FlyFishers vs. FloatReel Fishers

FAOL Community Fly Anglers Online
1

I’m going to paint with broad strokes here, so I’m ready to be blasted…

It has occured to me that there must be some basic difference in personality between the Fly Angler, and the Float Rod Angler, and that difference, as I see it, is this:

The float rod angler fishes for one reason and one reason only - to catch fish. He cares not to commune with nature - to let the water sip away a world of worries. He is a fish catching machine, one that must out perform the other fishing catching machines standing three feet to his left, and four to his right! He does not seek solitude: all he wants is a productive run,and he is willing to stand side by side with other float rod anglers, jockeying for position, claiming his territory with his casts. I was reminded of this today as I walked along a new stream to where I had been told there was a nice little run (maybe 70 feet in length). When I arrived, I found that there was a nice little run, and fourteen float anglers crowding the banks!

The fly angler, on the other hand, enjoys the fishing experience. A good day is not always measured in fish caught…A good day might be the result of seeing a deer and faun swim across the river. It may be stumbling across a new hole, or discovering a hatch you’d never noticed before. It might be sharing flies with another angler, or putting your fly rod into the hands of kid a letting him flail about until he catches a creek chub (of which he is very proud!)

I think fly anglers enjoy solitude (or at least quiet camaraderie) to competition. We’ll pass up the crowds at the honey hole, for a less productive, yet uncrowded, stretch of water.

You know, I’ve never come across a float rod fisherman “way up stream”, but I’ve come across many a fly angler in the most out of the way places - and the fly angler always seems happy.

What are your thoughts?

[This message has been edited by Andrew Mann (edited 30 October 2005).]

[This message has been edited by Andrew Mann (edited 30 October 2005).]

[This message has been edited by Andrew Mann (edited 30 October 2005).]

[This message has been edited by Andrew Mann (edited 30 October 2005).]

2

What’s a “float reel angler”? You mean a strike indicator? Sorry…haven’t heard the term before. I see your explanation of the temperment of the angler but not exactly what the heck it is.

3

Mantis,

Thanks for your reply…I wasn’t sure if “float reel angler” would be understood by all…around here, we just say “float fishing”, and that describes a steelheader who uses a 14’ rod, and a “float reel” (it’s like an oversized fly reel in appearance, only much, much smoother) with a float, sinkers, and usually fresh roe (with the odd fly) as bait. The gear isn’t as important as the temperment…I hope this description helps.

4

Here’s a link to a primer on float rod fishing:
[url=http://www.coarsefish.net/float.htm:f7c69]http://www.coarsefish.net/float.htm[/url:f7c69]

5

Okay, Got it a Andrew. A well written post.
Here I thought all those guys were in Pulaski…(NY)

6

Diane, LOL…He wrote "float reel’, not float rod or bobber fishing. But I got it now. Not exactly fly fishing is it.

7

Mantis,

I changed the original wording of the post to read “Float Rod” instead of “Float Reel”. I hope this clears things up for others as well. Thanks again.

What’s the Float Rod situation like on your home waters? Are the guys as territorial in your neck of the woods? When I hit the stream with the fly rod, you should see the looks I get from some.

8

Andrew, there are many people I know who use both a centerpin reel/float rod and fly fishing gear. I also know many who use one or the other exclusively and as far as I can tell, the fisher isn’t defined by the equipment.

But on the other hand, you can tell a lot about a person from what they say or write…

9

On the same lines…Are you a person who flyfishes or are you a person who fishes with flies!!!

Warren

10

I am totally amazed that with just a glance you could tell that 14 strangers were all fish killing machines every one with out exception . Not one was worthy of that run like you yourself was .I’m tickled that you were also able to deduce that none of them were there to enjoy the experience or that they are incabable of seeing the wonder of nature . They would in fact not even enjoy seeing a deer and fawn swimming a river . Nor it seems would they enjoy taking a child fishing . Heck the darn kid might crowd him out of his spot in line . You could tell in that instant that not one of those fourteen individuals would be satisfied just being there unless they caught tons of fish .
I am glad that you yourself are way higher on the evolution scale and are able to enjoy the beauty of a river and are able to enjoys the fishing experience . It would sadden me if it weren’t so . Cheers

Ps. In my opinion it isn’t or it shouldn’t ever be Flyfishers vs Floatfishers . If anything at all it should be Polite fishers vs Rude Fishers

[This message has been edited by Gnu Bee Flyer (edited 30 October 2005).]

[This message has been edited by Gnu Bee Flyer (edited 30 October 2005).]

11

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ Who, what, sorry, I fell asleep reading that diatribe. What were we taling about?

12

As I said in the original post “I’m going to paint with broad strokes…” I recognize that to make such generalizations is dangerous at best, but such generalizations often get people to talk.

Gnu Bee…I didn’t say “fish killing machines”, I said “fish catching machines” -I did chose my words more carefully than you read them. Further, I do not believe that fly anglers are on a “higher evolutionary plane”, they just seek a different aspect of the experience; often seeking solitude. I don’t feel that I am more “…worthy of the run”, but would love the opportunity to fish it in relative peace.

This post was simply about the differences in how two types of anglers “appear” to enjoy the sport of fishing - nothing more. I’m sorry that some took offence…none was meant. This light-hearted observation insulted some…I appologize.

Cheers

13

Andrew -

You make some valid points. Float-rodders have taken over my home steelhead creeks in the past five years or so, and IMO it’s not been for the better.

My main problem with this method is that most of them use too-light leaders (4lb maximum, even 2lb test is common - lighter than I would use for 12" spring creek trout with #22 flies!) The obsession with numbers also leads to fish that are caught several times in a single day. I’ve seen float anglers chumming the top of a run with single salmon eggs to induce lethargic fish to get on the bite. This all adds up to over-playing of the fish and their subsequent death, typically many hours later. Despite swimming away, steelhead can and do die from lactic acid buildup in their muscle tissue. Before the invasion of the centrepinners we never used to see dead steelhead on the bottom of the stream. Now it’s an everyday sight. (If you’re a float angler who does use leaders that are appropriately strong for steelhead, thank you and please try to educate your fellows)

I think everybody has the choice to fish in any legal, ethical manner he/she chooses. It’s a big world and there’s room for those who disagree with me. But there’s no room for those who abuse the resource.

14

Andrew,

I do both. Using a float reel (a/k/a centerpin - see recent threads) is just another way of catching fish. It’s not better or worse than fly fishing. It’s just different.

It’s like James Bond said, “Beluga caviar is different from Peking duck, but I love them both.”

GrsdLnr,

I don’t fish for steelhead, but I would never use line that light for them if I did. I occasionally use 2lb. line for small trout or panfish, but generally use heavier line for all species.

[This message has been edited by deathb4disco (edited 31 October 2005).]

15

I have and still do fish both ways…so following this thread…I must not be able to appreciate my surroundings when floatin’…but then when I switch rods…I’ll b able to see the beauty the float rod obscured???..yeah right…look at me funny on the river…and I’ll…er…um…prolly think you are a nutzoid…but still wouldn’t bother me…hell…if its in the regs…toss out a worm on 30lb mono for all I care…as is a signature here…“we all fish for pleasure…you for yours…me for mine”…git off yer holier-than-tho pedestal and go fishin’…is way easier on your blood pressure…just my thoughts…your milage will vary… ))

mojo

16

mojoman,

I don’t feel “holier than thou…”, I simply pointed out an apparent difference in how anglers seems to enjoy their sport. Reread the original post (with this in mind) and you’ll see that I meant no ill will.

Andrew

17

my apologies AM…a reread did help the perspective on my end… ))

mojo

18

I think that fly anglers are the only fishermen who are constantly comparing themselves to other types of fishing and always trying to make themselves seem better. I honestly don’t think anyone else cares, and I certainly don’t think that they enjoy their time on the water any less. People enjoy catching fish, and would enjoy catching fish in solitude. Trout happen to live in places where solitude can sometimes be found. However, a bass fisherman pulling his boat who happens to drive by any popular trout river and see fly fishermen standing every 50 yards wearing their funny clothes, waving their ridiculously overpriced rods, must certainly think that fly fishermen don’t like solitude. Because, when gets to the lake and runs out to a nice quiet and secluded cove and drops his completely silent trolling motor he is suddenly enjoying solitude.

19

Andrew , I wasn’t offended , just thought you painted with a little too broad a stroke . It occurs to me that if you were to convert the 14 into flyfishers , you would then have 15 people trying to crowd into a 70ft run . Which would put them 4 feet 6 inches apart . Man I would love to see that tangle . lol
In My opinion Spin and float fishers do not need to be quite as far apart as flyfishers do , but 14 people in a 70 feet is a bit ridiculous on any stretch of water . Also if 14 people already beat you to that stretch of water even using proper stream etiquette you would be a week waiting your turn .
I don?t know why it is but when there is more than one guy present (I can’t speak for the ladies ) a contest will break out to see who is best . Its just in our makeup I guess .
Its best to just hike a little farther upstream and enjoy the more remote stretches of the stream . Its more relaxing anyway.

20

Having fished with all kinds of peaple while guiding, I have gotten out of the habit of labeling folks by their equipment, as it said more about me than the person I was judging. Guests would show up with Orvis everything, and we would make fun of them for it(not in front of them), while we were all wearing Simms waders, jackets and boots with Sage rods and Ross Reels! I have met some really nice guys that were float fishing for steelhead, while I have met some real jerks with a flyrod. I do not think the equipment, style of fishing, or which hole on the river makes much of a difference in what the angler is looking for. It is the person that makes that difference. One of my coworkers fishes for steelhead and salmon exclusivly with floats, and we have a great time when we float the rivers around Tacoma, even though I am using the flyrod. We each comment on the sights, and his choice of equipment didnt blind him enoght to preven him from commenting on the incredible size of the eagles nest we floated under.

WHen you paint with broad strokes, you miss all of the details around the edges, and never get an even coat.

There are many reasons that the so called fish killing machines fish in the same, common holes. Perhaps they dont know of any others, are just starting to fish, only have an hour or two to fish, or simply like what they do, where they do it, and how many others are there to do it with. Others fish cause they actually like to eat fresh fish, and there is nothing wrong with that. I have taken 10 silver salmon, that are all in the freezer or canned, ready for dinner. YUM!

There are also many reasons that the hardware users think fly fishers are too darned arrogant. Besides some of the responses above, this post really doesnt do much to remedy that situation.

Jeff

Tis my time on the water, in the mountains, and in my driftboat where I can see things as they really are.