In theory, fly-fishing is a simple sport: Pick a body of water, choose a fly-fishing rod, select your “fly” (or bait), tie a secure knot, cast your line and, hopefully, land a fish on the other end.

I was casting a 6-weight all night, and I just couldn’t get my line to lay out in the 20 mph wind. In fact, it was so windy we had to spot-lock the bow of the flats boat in the opposite direction and ...