60 Seconds With Pete Kutzer-Orvis Fly Fishing

This is the third in a series of short interviews with people close to the fishing industry. Today’s interview is with Pete Kutzer, Orvis Fly Fishing Instructor.

 Pete Kutzer doing what he does best, teaching.

(Photo courtesy of Pete Kutzer)

 

If you are new to fly fishing and want to learn the basics of the casting stroke, or a veteran who wants to improve your casting, more than likely you have seen an instructional video featuring Pete Kutzer. In fact, google “fly fishing instruction” and one of the first sites listed is orvis.com. Visit the site and you will find dozens of instructional videos showing all the various casts that a fly fisherman needs. And when it comes to explaining the techniques, no one does it better than Pete. He has a down-to-earth style that is easy to understand, which is especially important for a beginner.

Let’s spend a quick minute with Pete.


Q: How did your path in life get you to be one of the best fly casters and casting instructors in the US?

Well, that is a very flattering question, and I wouldn’t call myself one of the best casters or instructors, but thank you. I can think of quite a few individuals that have taught me so much throughout my career as a fly fishing instructor. I will say that I would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for Truel Myers, the head fly fishing instructor for the Orvis Company, and an honest love for teaching.


Q: Is casting more art or more science?

This can become quite a topic of discussion, but in my opinion I feel it’s more of an art form than science. To make a cast with a fly rod you simply have to move the rod, then make it stop. How you move it is completely up to the individual. You can have really good “wristy” casters as well as casters who use their entire body. All fly casters are artists, our medium just happens to be a rod and string instead of paint and a brush. With that said I think fly casting is more like playing a musical instrument than painting.


Q: You have spent thousands of hours instructing fly fishermen. What one or two areas can most fishermen work on to be better casters?

Without a doubt it’s the back cast, and breaking the whole cast down into two separate casts. If you want to get good at fly casting you can’t get a good forward cast without a good back cast. Watch your back cast, or more specifically watching where your rod tip stops has helped a lot of fly fishermen. I still practice making a low angle/sidearm cast, and lay the line down on the back and forward cast.


Q: Using a golf analogy, some golf clubs are made to be forgiving, so the once a week player can get the most out of every shot. Is there a fly rod, or a tip action, that is more forgiving for a fly fisherman?

Mid flex or medium action rods are more forgiving, and it’s easier to feel the rod load. A softer action rod also bends more when you have a fish on making everything a little more fun.

I find it funny that a lot of fly lines are actually 1.5 to 2 times heavier than the standard. I believe it’s mostly to help load super-fast action fly rods and tune them down closer to mid flexing rods. The stiffer the rod, the more line, or weight you need out past the tip to feel it load.


Q: You are fishing with a relatively new fly fisherman, and you notice they are doing something wrong in the casting stroke. From your years of experience, what is most likely the problem?

I would say working too hard, or moving the rod too much. It’s amazing how well one can cast, far and into the wind, with little effort compared to how hard I’ve seen many people try to get a fly out to a fish.


Q: Does a casting instructor have a bad casting day?

More often than I’d like to admit. Certain fish show up, and I fold like a lawn chair.


Thanks Pete.


Go out and fool a fish!