter. To enroll in a GTCC course, call 336-334-4822, ext. 4324 or go to gtcc.edu.