5 Epic Fly Fishing Fails

Funny fishing videos aren't exclusive to big game fishermen falling off a boat. Fly fishing has always been billed as a gentleman’s sport, a leisurely activity that grandpa used to do - and according to grandma, used as an excuse to drink too much whisky and smoke expensive cigars.

Thankfully, fly fishing culture has changed to be more inclusive, but we’re still a distinctly different segment of the population than most anglers. When fly fishers fail at fishing it’s - well, epic is a pretty good word for it.

From getting flies stuck in ears to breaking a rod while fighting king salmon, the fly fishing world has plenty of its own epic fails. Here are five of them that just about everyone can relate to.

Disclaimer: Some of these videos contain language that is not appropriate for all ages.

Hooked in the Neck

We’ve all stuck a fly in parts of our bodies that we generally don’t want to discuss, nor admit to having done. I’ve been fly fishing for the better part of a decade here in the Rockies, though, and I have yet to see someone hook themselves in the front of the neck like the angler in this video.

Missed it by that Much

When I’m out with my buddies I’m almost always the designated net guy. I’m the youngest (though ironically not in the best shape) and my buddies usually catch far more fish than I do. So, when their rod is bouncing and mine isn’t, I grab a net and run to the rescue.

I’ve become pretty damn good at netting trout - but I’d be a liar if I said I haven’t taken a spill or two like the guy in this video. Props to him, though, for getting back up to net the thing!

That’s Cold Water!

This is what I imagine would happen if the fishing world were ever graced to have Bill Dance throw a fly rod. These guys are in Yosemite (at least, that’s what it sounded like in the video) hooked up to a nice rainbow. The guy with the fish goes to net it, slips, and falls in some frigid-looking water that fills his waders up.

The best part? His rod comes apart but he gets up, puts the rod back together - and still has the fish on!

That’s why we fly fishers say luck is so important in this sport.

Just About Everything

This video has clips of just about every fly fishing fail I’ve seen. From hooking a fishing buddy with an ill-timed cast to falling out of a driftboat, this video is a good example of what not to do when fly fishing.

Like a Bar of Soap

As someone who makes a good portion of his living from writing about fly fishing (it’s nowhere near as glamorous as it sounds, I promise) I relate to this video extremely well. Fish rarely want to pose for photos, and it’s always the really big fish that just never want to cooperate.

I’ve lost more fish pictures than I can count to squirrely trout determined to escape my net and get back to whatever it is trout do when they’re not being caught by anglers.

How many of these fly fishing fails have you experienced? Do you have any that aren’t represented in these videos? Let us know in the comments.