Am I GOOFY?

Please, don't y'all raise your hands all at once.
Here's my statement for your opinion, and perhaps some share the feeling. In my hunnert years or so years of fly fishing, almost all for trout, the largest fish I have caught was in the 22 inch range, never anything bigger. Having said that, in retrospect, I now realize I have NO desire to pursue or catch anything larger than that. My equipment , baits and choice of fisheries probably help along those lines. I know that some/ most (?) fisherfolks wish they had longer arms to boast as to the size of their catch but not I. This may sound warm and fuzzy but it's probably more important to me who I fish with and where. I have my regular buds , now down to three, Toledo, Toronto, Carmel, who meet once a year in Wyoming to gargle the grape, "dine", tell lies and fish. We've had some lean years but never skunked. None of us has ever caught anything of bragging size but we do share the "GOOFY" concept of "size doesn't matter".
I'm just curious.....................


Mark

Marco you are as crazy as a loon. That makes two of us.(lol).

Tim

Not the least bit goofy. Years ago when I left New England for Texas and then back home to Kentucky, I took a long look at my fly-fishing. I came to the conclusion that I was either going to quit, or re-adjust my sights. I adjusted and today while some look down their nose at me, I am still enjoying my fly-fishing. Admittedly the trout are few and far between and all hatchery fish but that is OK. I enjoy a day at the pond chasing blue-gills and occasionally being surprised by a catfish as much as I did on the Nissitissit, maybe even more.

Marco,

I understand what you are saying. I do not alter my equipment or flies to only target large fish. I enjoy the fly fishing experience and all that Mother Nature has given me to admire. I just fish, relax, take a few pictures of flowers, birds and water creatures and enjoy my day on the water away from the "rat race" and people. I enjoy catching whatever wants to take my flies and no matter how small or what species of fish. I use the fly rod for all species of fish and tie all my own flies.

Man, what is the matter with you? What business do you have being content when there are Psychiatrist with children who need new Iphones. Life is just to unfair to too many people for you to go around being content. An official of the Illinois Department of Mental Health will be around to see you soon.

No you are not Goofy, that’s a Disney character. You are a happy fisherman, who probably doesn’t get out to do what he loves as often as he would like.

I am afraid the concept of contentment is being gradually weaned out of the human race. Hope I'm wrong.

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the largest fish I have caught was in the 22 inch range

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22" ain’t nothing to sneeze at. Definitely puts a bend in the rod.

Actually, I think that shows a level of maturity. I find that there seems to be maturation process to many sports and hobbies, especially fly fishing. When you first start, you want to catch as many fish as you can. This is what I call the "fish counting" phase. Next is the largest fish of different species, I call the the "fish mounting" phase. Finally, there's the satisfaction phase where you're fishing for the sake of enjoying and appreciating all things fly fishing and the friends you get to share it with. Not everyone goes through all the stages, but many do. I am at the stage now that if/when I lose a nice fish, it doesn't bother me. I'm fishing for the enjoyment of being out there doing what I love to do. To answer your question, Am I goofy?, heck I don't know, but it sounds like you are in a great spot in your fly fishing "career".

Jim Smith

I have no problems catching 10" trout.
I am giddy when a bluegill takes my fly.
Little Snook are a ball, and are extremely user friendly.
I will sight cast to my "little" bass any day...

If one can't just enjoy the fishing and everything that surrounds you while pursuing that then they are the goofy ones. I always carry my little waterproof Pentax digital camera and spend considerable time taking photos of my surroundings. Do try an occasional underwater shot of a fish on line but have come to the conclusion that one needs three arms to accomplish it to a fair degree of accuracy. I have several photos of fish tails, heads and the like but not many of the whole fish. My biggest fish was a surprising 28" brown trout and that is my fish of a lifetime. However, my favorite place is a mountain stream where 6" is the norm and I've caught many a 2" giant too. And no, size doesn't matter any more and never really did. I'm just thankful to be able to get out once in a while and have at it.

Here is a video clip of Bob Jacklin catching "the fish of his lifetime". He is now nearly 70. This video was several years ago.
He has been a guide for over 40 years and seen pretty much everything and fished more than most anybody around.
Yet, if you watch this short video, he gets as excited as a little kid. I have seen the fish mounted in his shop in W. Yellowstone. He told me this summer that the video crew had been taping for nearly a half hour and he had not gotten a single strike until this one took a tiny caddis pupa (as I recall him telling me).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2Z_G1skm6A

As I stated in another post "I have no desire to fish tropical (big fish). Two years ago I caught my biggest and smallest fish in the same month. A 3" Brookie in a small creek, a 23" rainbow while fishing for trout/bluegill with a four weight rod. I was just thrilled both times.
Glad to see that there are like minded people out there.

Duck,
Jacklin wasn't necessarily fishing for big fish on the Madison that day. But, he happened to hook the fish of a lifetime and was as excited as a little boy once more.

If you have to ask.......:D

The problem with catching the fish of a lifetime is...what do you do tomorrow?

If the point of all this isn't having fun (and what defines that is up to YOU), why bother?

As for being goofy, aint none of us normal. Except for me.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...ps648eb36f.jpg

Bob Jacklin fishes every chance he gets when not guiding, and he will be 70 this month. There's always another "fish of a lifetime" out there that beckons one back to the stream.

The point is: it's not an "either/or" proposition. Fishing is fun whether you catch big fish, or little fish, or no fish. But, there is something a little extra special about hooking a really big fish.......

I have to add that like Mr. Jacklin ( heretofore unknown to me) ,if I hooked into a 23" trout in my normal fishery, I would be equally elated and would certainly NOT cut the line in order to maintain my 22" statement. I merely state that if there came about an opportunity for me to travel to a fishery , even for nada, that contained 50" trout and THAT was the purpose of the trip, I could easily pass,. Therefore , onaccounta my "longer arms" statement, AM I GOOFY?

Mark
PS: Also, unlike Mr. Jacklin, had I been the "lucky" one, THAT fish would certainly have been released and my arms, such as they are, would certainly be able to "describe" it's size more "accurately"

Mark

Merry Christmas!

PS. Why Wyoming?

My thoughts align similarly with WarrenP and James Smith.
I don't need to catch BIG fish to have fun. Just last week I had plenty of fun going to a local pond to catch 5"-6" crappies.
Big fish are special, no doubt. Whether fishing for them or not, when you catch one, its an adrenaline rush. Who doesn't like that?

I have plenty of good memories from this past fishing season. Some memories were of big fish and epic battles, some were beautiful little sunfish, some were fish that managed to get away. They all put a smile on my face.

Fish dave,
Agree. Like I said, it's not an "either/or" proposition. You can have fun fishing and catching no fish, small fish, or big fish. But, there is certainly nothing wrong - or to be avoided- about catching big fish. They can magnify the experience!

Fishin's fun, but catchin's more fun!

Catching is definitely one of the goals!

Not Goofy nor complacent. My scope of fly fishing has narrowed over the years. While I enjoy catching larger fish, I more or less dislike using any rod/reel setups over a stout 6wt. None of my current rods have fighting butts. While I have caught fish in the 10# range on six weights, I generally don't target them. Trout, Panfish and bass keep me grinning and when I take a notion, provide a nice meal for friends and family!

aa

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Originally Posted by Marco

I have to add that like Mr. Jacklin ( heretofore unknown to me) ,if I hooked into a 23" trout in my normal fishery, I would be equally elated and would certainly NOT cut the line in order to maintain my 22" statement. I merely state that if there came about an opportunity for me to travel to a fishery , even for nada, that contained 50" trout and THAT was the purpose of the trip, I could easily pass,. Therefore , onaccounta my "longer arms" statement, AM I GOOFY?

Mark
PS: Also, unlike Mr. Jacklin, had I been the "lucky" one, THAT fish would certainly have been released and my arms, such as they are, would certainly be able to "describe" it's size more "accurately"

Mark

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No Marco, you are NOT Goofy. I've seen you. Your ears are much to short for you to be Goofy. You aren't Mickey Mouse, either.

We fish for different reasons. Some want to catch as many fish, or as many of a certain sort of fish, as they can. Some want to catch the biggest fish they can. Some want to catch as many species as they can. Others set different goals. Enjoying the peaceful, calming time on the water with others whom you like and with whom you feel comfortable is as valid a goal as any. You go out with friends, or make new ones. You cast flies to rising fish or to likely haunts of fish. Things happen. Events occur. Stories are born. Some stories grow to the status of legends, at least in our own lives. We are enriched in ways a ledger cannot understand.

As for me, my goal remains to catch a less-than-one-inch-long trophy creek chub. I have come close. I have the one-weight rod. I have the tiny hooks. Some day, I might achieve my goal. I want to catch my trophy on a dry fly. I don't care whether I'm viewed as Goofy or not. Personally, I really enjoy being out and splashing around in the water. Those who have seen me "wade" will be able to verify that. ;-)

Regards,
Ed

Gentlemen,
Needless to say, I'm relieved you have possibly postponed my self imposed exile into "the home" of frustrated fly fishermen. I now recall, about 30 years ago, an invitation from a Canadian friend to join him in Nova Scotia for some HUGE Brook trout possibilities. Granted, there were more considerations then , but the lure of the "monsters" even then, was not enough. Oh yes, I almost forgot, there was also some murmur of divorce if I chose "wrong".

Mark
PS: "why Wyoming" Byron , you must have never been there :). Also it's my Alma Mater UW in Laramie a few years ago. Left my heart there.

Mark,
I have been there. Love the fishing there. Love the "golden triangle" Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.
My destination each summer. Some great fishing and great fish abound.

Marco,
http://i801.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps2ca47e4d.jpg
I am an adrenaline junky. I watched a legit 30 incher lost at shore in this picture three years ago.

I wasn't even the angler but the net man.

It hit at shore and was on less than 2 seconds.

It haunts me.

I have even had nightmares about it.

Am I goofy?

Your dang skippy I am.

Funny how such fish cause such vivid, long lasting memories. Bet you and the fisher involved will enjoy discussing that day for many years to come!

Couple of years ago went to a local "catch & release" section of a river and hooked up with a pretty big brown. Got it close enough to eyeball and then it broke me off. On goes another nymph that I tie and about the third cast another big hit. This one too was in the 18" range and it broke me off again.

Then the "Goofy" :p light bulb flashed and I remembered that a few days before I had been fishing a small mountain stream for gigantic six inchers on average and was using a 7X tippet.

Finally came to and changed to a 5X and believe it or don't nailed a legitimate 19" brown shortly thereafter. Wasn't the size of the fish so much as finally remembering where I was and the possibilities of catching a big 'un there. Needless to say, but being able to hook up with three fish in a row this size in this river was completely way out of character.

I still get that "goofy" feeling when ever I think about that day.

It's not the size of the fish but the memories that count be it a 4" or 28" one. And I've been lucky enough to marvel at them both.

YES! Marco,
You ARE goofy.....and a detriment to our economy. How dare you to not crave the newest and latest piece of equipment or the grandest trip to pursue the "biggest"! Besides, big is only relative anyway. Some streams we target, a 12" trout is grand and some lakes we have visited, it takes a 20" trout to be worth mentioning.
Content? Never! When the bluegill are grabbing our poppers, we wonder how the steelhead season will develop. When we are selfishly pursuing steelhead, we are anxiously awaiting popper time. :-)
Yes, the memories and friends are the grandest parts anymore. The winter season (steelhead) seems mostly selfish and for our own pleasure. However, even greater pleasure is derived during our warm water season as kids and "newbies" acquire success at some o the ponds we have access to....these are the BEST memories now.
Goofy? Ain't we all! I mean, flinging feathers at some piscatorial target with the expectation that ingestion will occur.....come on now. :-)
Dang few of us would have it any other way though. :-) :-)
.....lee s.

Lee s
Smileys should be ILLEGAL. If someone can't "read into" and " between the lines" he/she should STEW in their self imposed/ ignorant rage.
AND/BUT, your comment ( smileys notwithstanding) "You ARE goofy" forces me to invoke a "rule" , tomorrow morning at daybreak, weapons drawn , 10 paces. I"LL LEARN YA TO CALL ME GOOFY!!!!

Mark
PS: What's the weather in Pataluma , and how far from Carmel ?( should I win, I have a bud there)

Ugh.....I think it's fairly close to San Francisco, if memory serves.

But you are Mark, you really are!! Those that know you would agree!

Mark

Of course you are goofy. What do you think when you see a man of above average intelligence, standing in a river with enough equipment to stock a large fly shop waving a stick at a fish with a brain the size of a pea? By the way, that fine gentleman I speak of could be you, Jack, me or any number of goofy folks that hang around here. I am proud to be one of them.

Brad

Great Video!

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Originally Posted by Byron haugh

Here is a video clip of Bob Jacklin catching "the fish of his lifetime". He is now nearly 70. This video was several years ago.
He has been a guide for over 40 years and seen pretty much everything and fished more than most anybody around.
Yet, if you watch this short video, he gets as excited as a little kid. I have seen the fish mounted in his shop in W. Yellowstone. He told me this summer that the video crew had been taping for nearly a half hour and he had not gotten a single strike until this one took a tiny caddis pupa (as I recall him telling me).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2Z_G1skm6A

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