By Colleen Kane
Enquirer staff writer

Craig Troescher demonstrates how to cast a fly reel at his Anderson Township home. Troescher is the producer of the cable television program Fishing on the Fly and is involved in a fly-fishing club. The Enquirer/SARAN CONARD

Craig Troescher is having trouble catching fish. He performs the proper fly-casting technique - waving his rod from 11 o'clock to 1 o'clock, back to 11, forward to 1 - multiple times beside his backyard pond, but the hot afternoon sun is keeping the fish from biting.

He apologizes for the failed demonstration - he had caught plenty of his pond's catfish, bluegill and bass that morning. Then he shrugs off the bad luck with a fishing adage.

"Even a bad day fishing beats a good day at work," Troescher says.

And plenty of locals agree.

Troescher, an Anderson Township resident who produces a local cable fishing show called Fishing on the Fly, is a member of the Northern Kentucky Fly Fishers, a group of about 250 members who organize and attend classes, meetings and trips for fly-fishers in the area. Cincinnati's Buckeye United Fly Fishers boasts about 300 members.

Fly-fishing might not be one of the most well-known recreational activities, but there are many easy ways and places in the area to learn it - so you can put your life on hold for a bit and get outside to pit your skills against nature.

"It's serene, in communion with nature," NKFF president Joe Jackman says. "Not as opposed to other types of fishing, just separate from. It's just the way of fishing I find more peaceful."

Some people prefer fly-fishing because it's more active than other types of fishing. The art of casting takes practice. And research is required to properly target specific fish and the bugs they eat. Many fly-fishermen tie their own flies and make their own rods.

"You have to really fish and trick them," Troescher says. "You have to make them think it's something alive that they want to eat. That's the beauty of it."

Getting started isn't hard.

How-to books and videotapes are available for purchase online. Private lessons can be had at local fishing stores, which could run about $50 an hour, Bass Pro fly-fishing manager Tom Herr says. Privately guided tours are also available for around $150 per person per day, Herr says.

But Troescher, who originally tried to teach himself how to cast, suggests joining a club, which can provide newcomers with resources such as casting and fly-tying classes, fishing maps, newsletters and the wisdom of experienced fishermen. An NKFF membership costs $23 a year for individuals, $28 per family, and has activities all year. BUFF costs $25 a year for individuals and $30 for families.

Equipment is the next step, and most fishermen estimated the basics cost around $100. Prices can rise to the thousands for better equipment, but it's good to start cheaper until you know exactly what you like to fish.

All that's left is finding a place to fish. BUFF education director Lou Haynes says, "Within a half-day's drive, you can find just about every kind of fish to fish for, except ocean fish."

Though fly-fishing is commonly associated with trout fishing, there are only two major places in the area to catch trout - the Brookville Tailwaters and the Mad River, Haynes says.

Panfish are more common, and smallmouth and largemouth bass, bluegill, carp and catfish are all popular catches.

Fishing runs year-round, with prime seasons depending on what fish anglers wish to catch.

The type of fish isn't always important, though.

"Sometimes whether you catch a fish or not doesn't matter," Haynes says.

Sometimes, it's just about getting away.

E-mail ckane@enquirer.com