What is it about fly fishing?

[fish0n]

Would you say that there is more of an advantage fly fishing than other methods? And what is it that you like some much about fly fishing? I been watching some fly fishing on TV. I figure it would be nice to atleast have this method as an option in my (present.....very limmited) arsanal. Got some books on hold at the library, looking forward to diving into them. I just wish I was a much faster reader.

[Subtlety]

Well,

The other day I was reading another forum and one guy was bragging about how even though it made fishing 'harder' he still stuck by it because it was an art form.

Idiot IMO..

Flyfishing is by far the most effective fishing method (other than bait) that I have seen. You are actually giving them what they recognize as food (for the most part) instead of something going by that they say 'ooooh.. whats that? I am mesmerized by the colors and flashing.. must bite it'.

Hands down over any other non bait form of fishing, flyfishing allows you to absolutely glean any feeding fish out of a stretch of water.

Not only can you catch many times more fish once you get the hang of it you also get to work on becoming better your entire life. It is cool to watch yourself and see your progression. Plus there is an entire immersion into flyfishing that is difficult to find in other sports. You make your own arsenal of flies and some people go on to make their own rods and the whole bit.

There is real pride in catching your first fish on a fly you have tied yourself. While the amazement diminishes as you repeatedly do it and your fly tying becomes better it still feels good years later.

[TroutGirl]

Hmm, I've been at if for 5 years and feel like I'm finally starting to understand a bit of what some of the really good fisherman do. When I first started I looked for water that I would have tossed a rooster tail in. That was the only type of water I looked at. Basically a deep slow pool where faster water was moving into it from upstream.

I think with fly fishing, I began to learn all the flies and the different types of bugs that occupy different types of water in the river, I realized there are lots more places to fish. I have to fish it differently though. I can fish the fast water, the light riffle, the bank cut, the deep pool, the frog water, the water fall, the log jam.

As I learn more what kinds of bugs live in these different spots, I also learn you have to present them differently to the fish. I'm just beginning to learn how to move up and down a 1mile stretch of water and fish most of all of it. It means I might re-rig several times in a few hours. That's ok. Its got certain joy to figuring out the puzzle. Moving to some riffle stuff, finding the right nymph for what might be tumbling around in that fast broken water for the trout. Picking it out a box with hundreds of options casting and FISH ON!. And once I find the "magic" fly for that spot, being able to pull a few fish out with it, is really a payoff.

I also like how for flyfishing its pretty critical to adjust to the seasons. I didn't have a clue that trout food changed seasonally. I used to just figure worms and minnows. Now I see. I mean I see so much more when I'm on the river. All those little swarms of bugs that maybe I used to bat at thinking they were mosquitoes, cuz they were little. I now see those bugs fly differently, come in different colors, crawl out of the water, and lay eggs all differntly. On any given day the trout are choosing one type of bug doing a certain thing more than another.

Its as if I didn't see the seasons before. Of course I saw the changing leaves, or the flower of spring. Now I also see so many other signs of winter coming from Blue Wing Olive mayflies, to October caddis. The Stoneflies are smaller this time of year. All that was always there, I just didn't see it before. And once I began to connect those things with "FISH ON!!!" it gets more exciting. Its like anyone that sees the vine leaf maple turn red and feels the excitement for hunting season, or fall chinook. In a strange sort of way, you look for signs of the first maple turning, and as it happens you anticipate this other thing that you love. I see the october caddis and anticipate a big fish, trying to pour on the weight for winter, making a huge splashy grab at that caddis on the surface.

Maybe I wasn't a good spin fisherman, I'm not sure. I tended to think there was one kind of water and a rooster tail in two or three colors.

I think I'm just beginning to see there are lots and lots of kinds of fishy water, and hundreds of options in my flybox with several different ways to drift it so that it looks tasty to the fish.

I don't think a flyfishing show really can show that "slow" side of the sport that is also enjoyable. Studying the water, the weather, the wind, the bugs, the fish. Stalking the fish. I think what they show is the universal appeal of "FISH ON!!!" that is spoken by all.

Don't get me wrong. "FISH ON!!!" is a blast. But just like the hunters on this board that go out and study the deer through the year, see the bucks movements, and rest spots, favourtite watering hole, the hunters enjoy that part of hunting very much too. They like to be in the woods perceiving the small details that will make that hunting day a success.

I like flyfishing for that reason.

[skein]

Very, very nicely said, Troutgirl. :applause:

Not much I can add to that - but it sure helped me remember why I do it.

Skein

[Meskel]

Girls dig guys that fly fish.

Enough said.

Meskel

[john montana]

fishon, i responded to you PM, but i'll add my $.02 here as well. not sure if my opinion is worth that though!

i flyfish only, and fish mostly for carp simply because that combination maximizes my fishing experience. my fishing time is precious. i have two young kids (20 months and 9 weeks) at home, and whether i get out alone, or with one of the kids in the backpack, i want to get the absolute most i can out of fishing. for me i get this when i have a flyrod in my hand. i feel more in tune with what is going on around me and more focussed and clear in my own mind. i do not think fly fishing is the most effective. if you really want to catch fish, feed them, don't try to fool them, but fooling them gives me more enjoyment.

that is it for me, i choose the method that increases my enjoyment on the water.

[raptorschild]

I gear fish, and fly fish.

I fly fish because sometimes Gear fishing is a little more mindless and can get boring in certain fisheries.

I like the fly rod because it is more of a challenge.

[SilverFly]

Troutgirl summed it up (as I read it) that it is a process which immerses you in aspects of the river environment and quarry, you would never pay attention to (or appreciate) otherwise.

I also agree with Subtlety that fly fishing can be very effective, - if not the most effective method at times. The only time I feel at a disadvantage is when faced with very deep and swift moving water. There are some spots where the sinking power of pure lead is a must. Anywhere else is fair game for the bug stick!

There is also the simplicity of the sport. Flies are great because they are compact and don't need preservation like bait. A fly box or two, some leader (and maybe some shot) is all the tackle you need to hit the river.

Also, it's hard to be bored fly fishing because it's an inter-active sport. You are constantly reading water, mending line, and thinking about the "lure" in 3 dimensions like no other form of fishing. When you finally do connect with a fish, often it's when and where you expect it, - which can be very gratifying.

[**busyfishin**]

Nicely said TroutGirl......I can't think of anything to add to that. :bowdown:

[NCL]

Both Sublety and TroutGirl hit the essence of fly fishing. As TroutGirl so eloquently stated it is the mental challenge of the game, at least for me, not found in other types of fishing. I also have only been fly fishing for about fours years and I find there is so much to learn that is a never ending endeavor. As I so often say, I am an empty vessel of knowledge, fill me up. There are also numerous aspects of fly fishing, all of which are almost seperate disciplines, such as entomalogy, tying, casting, and the various types of gear and approachs, to name a few. I would also agree with Sublety that when you hit the right combination you can outfish other forms short of dynamite.

[Abalone]

As far as trout are concerned There is no other way to fish for them. I know that fly fishing is a more effective way to catch trout then power bait, worms, Ford Fenders or what ever tactic you want to use. It's more effective for more fish and for bigger fish. I can't even imagine using conventional gear for trout.

As for Salmon and Steelhead etc. I don't know because I have not achieved that same level of success because I don't get enough opportunity to develope my skills. But I am sure it would be a lot more fun to fight a Steelhead or a Salmon on fly gear.

and everything that trout Girl says. ( Right on ). :bowdown:

That trout fishing forum seems so wierd to me.... they never mention the hatch. What's a down rigger ?

[scoutfish]

(IE) Sears crane and cable = Down rigger.:laugh:

[C-lice]

Y'all may want to drum me out of the flyfishing board, but the only reason I flyfish is because there are times (a lot of the summer, in fact) where flyfishing is simply a more effective way for me to catch steelhead than gear fishing is.

I don't match hatches. I know little to nothing about entomology. It means little or nothing to me that Zane Grey fished in and wrote about the waters I fish all year. I don't own anything made by Simms, Bare, Orvis, or Dan Bailey.

The vast majority of my fishing (like 95%) is for steelhead. Probably 90% of that is short little trips after work in the evenings or mornings on the weekends. I go to holes I know hold willing fish. In the summer, I have a better chance of catching a steelhead or two on one of my little trips on a flyrod than I do on bait and corkies, spinners, or jigs. I have caught a lot of steelhead on all of these methods, and there are simply a lot of times when the flyrod is superior.

I understand what people mean when they say flyfishing is a challenge--it is very different to perform than other methods are, and when one takes up the flyrod he or she voluntarilly foregoes a lot of good holding water. But I don't believe that a flyfisherman is disadvantaged, or that being a flyfisherman necessarily means compromising the sheer numbers of fish brought to hand.

[mpruet]

I have been FlyFishing for 2 years after a 15 year layoff of fishing all together. For me, it is about being on the river, learning new water, understanding fish behavior and their habitat and it provides the challenge of presenting something to the fish that they are feeding on or striking at.

It has also presented me with a great way to de-compress from the work week, no matter if I am stalking big game fish or hitting the N. Coastal streams for Cutthroat.

There are days that I come home skunked, as has been the case lately while chasing Coho and others where I will catch 20 Cutthroat over the course of the day.

Either way, it is the exploring and fishing that is the activity, catching the fish is a bonus.

Finally, FlyFishing and I guess fishing, in general, has given me a new perspective on the place that we all live and has really made me realize that with all of the other opportunities there are to fish throughout the U.S. and the World, we truly live in one of the greatest places on the planet.

[Wild Chrome]

Troutgirl's reply is how I think about it regarding trout. I almost never fish with gear for trout. My mind equates trout fishing with a fly rod. Trout eat insects, small fish, so it makes sense to imitate what they eat. Flyfishing for trout is often extremely effective! Plus, trout-size fly rods are so light, they're like an extension of your arm. The casting becomes second nature and it's very graceful. Also, you can cast more times in an hour with a fly rod since you don't have to reel in all the way.

Salmon, steelhead, bass, etc, I'll usually fish gear b/c I think it usually works better and since my time is limited, I really want to catch some fish. Salmon/steelhead do not eat much, if at all when they arrive from the ocean, so matching the hatch is usually not effective. It is more appropriate to think of "stimulating" salmon/steelhead to strike. There are times when steelhead respond well to flies well, but in "my rivers", I know a lot of places and situations where gear will out-fish flies for salmon/steelhead 10 to 1. Also, there are a lot of steelhead runs I know that are great for gear, but near-impossible to flyfish because of the distance between where you can wade and the current lane the fish are in. You may be able to cast to the lie, but fly line falls right to the water, so the current grabs it and whips the fly downstream before the fish ever see it. When trying to get away from the crowds, like on the Deschutes around Maupin, during the steelhead run, gear makes for a much more pleasant fishing experience IMHO, because of all the additional holding water you can access. I usually have certain runs I will flyfish if conditions are right. The fly rod usually serves as my spare/second rod on steelheading trips.

Additionally, flyfishing with anything bigger than a 6 weight rod, to me, is more cumbersome than using a spinning rod. I can catch salmon/steelhead on lighter gear, usually, with spinning gear. The rod blanks on my spinning rods are about equivalent to a 7 or 8 weight fly rod, but can cast farther than and get the lure deeper than what you could flyfish with a 12 weight. My carpal-tunnel doesn't like flyfishing and I have to wear a brace to fish anything heavier than a 5 weight.

That said, I'm planning on throwing my 8 wt for coho tomorrow am...........I know a spot........

Cheers!

[BonkBonkBonk]

It means little or nothing to me that Zane Grey fished in and wrote about the waters I fish all year.
Judging by the fact that there are no runs named after him on the N umpqua, i dont think your the only one who feels that way:P

[Pete]

While there may not be runs named after Zane Gray, there is a significant stretch of river where he named the runs and those names persist. Not that I'm a big ZG fan, but his attention to the sport value of the river at an early time is probably responsible, at least in part, for its continuing value as a sport river today.

[softnose]

The question might just as well be "What is it about fun?" Truly, what any of us get out of it is purely subjective - albeit always on the fun side.
For example, a close friend of mine, a fly guy from Seattle, would regularly come over and throw his homemade along with me and mine in our stocked pond in Suffern, NY. He stalked the big one's with desperate focus. He always caught more and bigger than I did.
His joy was winning and he always won. I didn't care because for me fly fishing is a form of meditation- melding or trancing into nature. Sometimes I resent being startled by a strike - and brought back to the base reality of preparing food. Most times I casted strange sorts, daring only the most courageous or the dumbest to bite. I meditated a lot. (My wife netted those needed for food.)
Indeed, it was soon after that that I gave up, or sort of gave up, sport fishing until thirty years later - this past summer, in fact. I joke that I gave up the fly after giving my trout names. Yes, I treated some of the big guys as pets. (While I gave up "sport" fishing I continued for 20 years to use my 4 weight pack-rod, most frugally, on my annual extended, 8 week, survival walks on the Wind River trails.)
The diverse posts here assure me that the intracacies of the sport, from the tying to the frying, satisfies many varied urges. Surely the competitive one, and both the survival and the creative. So too, studying some of the inventive fly creations, or the artful swirls of the real great casters, certainly the artistic.
But also there is an opportunity, with this most perfect sport, for some to enter and claim a very personal inner bond with the primitive green animate world where peace and calm rule well.
What perfect relaxation.
P.S. I just finished reading an entirely different take on our dear sport, one dealing with heroics, failure and fly fishing "is, of course, faith". See "Snook", The New Yorker, October 30, 2006, p.54

[raptorschild]

Some may disagree, but i don't think Troutgirl hit anything on the head whatsoever with the exception of her own opinion on why she fly fishes.

Why does there need to be an absolute answer to fly fish?

Every single person that has posted a reason for flyfishing has hit it on the head. this is something where no one is wrong.

TO EACH THEIR OWN.

Some like flying because its easier. Some like it becuase its tougher. Some like the ambiance, or feeling of being at one with nature.

Fact is i fish primarily for bass, and have a fishery on a small stream that is so easy to catch some good sized bass. i like to change it up and try to duplicate my success on a flyrod. I took a trip to montana a couple years ago, and fished the galatin, and the yellowstone..etc. and the flyrod was a great time, after i had slayed some 20+ inch browns. The flyrod certainly didnt make things easier, but it was a challenge that i enjoyed.

I do like Troutgirls response, but her reasons are very different than mine, and i find it interesting that some here think there are right and wrong reasons to fly fish.

[Siwash]

Interesting to see everyone's take, but I especially got a rise out of raptors... What is it about flyfishing that compels everyone to ponder what it is about flyfishing? :jester:

I do happen to like it, my 2 biggest reasons being 1) access, in that it opens up some extra nice water like the North Umpqua that's otherwise off-limits, and 2) variety, in that it provides a different set of problems to solve than other methods. But, I do find it amusing how much more impressed we flyfishers seem to be with our pursuit than non-fly anglers.

Granted, I certainly felt quite impressed with myself the first few times I had success on a fly (still do, since it happens so rarely :idea: ), but I wouldn't say it's a fundamentally different satisfaction than I get in other situations where i've finally cracked a new nut, whether it's a different species, an unfamiliar river, or a different technique.

One other thing I appreciate about flyfishing is that flyfishers customarily grant each other a little more space (aside from the occasional horror story from the Deschutes), and I hate feeling crowded on the water.

[Chromaflage]

I like fly fishing because of the pageantry. I can dress up in all my name brand waders, boots, vests and my outback hat. I can look like a real pro when I get on the river.....I'll row up to a spot that looks fishy, pull over to the side, swing one leg over the side of the boat and as my other leg follows, I lose my footing and fall square on my butt with the biggest splas you've ever seen. I'll get up no one will laugh at me cuz I still look cool in my Simms, Orvis, LL Bean, Cabelas ensemble. :help: :laugh:

CrF

[Meskel]

I like fly fishing because of the pageantry. I can dress up in all my name brand waders, boots, vests and my outback hat. I can look like a real pro when I get on the river.....I'll row up to a spot that looks fishy, pull over to the side, swing one leg over the side of the boat and as my other leg follows, I lose my footing and fall square on my butt with the biggest splas you've ever seen. I'll get up no one will laugh at me cuz I still look cool in my Simms, Orvis, LL Bean, Cabelas ensemble. :help: :laugh:

CrF
http://www.ifish.net/board/http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/CFWF.JPG
Like i said Girls dig guys that fly fish:yay:

[AndyK]

For many fly fishers, fly-fishing is about fishing for trout. That is obviously TroutGirl's opinion.

However, I fish for salmon exclusively with a fly rod. From mid-September to mid-November, that is all my fly-fishing. I spent a large portion of my fly-fishing time in June fishing for Springers.

Most fish can be caught fly-fishing. I have a video showing fly fishermen catch catfish on a fly!

Do women like fly fishermen? I don't know, but my wife likes to watch me fly fish, and that is good enough for me!

[TroutGirl]

yeah, I mostly trout fish. That was only my opinion on why I like it. Not trying to be definitive. Everyone likes it for their own reasons. I know very little about catching big fish flyfishing. Made another failed steelheading trip yesterday. Sore shoulder and tired today. I like fly fishing for trout alot. Steelies are maddening.