Off the Hook: Fly fishing for panfish

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Stormtracker 8 Meteorologist Matt DiNardo was joined by special guest Captain Simón Valencia in the WRIC NOW livestreaming studio today to talk about fly fishing for panfish.

Valencia — owner of Current Culture Fly Shop — talked with DiNardo about what the experience of fly fishing for panfish can provide for novices and experts alike, described by both hosts as “everyone’s first love.”

“We talk about stripers, we talk about shad, we talk about redfish, I talk about salmon, but we all started on that little backyard pond,” DiNardo said.

“And there’s just so many of them, and they pull pretty hard for their size,” Valencia added.

If someone is looking to catch panfish, they don’t have to look far, which is what makes them great fish for beginners, as well as experienced fishermen who just want to have a productive day out on the water.

“They’re plentiful in any of the creeks that empty into the James, they’re plentiful in trout streams in Virginia, they’re plentiful on any smallmouth stream in Virginia,” Valencia said. “If it’s wet and deeper than a foot, there’s probably panfish in there.”

Make sure to check out the Current Culture Fly Shop website for all your fishing guide and apparel needs.

“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, Oct. 2.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRIC ABC 8News.