Why do you fly fish?

NCL · 11-19-2005, 05:06 AM

I read an excerpt from Mike Lawson's book "Spring Creeks" this morning about the different approachs to matching the hatch. In that reading there were a couple of statements that got me to thinking about why I fly fish or at least continue to fly fish. I should say at the outset that I am relativily new to fly fishing, about 2 1/2 years, so much of this is new to me. The statements from the excerpt were, "unraveling the complexities of a hatch gives fly fishers much satisfaction" and "it would take more that a life time to learn it". So the question, why do you fly fish?

I will start by saying I fly fish now because of a quest for knowledge about all the nuances of fly fishing. There are so many difference aspects to this sport, such as entomology, casting, knots or I should say "damn knots".Then there is the whole freshwater versus saltwater and all the different species of fish. The more I learn about this sport the more intriguing it becomes, or as I often tell more experienced fly fishers than myself,"I am an empty vessel of knowledge, fill me up". I should add that was not the reason I started the journey down the fly fishing road but that is what it has morphed into.

wishin · 11-19-2005, 05:36 AM

To quote dryflynut from another thread....

"The anticipation of seeing a fish surface for the fly drives me crazy. It's like an addiction."

So well put! About sums it up for me. Something about the constant, yet measured activity working a river or stream. Pursuing, not waiting. It still amazes me to have hours go by and I have not thought about work, world issues, troubles, nada, - not once. Just the fish. Where they might be, and how to fool them.

NCL · 11-19-2005, 05:54 AM

What you say is so true about time and loss of out side stresses. I often am amazed to look at my watch and find I have been fishing for 5 or 6 hours when I thought it may have been an hour or so. I often find as I approach my fishing destination a release of all outside world stresses,of course that is often followed by the frustration of "why are these fish rising and I can't catch them" or "what are they taking".

Abalone · 11-19-2005, 07:00 AM

I have thought about this question a lot and this is what I came up with.

" I fly fish Because it is something very real ! "

Does that make sense ?

It's not watching T.V. or drinking Booze.
You are out there with nature and it's something very real to me.

I can't explain it any other way.

PittsburghD · 11-19-2005, 08:12 AM

Sounds like it all is summed up for me at this point: get away, challenge, rush, peace and quiet, etc... No need to throw in more. Well, other than being 30ish aqnd dreaming about the days when I can retire and do as much of this as I want. This work thing really messes up my fly fishing hobby.

--D

Old Coot · 11-19-2005, 09:33 AM

I fly fish because it is a fascinating (to me) blend of science, art and elegance. The natural environs are the science, tying is the art, and casting the elegance. It brings me peace.

Unfortunately, I have all the elegance of a dancing bear.

rob allen · 11-19-2005, 11:42 AM

I flyfish because I grew up on a river. It's not a passion it's not a love. it's not a quest for anything. It won't make me a better person, it won't give me enlighenment, sometimes it's not even fun. I flyfish because I flyfish. it is life.

gimmeumpqua · 11-19-2005, 05:52 PM

Let me first say that I have flyfished longer than I have gear fished, but I enjoy both. I have always been one drawn toward uniqueness: I drive a Saab, My photography passion is and will always be B&W analog darkroom, I use a mac, I travel independently. You get the idea. Fly fishing fits me. I prefer it because I enjoy the solitude it provides away from the masses. It's a skill that takes years to perfect and a lifetime to master. And you never really can do either.
But what the heck...bring the friends up from wherever and have a party sidedrifting eggs. Just as much fun, but a different game all together. I guess the real difference for me is with gear fishing, the gear is fooling the fish. With fly fishing, the angler is.

Kurt

PTS · 11-19-2005, 08:07 PM

I Probably asked why about 40 years ago. The answer is now just too complex to express. After 60 years, it's just what I do, have always done and never get enough of it and never will.

gimmeumpqua · 11-19-2005, 08:08 PM

.....and how else are you gonna buy a $3000 rod?

11-20-2005, 01:25 AM

To me it's all about what makes me happy and fly fishing is what does that!
I don't care about filling my tag or filling my freezer

It may sound like a cliche but it's all about the experience as a whole and being satisified with where my angling life is as I grow older. To me fly fishing is where I need to be at this stage of my life as far as being contented and getting maximum enjoyment out of my fishing.
No turning back for me so if I occasionally ever gear fish it will no doubt be with borrowed tackle :grin:
No Ryan I didn't pay over $1000

for that Hardy reel but if I could afford it and that is what I wanted then I would have and been glad to do it

NCL · 11-20-2005, 03:19 AM

Some really neat answers.Some made me laugh (the dancing bear, I can relate to that)some made me think. Reading them brought to mind another reason that I fly fish and that is the meeting of new people who share a common interest and for the most part are willing to share their knowledge about the sport.

I did read one comment that I would respectfully say I somewhat disagree with. The statement,"It won't make me a better person". I thought about that statement and at first I thought that was true, then as I thought more about it I thought look at what fly fishing teach you. Fly fishing teaches patience, why else would we stand in cold water for hours (the not fun part). Anger control, if you pull to hard on that fly caught in the tree you are going to lose the only fly you have that is working today. Courtesy, well most of the time with most fly fisher, the ones that are not I chalk up to lack of knowledge. There are probably more but I am about to exceed my one fingered typing quota.

Mitch

The satisfaction is in the journey not the destination.

AndyK · 11-20-2005, 07:39 AM

Quote:

The satisfaction is in the journey not the destination.

That pretty much sums it up

.

Kootenay · 11-20-2005, 10:10 AM

The challenge of out smarting a very smart fish, the excitment of watching a fish rise to your fly, the peace it brings to my soul.

Mugs · 11-20-2005, 10:53 AM

disconnect--connect--disconnect--connect......... it's not really important that it is fly fishing, it just happens to be something I do.

mpruet · 11-20-2005, 01:41 PM

I can't really put into words why I Fly Fish?

It is so many things all put together.

Spending time on the water, exploring new places, see things differently than I have before.

Selecting the right fly, the drift, the swing, the take and then the ensuing struggle and finally, the release of the quary back to his/her home for others to enjoy.

Peace, calm, excitement, adrenaline, fellowship, travel.

All of these things have drawn me to Fly Fishing and it will be that way forever.

Great Question...

SilverFly · 11-20-2005, 07:54 PM

A good, but difficult question with a potentially long-winded and self-absorbed answer (don't say I didn't warn ya

).

For me it starts with the fact that I have always felt drawn to water. It's a beautiful and mysterious environment that has a magnetic effect on me. Fish are no less beautiful or fascinating. As creatures living in water, I have never been able to look at any body of water without wondering what kind of fish live there, how big they are, what they eat, where they hang out, etc... When I discovered fishing (at 4), it was not only a means of satisfying that curiosity, but also a way of literally connecting with this mysterious environment and the creatures in it. As a sport, fishing has (I believe) far and away more variables than any other, giving it almost unlimited mental challenge and an element of adventure that keeps me coming back. While I enjoy all methods of sportfishing, I find that fly fishing is a simpler, more "pure", way of interacting with fish in their environment. Flyfishing also increases the challenge factor by fooling fish purely on vision alone. This forces the fly fisherman to "think" more like a fish and choose (or tie) a pattern that is appropriate, adding greatly to the satifaction of catching a fish. And when a fish is hooked, NOTHING beats fighting a fish on fly gear unencumbered by sinkers, swivels, floats, etc... just you, the flyrod, flyline and the fish! I also love the fact that all I need to "explore" a piece of water is a fly rod, fly box and some leader. No bait, tackle boxes, heavy sinkers etc...

Oh ya, I almost forgot, fly fishing can be a very effective way to fish and IS a great way to fill your freezer! Please don't faint Stew

(JK) ... after all, I gotta eat

and I'm on a budget!

That about covers it.

----------------

melonhead · 11-20-2005, 08:11 PM

It's like reading a great book with endless pages and pictures, but you are reading about yourself and friends participating in the story.
But I mostly enjoy the rise, take, slurp, hard hit on the swing..........

mutt · 11-21-2005, 08:50 AM

It's about the peace and quiet.
The idea of catching fish on a creation that I tied.
And of course the group of people you fish with.

MattyFlavor · 11-21-2005, 09:27 AM

Just because nobody else has really mentioned this aspect, I'll add to the discussion this:

I grew up fishing for trout and bass in east coast lakes. For the most part, the rivers there have been destroyed over the years... and recovery is slow while pressure is still pretty high...

I moved out here a decade ago and didn't fish at all for the first six years or so... (MY BAD!)

But when I did finally bring my gear back to Oregon with me, and when I did start spending time with the rivers, learning the art of tracking the elusive steelehead I noticed something...

Especially for steelhead... the one thing that really gets to me is watching dudes hucking their pencil-lead with corkies, yarn and eggs into the rivers only to eventually break them off and repeat - throwing more lead in, breaking off and repeating... throwing more lead in... okay I'm sure you get where I am going with this. Seriously, there's tons of lead going straight into the rivers that hold steelhead and salmon and it never comes back out. I got to the point in my mind that I don't want to contribute to that any more.

Now fly fishing does not completely eliminate this, what with weighted flies and such, but for me it is greatly diminished, and this offers me a little "peace" to go along with the obsession.

Add many of the reasons listed above and voila! I life-in-the-making is born!

I touched my spinning gear once this past year... I don't expect it to get much attention going forward...

mandinga · 11-21-2005, 10:13 AM

because I love the satisfaction of bringing a fish to a fly. Especially trout.

DAB · 11-21-2005, 04:56 PM

I fly fish because it is another way to fish and I like all types of fishing, Now if only they would make it legal to use Dupont spinners

DAB

Patrick L · 11-21-2005, 07:59 PM

For me it's just more fun to catch and fight a fish on a flyrod. My favorite part is hooking a fish and struggling to get the flyline on the reel without loosing it. Or even better, not using the reel to fight the fish.

NCL · 11-22-2005, 04:35 AM

As I read through all of the replies I reflected that they are all true for myself. One thought that really has not come out is the whole idea of "catch and release" or the fishermans gift to the next fisherman. I have hunted my whole life and truely enjoy hunting but I alway experience a sadness when I kill an animal (no I am not a card carrying member of PETA or any other of those wacko organizations). With fishing, especially fly fishing, the ethic is to release the fish for another day. It gives the fisherman the choice to release and catch again later or take it home and enjoy some great smoked fish. I like the idea of having that choice. Besides when I hunt and kill a deer or antelope they seem to suffer sever ground shrinkage of their horns, whereas in fishing after I release a fish it seems to grow and get longer and heavier in my memory. Mitch

Blue Tip Spinner · 11-22-2005, 05:41 AM

i fly fish because Brad Pitt did in this movie once, and i really liked it and wanted to "be like Brad".

Meskel · 11-22-2005, 08:04 AM

I fly fish because:

I like breathing air to much to continue kayaking (never did get the role down) and I realized I was to old to start kite surfing.

Besides it is therapy. Though I am starting to think that It might just have been cheaper to go see a shrink.

Meskel

mandinga · 11-22-2005, 11:23 AM

Quote:

"catch and release"

In many many years of flyfishing I can only remember a couple fish that werent released with a great chance of survival....no bait fisherman can say that.

I'm sure alot of ifishers catch and release rates are the same

CARTMAN · 11-22-2005, 03:05 PM

learning to fly fish helps every other aspect of fishing. from reading the water to understanding how fish strike to enjoying you environment. Pure as it can get.

cartman

11-22-2005, 07:53 PM

Quote:

i fly fish because Brad Pitt did in this movie once, and i really liked it and wanted to "be like Brad".

Brad is hot isn't he?

TroutGirl · 11-22-2005, 09:00 PM

I fish because I saw Brad Pitt in the this movie, and I figured all you must look just like him. So I fish. So far its absolutely true too! :grin:

TillamookChinook · 11-22-2005, 09:28 PM

Flyfishing is like working out a complicated puzzle in a beautiful place.

TC

Blue Tip Spinner · 11-23-2005, 12:10 PM

that man is hot!!!

you married trout girl? (sentence to be said with a slight smirk and eyebrows slowing being lifted) if not, throw me a pm and let's hook up (pun intended). if so, lets hook up with your hubby and go catch some fish!!!!!

(i wish i had photo shop, so i COULD look like Brad!!!!)

Riverkeeper · 11-23-2005, 12:36 PM

Don't do it Troutgirl, he only catches whitefish!

Blue Tip Spinner · 11-23-2005, 01:10 PM

riverkeeper you are a dirty %*(%&$#^%*(*^*(&%^*& &*(%%*$^%^#*^%$&*( #@$E%^#@@^&*(*&%(&%$%^$^%$ !!!

i held up YOUR fish for YOU and now you say it was mine!!! some people just can't tell the truth... i will