One classic depiction of a fly fisherman is that of a man (or woman) dressed in tweeds, a foppish cap on this head and pipe hanging from the mouth.
Do you smoke anything while fishing? Pipe, cigar, cigarette, something stronger maybe?
Copenhagen chewers need not apply.
No tweeds or floppish hat but do smoke a pipe and have been know to set the hook while lighting the pipe. Pipe filled with Captain Black tobacco. Do not smoke the pipe while fishing to be in style. I smoke due to the addiction. 
Warren
I’m not a smoker myself, but I admit that every now and again I’ll get a whiff of pipe or cigarette smoke on a cold morning and think “Man, that smells good.”
Gee, I thought this was about the song, of the same title, by Deep Purple. Oh well, I guess you had to be there.
Allan
Yes
Pipe for 1/4 centuary. Dark Twist.
I thought this was a Deep Purple post as well. I like to smoke cigars while taking a break I am affraid I will burn my line if I smoke while fishing. I guess it is that walking and chewing gum thing.
Born to fish forced to work.
Alan
I generally live up to my FAOL name of Eight Thumbs when fishing. Even without a pipe, I have enough things to drop in water already. No pipe for me. 8T
You had better learn to be a happy camper. You only get one try at this campground and it’s a real short camping season.
Hey Allen I think I was there.
Tradition is to smoke a Cuban cigar every year while fishing the Ronde and one on the last day of the season on the Skagit.
Smoked cigarettes for 25 years. Quit cold turkey about 10 years ago.
I often fire up a cigar when fishing is slow. The trout seem to know when I’m preoccupied and they take advantage of it. One of my fishing buddies regularly smokes a pipe (Captain black white pouch). I prefer to save the cigars for around the campfire at night with perhaps a snort of port as well.
Used to smoke cigarettes while fishing. Kept the butts in a pocket of my vest. Vest always stunk to high heaven because of it. I’m now on day 12 without a smoke and may actually have to wash the vest so I can stand to wear it. Nah, that would wash all the luck off of it.
REE
Like a lot of guys in the service, we smoked cigarettes to pass the time and have an excuse for a break. “Smokem if you gottem”. Later in the Forest Service in Alaska I smoked a pipe to help keep the flies away and keep the hands warm. I quite cigarettes almost 20 years ago and have no desire to start up again. I do have a couple of pipes left, two GBD’s and on occasion I will lite one up outside, especially in the winter…kinda brings back fond memories. Tobacco Balkin Sobranie Virgina. If the flies are heavy on the river, the pipe might just come out.
I learn more about the world while talking to myself when fishing alone
[This message has been edited by Jonezee (edited 23 May 2006).]
Great Uncle “Doc Russell” Legendary Musky hunter in Minoqua always smoked really bad cigars. After an extremly fruitless week of fishing myself and my son (age 8 and DARE graduate) went into town. I bought a pack of Swisher Sweets to improve my luck.Upon returning to our cabin he bolted from the car to tell everyone that I had bought cigars. You would of thought I was transporting a bag of heroin. Long story short, I don’t look good with a green tinge, Swisher Sweets is false advertising,and skill and knowledge are more important than a cigar to catch fish.PS still waiting for my first legal Musky on a fly.
i smoke on the water. and please remember, if you smoke cigerettes on the water, dont throw your buts in. i put em out with water and store em in a pocket until i get out
roger
princess anne, eastern shore of md.
I smoke but not while I’m fishing. As for the butts, I put them back into the same pack they came out of. No mess at all.
Congrats REE - did Vicki quit too?
LadyFisher, Publisher of
FAOL
I usually smoke when fishing. With a baby on the way, fishing is usually my only time alone.
I like cigars in the summer and spring, and a pipe (usually a Stanwell stuffed with Dunhill Nightcap) in the fall and winter. I’ve been smoking since I started fly fishing, so I guess I taught myself all of the fishing routine with a smoke, and have become adept at all of the involved manuvering.
mmm…makes my mouth water just thinking about it…
“Tolerance is the mark of a man with no convictions.” -G.K. Chesterton
I don’t smoke when i’m fishing, but I do chew Skoal. Nasty habit, but at least my hands are free.
It’s been awhile but I sometimes smoked a cigar. I’m not really a smoker but in the 1990’s I used to pass by a smoking shop so I bought a few stogies from them
Yes Eric, during the cigar fad of the 90s I used to pick them up when fishing as well.
I’ll have the pipe every now and again, green tobacco.
When I lived in Florida, I occasionally smoked a cigarette while bass fishing, but then I quit smoking. To show you how long ago that was, I bought my last carton of cigs in North Carolina for $1.19. That’s right, a carton, ten packs. (1967)
Bob
There is a fine line between fly fishing, and standing in the water waving a stick.