Patagonia founder and local conservationists speak on new simplistic fly-fishing book

The art of fly-fishing has grown increasingly complex over the years as many anglers prioritize gear over technique. Over 10 years ago, Yvon Chouinard — the founder of Patagonia —  teamed up with Montana conservationist Craig Mathews and pro fly fisherman Mauro Mazzo to address this problem in their book: “Simple Fly Fishing.” Now, the trio is back to present another solution.

On Oct. 8, Chouinard and Mathews debuted their new book — which was co-authored by Mazzo — titled “Pheasant Tail Simplicity: Recipes and Techniques for Successful Fly Fishing”.

The book launch was held in Norm Asbjornson Hall and was co-hosted by Patagonia and the MSU Library as part of MSU’s Trout and Salmonid Initiative, which educates people on fly-fishing and its environmental impact, according to the MSU Library website.

The three authors’ first book, “Simple Fly Fishing,” offers techniques for fly-fishing that follow traditional practices. The lifelong anglers believe that all you really need is a rod and a fly, according to a 2016 article by Patagonia.

Through further experimentation — including an entire year spent fishing with a single fly — the authors have another solution to combat the increasing complexity of fly-fishing. In their new book, they tout the ring-necked pheasant tail feather as the ideal year-round material for tying the bodies of various flies.

During the event, Chouinard explained that he and Mathews wrote “Pheasant Tail Simplicity” because they believe fly-fishing is more about action and getting to know the surrounding environment than anything else.

“There are thousands of fly-fishing products out there, and hundreds of companies eager to tell you why theirs are better than the others, but technique and knowledge can replace many of them,” Chouinard said in an interview with the Exponent over email on Oct. 8.

He explained that companies are always trying to profit from new gear or better flies, when really all anyone needs is one fly pattern.

“We have nearly 200 years of fly-fishing experience between the three of us and have learned [that] simplification is the route to perfection,” Chouinard said during the interview. “This book is our way of conveying that message.”

Mathews wrote nine books before “Pheasant Tail Simplicity,” all of which are based on fly-fishing in the Western U.S. and Yellowstone area. In 1979, he opened a fly shop, Blue Ribbon Flies, with his wife in West Yellowstone. He later sold the store in 2014.

Mathews and Chouinard were named Angler of the Year by Fly Rod & Reel magazine in 2005 and 2009, respectively.

In addition to their fly-fishing endeavors, Mathews and Chouinard founded 1% for the Planet in 2002. The organization is a network of businesses worldwide that works to protect the environment by donating a portion of their profits to conservation groups.

Chouinard and Mathews dreamed up the organization during a fishing trip on the Madison River in 2001, according to the 1% for the Planet website.

In an article from 1% for the Planet, Mathews said the organization was created to protect the environments and animals that he and Chouinard love. By creating an alliance of companies, they could make businesses more involved in protecting the environment.

The book launch was supported by local nonprofits aimed at conservation. These included The Salmonfly Project, Upper Missouri Waterkeeper, Cottonwood Environmental Law and the Madison River Foundation. Each organization had a booth outside the lecture hall encouraging patrons to donate and support their work conservation.

“It’s the cost of doing business on the planet. No company, not even Patagonia, is sustainable,” Chouinard said during the interview. “We are all using nonrenewable resources. Once we recognized that, supporting the people and organizations fighting to save the planet became our way of doing something about the footprint we have on the environment.”

To learn more about “Pheasant Tail Simplicity,” visit https://www.patagonia.com/product/pheasant-tail-simplicity-recipes-and-techniques-for-successful-fly-fishing-paperback-book/BK920.html.

To learn more about 1% for the Planet, visit https://www.onepercentfortheplanet.org/.