We are no doubt just starting to scratch the surface of possibilities in working with Artificial Intelligence (A.I.), in all walks of life, let alone fly fishing! Saying that, this is all about fly fishing.
Early 2023 saw me “playing” with some A.I. platforms. Experimenting in as many ways as I could think of at the time, with what was then available. Since then I’ve had my eyes opened to other possibilities and the technology available to Joe Bloggs has evolved at an astounding rate.
Bearing all this in mind here are a couple of examples from my early trials, my results and my own thoughts for them. For context, these experiments were conducted during January 2023. First is the “prompt” I gave to the AI, second are the responses from the AI.
Task 1: – Give me 5 ideas for uk fly fishing in May.
- Visit the River Test in Hampshire: May is a great time to visit this famous chalk stream for fly fishing. The River Test is renowned for its large brown and rainbow trout, and the Mayfly hatch can provide some exciting dry fly action.
- Try Stillwater fly fishing: May can be a great time to target stillwater fisheries in the UK. Many lakes will have had their first stocking of the season, and fish will be active and feeding. Popular stillwater fisheries for fly fishing include Rutland Water, Grafham Water, and Chew Valley Lake.
- Target Sea Trout on the Welsh Dee: May can be a good time to target sea trout on the Welsh Dee. These fish are known for their aggressive takes and acrobatic fights, and can provide some thrilling sport on the fly.
- Visit the River Usk in South Wales: May can be a good time to target the wild brown trout on the River Usk. This river is known for its scenic beauty and excellent fly fishing, with dry flies being particularly effective during the spring months.
- Try saltwater fly fishing on the South Coast: May can be a good time to target a range of saltwater species on the South Coast of the UK. From bass and mullet to sea trout and pollock, there are plenty of opportunities for fly fishing in the salt during the spring months. Some popular locations include the Dorset coast, the Isle of Wight, and the South Devon coast.
Task 2: – What 3 flies do I need for trout fly fishing on a English chalk stream in May?
- Mayfly Dry Fly: The Mayfly is one of the most iconic hatches of the season on chalk streams, and can provide some exciting dry fly action. Patterns such as the Grey Wulff, Green Drake, and Adams can be effective imitations of the Mayfly.
- Pheasant Tail Nymph: The Pheasant Tail Nymph is a classic fly pattern that can be effective for imitating a range of aquatic insects found on chalk streams, including mayfly nymphs, caddis larvae, and stonefly nymphs. This fly can be fished with a variety of techniques, including nymphing under an indicator, or fishing it on a dropper below a dry fly.
- Klinkhammer: The Klinkhammer is a versatile fly pattern that can be used to imitate a range of emerging insects, including mayflies, caddisflies, and midges. This fly is designed to ride low in the water, with the body of the fly hanging below the surface, and the hackle and wing sitting above the surface, creating a realistic profile that can be irresistible to feeding trout.
My Notes
For task 1 it took the A.I. 5 regenerations to get all 5 answers this relevant. They are not up to a standard I would be happy with yet, however they are at least not breaking any rules. Previous 4 iterations had good suggestions, but contained too many errors e.g. 1-2 options that were out of season in May.
Task 2 however the AI came up with all 3 options that would be acceptable and would accommodate the average fly fisher on 1st iteration.
As you can see there is a long way to go. Even with this limited and simple task set, the variance is huge in relation to answer quality. At the moment a degree of your own knowledge is required to validate answers from the AI. It’s easy to further refine results with further prompts and learning to ask better questions. With time and practice, the results get better with you. Rather like your fly fishing😉.
The Future
The possibilities for using artificial intelligence within fly fishing from the perspectives of both anglers and the industry are huge. Trip planning, tackle selection, advice, learning, equipment design, and much more can be taken to another level.
Will it make me redundant? Maybe. However, it’s much more likely to do exactly what many other new technologies have done. That is become another useful tool to add to my box of tricks, enabling me to help people get better at and more enjoyment from the wonderful sport that is fly fishing!