David Coggins, a travel and style writer and author of "The Optimist: A Case for the Fly Fishing Life," shares his unique insights on the life lessons embedded in fly fishing. He discusses how different fishing styles reflect personal stages and traits, emphasizing the significance of mentorship. The conversation highlights the joy of preparing for fishing, the emotional nuances of pursuit versus acceptance, and the shared experiences that define the sport. Coggins also offers practical tips for beginners to embark on their own fly fishing journey.
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Coggins's Fly Fishing Origins
David Coggins, a travel and style writer, developed a passion for fly fishing in his 20s.
He started by spin fishing for bass at his family's Wisconsin cabin.
insights INSIGHT
Fly Fishing Nuances
Fly fishing, unlike spin fishing, requires generating line speed for casting, making it more nuanced and sensitive.
Different fly fishing methods exist, each reflecting the angler's personality and preferences.
insights INSIGHT
Evolving Fishing Preferences
Fly fishing preferences evolve with age and experience, mirroring how other life preferences change over time.
Choosing a fishing method reflects what one seeks from the experience at different life stages.
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In 'The Optimist', Laurence Shorter embarks on a quest to understand optimism by interviewing a wide range of people, including notable figures like Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Bill Clinton. The book offers insights into how different people perceive and cultivate optimism in their lives. It highlights that there is no single way to be optimistic, and this realization can be empowering for readers.
Men and manners
Men and manners
David Coggins
Men and Manners by David Coggins is a book that emphasizes the significance of good manners in today's era of informality. The book is composed of short articles and advice from respectable men, making it easy to read and digest. Coggins addresses specific social situations, such as the use of social media, gift-giving, and general etiquette. The book is illustrated by Chris DeLorenzo, whose dynamic and humorous style complements Coggins' writing. While the book has a particular focus on young men, especially those in the East Coast US, it offers universal advice on maintaining civility and respect in everyday interactions[1][3][4].
Fishing has long lent itself to imparting philosophical parallels and metaphorical life lessons. But these homespun platitudes can, to be honest, tend to get a little timeworn and cliche.
My guest today breathes new life into what fishing, specifically fly fishing, has to teach anglers and non-anglers alike, while also giving us a look inside the skill, fun, and sensibilities of this sport. His name is David Coggins, and he's a travel and style writer, as well as the author of The Optimist: A Case for the Fly Fishing Life. David and I discuss the different types of fly fishing that exist, and what they say about your personality, stage in life, and how we all choose the way we're going to do something. We then discuss the way that pursuits like fly fishing are not just about their mechanics, but the experience as a whole, which includes things like eating hash browns at a diner in Montana. We talk about the importance of mentors, and David's experience with two old guys who showed him the fly fishing ropes. We then get into why men love getting ready for something as much as actually doing it, before delving into the tension between wanting to nab a fish, and being okay when you don't, and how part of growing up is learning how to care, but not care. We end our conversation with the best route for getting into the fly fishing life, and how you can get started in a way that's both affordable and close to home.
The Art of Manliness 
