Far from the wild rivers, fly fishers gather for free lessons in Reseda Park

Spring was in the air at Reseda Park on Saturday morning, March 15, as a group of eager beginners lined the grassy edge of Reseda Lake, fly rods in hands.

For many, it was their first time holding a fly rod. Some casts unfurled gracefully, the loops extending over the 2.5-acre lake before landing with barely a ripple. Others snapped back too soon or tangled in messy knots, drawing groans from the students.

The lesson, led by three principal instructors from the Van Nuys-based Sierra Pacific Flyfishers Foundation, is free to the public and takes place on most first and third Saturdays of the month from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., weather permitting.

Pro Fly fishing instructors help people attending to learn flying casting Saturday, Reseda March 15, 2025. The event to place at Reseda Lake by the Sierra Pacific Flyfishers Foundation . (Photo by Gene Blevins, Contributing Photographer)

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“With fly fishing, the art of casting is really a very important part of the process, much more than in other types of fishing,” said Marshall Bissett, one of the instructors. “There’s a learning curve. It takes consistent practice to become good.”

Unlike conventional fishing, which relies on the weight of lures or sinkers to carry the line forward, fly fishing works the opposite way. The fly itself is nearly weightless, so fishers use a specialized, thick fly line with built-in weight to propel their cast. This technique requires a smooth, rhythmic motion, making casting a key skill in fly fishing.

“Learning to cast, I often compare it to learning a musical instrument,” Bissett said. “So you pick it up, it feels strange at first, but then over time, you become used to it.”

The Saturday fly catching lesson has been a longtime tradition for the Sierra Pacific Flyfishers Foundation club, which was founded in 1971 to promote fly fishing, conservation and habitat restoration. Instructors hope to spark interest among young generations and introduce more people to the sport.

No registration is required for the Saturday class and participants are encouraged to “just show up.” More information can be found on the Sierra Pacific Flyfishers’ website.