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St. Olaf College Instructor of Kinesiology Scott Nesbit answers questions about the benefits of fly fishing and why it has been a long-running class at the college:

What is fly fishing?

Fly fishing is one of several ways to fish. It is distinguished from spincasting and baitcasting by two things. Since the weight of a hand-tied artificial fly is so light, the fly is cast by the weight of the line, rather than the weight of a lure (spincasting) or bait and bobber (baitcasting). In fly fishing, the cast also includes a backward motion. This forward and backward unrolling of the line is, in my opinion, artistry in motion. 

What are some of the physical benefits and demands of fly fishing? 

Basically, fly fishing can be a ‘kind on your body”  type or a strenuous type of activity. It involves walking, balancing in the stream current, and climbing stream banks. When I was in my thirties and forties, I got a good workout from fly fishing because I walked upwards of 6–8 miles and fished all day. Now, in my late 60s, I enjoy walking fewer miles and fishing fewer hours. I look forward to adjusting how I fish so that I can continue to fly fish for many years to come. “Catch and Release” in the 2010 St. Olaf Magazine Fall Issue covered the physical benefits and demands of fly fishing in more depth.

Another challenge that I embrace is the difficulty of catching the wily and wary trout. They are among the most skittish fish I have ever encountered. If you cast a shadow over them or step in and disturb the water too much, they quickly swim away. Furthermore, trout are very picky. If the fly you cast is travelling down the stream faster than a natural fly would, the trout are not interested.

In years past, former Carleton College president — and outstanding fly fisherman — Rob Oden would come to speak in the St. Olaf fly fishing class. One thing I remember him saying when asked why he fly fishes is that he does it because it is difficult. He said he was not interested in doing something that was easy. I have found this to be true. I have had to use all my wits and liberal arts thinking to catch the rascally trout.

How might fly fishing be mentally and emotionally rewarding or challenging?

Fly fishing is also a mentally challenging and rejuvenating. My friend and longtime fishing buddy, Eric Lundin –– retired social worker and former St. Olaf assistant tennis coach –– refers to fly fishing as a “brain cleansing” and says that the sport has positive ramifications. I agree and find that when I fly fish, the hours and worries of life seem to melt away. Even though they are still there when I finish fishing for the day, I feel more mentally refreshed and have a renewed perspective that helps me face the challenges and demands of life.

Why do you fly fish? 

My fly fishing teacher and mentor, Jim Holden, has an acronym, CANSPEEL, that describes why he fly fishes. I share this acronym with St. Olaf students because I have found these things to be true as well. Fly fishing can teach us many things not only about fishing, but about ourselves:

(C)amaraderie: I love building relationships through fly fishing. We all have differences — things that make us unique. Fly fishing can bring all kinds of people together. We can bond over fly fishing and learn to respect our differences. 

(A)dventure: Oh, the things I have seen and experienced while fly fishing! One such time was when I hiked with my wife and my fly rod to a mountain lake in the Colorado mountains. The last part of the journey led to a snow encrusted path that led to the most beautiful, clear lake full of gorgeous, colorful cutthroat trout. 

(N)ature: The Driftless Area of southeastern Minnesota, southwestern Wisconsin, and northeastern Iowa will take your breath away. Fly fishing and the beautiful places where fish live can usher in feelings of awe and wonder.  

(S)olitude: Fly fishing has been good for my soul. I need times of quiet to hear and discern what is really important to me and what is not. 

(P)atience: In my early years of fly fishing, there were many times when I caught nothing but weeds and bushes. I kept fishing because fly fishing was a good fit for me as someone who liked a challenge and loved walking, being out in nature, and fishing. Now that I’m an experienced fly fisher, I usually catch fish, but I have learned that catching fish is not the main thing.

(E)xercise: Fly fishing requires physical movement. It is a whole body activity that can benefit a person’s strength, balance and cardiovascular system.

(E)at: I practice catch and release, but every once in a while, I enjoy eating the fish I catch. I wrap the fish in aluminum foil with lemon slices, butter, salt, and pepper and put it on the grill for a few minutes. It is delicious.

(L)earning: I have fished for many years and learned so much about fishing and myself. I still have so much to learn. I keep a fly fishing journal. Each time I fish, I write down takeaways from what I’ve learned. It is a never-ending experience that has added so much to my life. I’m grateful that I also get to pass what I’ve learned on to St. Olaf students and others.

How does the fly fishing class help students better understand themselves, whether through discovering new hobbies, connecting with nature, or other experiences?

Teaching the St. Olaf fly fishing/fly tying class has been a wonderful experience for me. Not only does it benefit me personally, but I get to witness the love that St. Olaf students develop for this hobby. I receive emails from former students with stories and photos of their fly fishing adventures. They have fished in beautiful places and have developed wonderful friendships through fly fishing. It has become an important part of their lives. I sometimes get to go fly fishing with some of these former students. These are the kinds of things that make teaching so rewarding. Making a positive difference and connecting people with people through fly fishing — that is an indescribable feeling of joy for me.

About Scott Nesbit

Scott Nesbit is currently St. Olaf Instructor of Kinesiology and a retired men’s and women’s tennis coach. Among the classes he teaches are: the Inclusive Fitness” course for St. Olaf students with disabilities; tennis; racquet sports; lifetime sports and games; and fly fishing/fly-tying. He serves as the faculty advisor for the St. Olaf men’s and women’s club tennis team and the St. Olaf Fly Fishing club. Nesbit is also a member of the college’s tenure task force,  which advocates for improving working conditions for St. Olaf non-tenure track faculty. 

Outside of St. Olaf, Nesbit has played in the United States Tennis Association (USTA) tournaments and leagues for approximately 50 years. He has earned rankings in both junior and adult age groups and currently plays in a USTA 65-and-over adult summer league that has qualified for national competition.

He lives in Northfield and is married to Elaine Nesbit. They have two daughters, Kate ’12 and Stina ’15, both who graduated from St. Olaf.