More than a few transform from a fisherman to one that fly fishes exclusively.
Few can transform back. :|
More power to you!
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More than a few transform from a fisherman to one that fly fishes exclusively.
Few can transform back. :|
More power to you!
Lotech. Your post has produced some interesting comments. Like the others I hope that you will enjoy whatever type of fishing you decide to as that is what it is all about, enjoyment.
I find in ironic that as I have aged I have lost all desire to fish from a boat. I just sold my last boat as it was just gathering dust.
Tim
I spent years commercial fishing, owning/operating my own gill net boats much of that time. Every summer I feel a need to get the nets out and perform needed repairs, clean up the boat, test the engine and gear, change the oil and hydraulic fluids. When I look outside there is no gill netter sitting there waiting for a tune up and no nets stashed in the garage loft needing repair, that era of my life long over with.
This summer I have an invitation from my brother to come out to Lopez Is., WA, my former home, and help fish his reef net gear(http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/commregs/reefnet.htm). I am going to take him up on it and if someone asks if I want to go out for a night gill netting; I certainly will go.
What does this have to do with fly fishing? Nothing and everything. I am the total of all my expericences. To deny the desire to revisit that which has made me what I am today would be denying who and what I am. I am a fly fisherman that used to be a commercial fisherman. This summer I will revisit the commercial fishing side of myself.
Joe, go fishing. No matter what type of fishing it is. Go, and enjoy.
Its a shame not to use all your nice gear. Can I have it? ;o)
All joking aside, I still use spinning gear for a number of situations, but 90% of my fishing is with fly gear. I really enjoy it. Its what I prefer, but sometimes spinning gear is more practical, like when ultra-long casts are needed, and a wide variety of depths need to be explored. In the right hands, I'm sure fly gear can overcome all obstacles. At some point, tweaking your gear and methods for uncommon specific situations can seem laborious and costly.
"The drug is the tug" which means catching fish is fun, regardless of gear.
"I'd rather fool 'em than feed 'em!" In general, I hate having to resort to live bait. But fishing has gotten tough locally, and I've even been pondering the use of some nightcrawlers.
In short, if catching fish is what you enjoy, use whatever gear enables you to catch fish.
Nope! Can't afford a boat...so I'll die with a fly rod in my hands.
Lets not loose sight of the fact that our sport is really called Angling or Sport Fishing. We enjoy one of the few things in life where you can "Have your cake and eat it too". I think Bamboozle hit it right on the head. When I do get to go out I always at least carry a bit of each gear so I can switch off if the urge strikes.
Honestly since the onset of my medical problems I am more prone to enjoy sitting in the chair along the shore or in the boat while fishing minnows under a slip bobber on a light/medium action spinning rig. Is there anything more fun than a bucket of minnows, slip bobber, split shot and circle hook fished over a huge school of hungry crappies? Nope! For putting dinner an the table it is hard to beat live bait but using circle hooks will help you keep up the catch and release option too.
I say do them both, Joe. Enjoy those fond memories of years gone by.
Intresting this came up. I just got back from a family outing at a Lake Erie island (kelly's island). No boat just fishing from the rocks. A fly rod was kind of impractical. Heavy rock structure. Alot of foot traffic behind, No room for backcast windy. My brother and his son were using spinning rods and doing real well. I was not it was kinda useless. Ended up with 2 gills basically limited to parallel casting..My brother offered me a spare spinning rod and I said "no thanks I'm fine" why? I don't know really stubborn, purist, dumb*ss? all of the above. But It made me realize that I need to be OK with it in certain situations for the sake of enjoyment and standing next to my family...do what makes you happy and gets you fishing.
Janus
Joe,
About 80% of my fishing is with a fly rod and about 95% of my fishing is for warm water fish. Nothing quite like a bluegill on a 3wt or watching a bass explode on a popper or deer hair bug. Fishing streamers for bass, bluegill, and crappie is fun too. The other 20% I'm using spinning and casting gear chucking worms, spinners and crank baits after bass. Over the past few years, I've caught as many bass per day on a fly rod as I have with a spinning rod.
Not a thing wrong with spinning and heck, much to the chagrin of fly fishing traditionalists, I've been known to chuck and duck a few plastic worms with a fly rod after bass. May not be traditional fly fishing and some say it's not fly fishing at all and maybe it isn't but it is fishing and that's all that really counts.
No need to try to impress anyone with anything. There's always a bigger fish or a more expensive rod, or a better looking rig. No big deal. Fish, have fun, enjoy being on the water and do it with the peace of knowing what anyone else thinks is their business and what you are doing and how you're doing it is your business.
Jeff
Joe, I forgot to add. If you got anymore Fin-Nor click pawl reels you are going to get rid of let me know. I could use some more of them. Just kidding. Go fishing.......................with something.
Weird, that's exactly what I'm doing right now. C-riggin' with red gulp sandworms catching surf perch all day, I can't explain why but I'm enjoying what I'm doing right now. I also throw swim baits on a baitcaster.
IMHO, there is nothing wrong with it, one day I'll pick up my fly rod and throw flies as well.
Enjoy!