Off the Hook with Matty D: A conversation about fishing culture in Richmond

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Stormtracker8 Meteorologist Matt DiNardo sat down with Captain Simón Valencia of Current Culture Fly Shop to discuss fishing in Richmond.

“Fly fishing in particular is about connection,” Valencia said. “Because it’s the hardest way to possibly catch fish. There might be a few others — maybe if you just go in and try to grab fish by hand — but the challenge of it is that the kind of fishing we do asks of us to understand the ecosystem in a specific way. It asks of us to know what kind of insects and what kind of minnows are in the system and how they react to hot water and where they go when the water begins to cool down.”

Valencia went on to express further appreciation for Richmond’s waterways and the shared responsibilities that residents have to look after them.

“As someone who makes my life on the water, the biggest most important thing … that came from our independence from the British is that we have the North American conservation model, [which] puts almost all of the water in a public trust. It’s yours, it’s mine, it’s all of ours really,” Valencia said. “It has created a culture where people can go out on the water almost wherever they want to, as long as they have a fishing license, and target the fish.”

“Off the Hook with Matty D” is part of WRIC NOW’s livestreamed programming . Tune in to next week’s show with an all-new guest at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, July 10.

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