Fly fishing for trout has ruined my fishing!

I live on the Mn border and used to be a walleye and fanatical bass fisherman.
Since really, and I mean really, getting serious about fly fishing about 5 yrs a go I find myself fishing a lot less.
It seems all I have are trout dreams! Sure I've taken the odd excursion...fishing the Namekagon and the Brule. The Nam always skunked me but the Brule, besides giving me a bath once or twice, once gave me a 19" bow and that just made matters worse.
I suppose I could set a goal of a nice 5# + largemouth on a fly but jeez.
The Straight River is the closest fishery to me...$60 and 3 hrs+ round trip. I've never fished her but plan on it before end of season. http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/7519/straight8fs.jpg
Pardon my vent...but just traded some squirrel tails with Greg and when I told him I was a trout fisherman wannabee he offered to send some gill flys instead of the original nymphs...that really hurt! :D

WOW! What a beautiful stretch of river!

Man what I wouldn't give to be able to be standing on the edge of that pool drifting a dry fly through her. Sweeeeeeet!

Hook up!

Terry

:D

Here's the Namekagon.
Beautiful but, for me, colder than a lost love's heart.
http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/7641/nam51ok.jpg

I'm curious. Why do you seek trout when you have some pretty neat other species nearby?

In my case, I can use flies to go after other species down here at only about 5500 feet, or go up into the mountains to fish for trout. I go after the trout mostly because they live in the most beautiful and peaceful places, not because I prefer catching them to other species. I C&R everything caught, so flavor is not an issue.

Namekagon,

I'll admit trout are fun to catch, but I'd not walk across the road to catch them if I lived within an hours drive of a smallmouth fishery.

You have some outstanding bass waters near you, and smallies on the fly are a true joy.

I understand that the smallies are more difficult to fool, they are, after all, more evolved than the salmonids and we all like dumb fish, but it's well worth the effort.

I'd just forget about trout, fish for the bass, be happy.

Just goes to show that we seem to want what's not 'close' to us. I'd sell the kid for access to fishing like you have up there (without that awful white stuff, though, I don't do snow).

Good Luck!

Buddy

ps; tie a 12 inch smallmouth tail to tail with a 20 inch trout, the trout will have to learn to swin backwards.....BS

Guys...an obvious addiction that I can't quite explain.
Maybe I've read to many of the classics.
I'm definitely not trying to be an elitist! :lol:
In fact my wife was telling me just the other day that huge bullheads are taking bread off a duck pond in the city park not three blocks down.
I've been thinking a brown bivis....my 1st bull on the fly...and surface besides.
If I succeed, I'll post a photo.
True story...not trying to be a facetious.
Smallies...yes wonderful smallies... unfortunately, river fishing from me as far as trout. :(

Do you fish for Bass and Walleye on the fly? I live in trout country and still make sure I take the time for some Bass fishing as well. Each species is different and has different joys.
For me, Striped Bass is like your trout. Something to be looking forward to. A 2 ~ 3 hour ride to fish for them. Its great fun, but enjoy whats nearby too.

jed

Hey there Nam,
I share your sentiments. For me also, if it ain't trout, it ain't worth it. AND, if the water doesn't move, I do.
I consider that a statement and NOT a sermon. Others may differ.


Mark


Trout must be God's favorite fish because He put them into His most beautiful waters.

Nam,
I live over the river in WI and have 4 trout streams within 20 miles of my house. I barely fish for trout. SMALLMOUTH BASS! You live a short drive from both the Ottertail and the Mississippi. Give it a try. A 20 inch river smallie will cure you of this trout nonsense.

Steve in the spirit of fun;

The 20" bass will cure you of this trout nonsense

The subtle take of a trout sipping an emerger will cure you of this bass nonbsense

The fight of a bass will ...

The beauty of a brookie in fall fall color will ...

If you've ever seen a pike run up to and devour a fly...

If you've ever experienced a Striper make your reel sing...

After a pan full of Perch you'll never fish for anything else...

Pound for Pound the Blue Gill will match any fish...

Hook a Salmon and watch the show. After that all other fights are mundane ...

and on and on and on...

I want it ALL!

jed

Ok Jed, ya got me!
I still like to trout fish but I don't like fighting crowds to catch 10-12" browns. In MN, the smallmouth bass is practically a trash fish as everyone is chasing walleyes. I have spent a whole day floating the mississippi or st croix river and not seen another smallie fisherman. We have wonderful smallie fishing in the upper midwest.
BUT, you are right - it is all good!

Im the opposite. Bass fishing (with gear even :shock: ) is ruining my trout fishing.

Dear namekagon,

I guess I'm just the opposite. I enjoy trout fishing and do it through the Spring, Fall, and Winter.

During the Summer I am a bass and warmwater fly fisherman. I simply don't think about trout from late June until late September.

I finally got back on a trout stream this weekend and my first few attempts at casting a 7 1/2 foot 5 weight bamboo were pretty pathetic. It had been 3 months since I cast anything lighter than a fast action 7 or 8 weight and it showed.

It didn't take but about 10 minutes to get back in the groove though. Saturday I did well on a creek that I had never had much success with. I guess not having the variety of fishing would get to me.

My advice to you is to give the Fall bass fishing a try and forget about about the trout, you'll be glad you did.

Best Wishes,
Avalon :D

Wow, this is one of my most favorite threads in all the years I've been here. It is fun to read passionate tributes to fish of all species, including trout. I grew up a warmwater fly guy in the NEMO farm ponds, gravitated to Colorado and some trout fishing and never really caught the passion. I suppose this is why I try my best to educate non-fly fishers on the joys of our sport . . . for warmwater fisheries. It's all around us here in MN and is a completely untapped resource and sport. JGW

To me passing up one species for another or one type of water for another is like cutting off your nose to spite your face. :shock:

If you like to fish for walleye, THE best tasting fresh water fish there is, think about this: Full moon lit night, shallows of lake or river filled with bait fish, muddler minnow on a fly line equals line stripping, reel burning, rod bending walleye! :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Avalon

My advice to you is to give the Fall bass fishing a try and forget about about the trout, you'll be glad you did.

Best Wishes,
Avalon :D

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Hi Avalon
You know I've always listened to you. :lol: :)
Thanks for the reality slap guys. I needed that! Come to think of it there's suppose to be a pretty good small mouth stretch on the Cheyenne, out below Fort Ransom, no one fishes..........
Tight lines everyone!

namekagon:

I am a Minnesotan, ja sur, yah betcha, by jimidy! I got one word to say about this Trout Dream nonsense.

KWITCHURBELLYACKEN!

You live in the "Land of 10,000 Lakes"(actually there are 15,453 lakes, but if we put that on our car license plate, who would believe us?)! We also have over 9.000 miles of wonderful rivers and streams full of fish (some even have trout, but who cares about those namsey pamsey thing any how?}. Fish for Smallmouth Bass, and be happy you can, many cannot and wish they could! I use size 8 salmon hooks fly patterns for Smallmouth Bass, and they really seem to go for them big time. They do not seem to mind that the fly pattern are for Salmon or Steelheads. Now go out there and catch some Smallmouth Bass, only couple days left in the Bass Season, and it is a long time until Bass Opener!

:wink: ~Parnelli

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Steven H. McGarthwaite

namekagon:

I am a Minnesotan, ja sur, yah betcha, by jimidy! I got one word to say about this Trout Dream nonsense.

KWITCHURBELLYACKEN!

You live in the "Land of 10,000 Lakes"(actually there are 15,453 lakes, but if we put that on our car license plate, who would believe us?)! We also have over 9.000 miles of wonderful rivers and streams full of fish (some even have trout, but who cares about those namsey pamsey thing any how?}. Fish for Smallmouth Bass, and be happy you can, many cannot and wish they could! I use size 8 salmon hooks fly patterns for Smallmouth Bass, and they really seem to go for them big time. They do not seem to mind that the fly pattern are for Salmon or Steelheads. Now go out there and catch some Smallmouth Bass, only couple days left in the Bass Season, and it is a long time until Bass Opener!

:wink: ~Parnelli

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Jeez Steven...thought I addressed that in my my last post? I don't mind a reality slap...but a mugging????

Nam:

Your post has clearly tapped some deep-seated emotions and passions, especially among the pragmatists in our midst who have provided you with many fine, practical solutions for your dilemma. But they miss the point.

What we have here is a romantic obsession with fly fishing for trout (as a psychologist, I choose those terms carefully.) I know about it personally, for I have the same malady. When I started fly fishing ten years ago, I found a trout stream that was a four hour round trip from my house and made day trips there at least once a week. When I lived in Chicago, it was a seven hour round trip to the Driftless Area of Wisconsin, and I made several day or two day trips up there whenever I could get free and find someone to go along.

Earlier this month, I had a meeting in the Twin Cities, but scheduled my trip so I could arrive early and made the five hour round trip to SE Minnesota to fish the spring creeks down there. And earlier this summer, I took 12 flights over four days (round trip) to get to fly fish for lake trout and Arctic char in the high Arctic.

So while your obsession may seem impractical to others and while it may "hurt so good," like puppy love, you are not alone. Are we "normal"? Even as a psychologist, I hesitate to make that diagnosis.

It may not be a sermon, Marco.... but Amen anyway!

I just love flyfishing....for any & all species. They are all different, & they all have an appeal of their own. Anyone who prefers just one species certainly has that right, but I like 'em all!
Mike

http://www.uppermidwestflyfishing.co...m/IMG_0215.JPG


I agree with Mick in principle but i would go one further and say maybe it can't be explained.

I'm a michigan boy who has found himself living in downtown Chicago. I have some terrific smallmouth fishing (which i do like) about 45 minutes away. I can count on one hand the times i've went. However, most every weekend i'm either headed 4 hours into Michigan or Wisconsin to chase trout. My girlfriend consistantly asks me "why do you drive so far to catch little fish"...i'm not sure it can be explained, it just is...

http://www.uppermidwestflyfishing.co...m/IMG_0324.JPG

I grew up in Chicago and fished a lot in Wisconsin. Your post has reminded me of a favorite trout stream from long ago, the Namekagon River. I remember a stretch near Hayward that use to produce some very large browns (5-6 lbs.) That was many years ago so I can't help with current recommendations. I remember casting buggers to undercut banks on small islands and, besides getting snaged on roots a lot and loosing a lot of flies, I managed to hook some big browns when stripping back accross the stream.

While I love fishing for all fish, there is something about trout. :)