When someone asks “What did you catch em on”… Do you tell them the truth? Do you tell them it’s some pattern you created yourself and they can have one for twenty bucks? Do you offer them a fly? Is there a difference if it is a friend or a stranger? Or, do you outright lie?
I always tell the truth…show them…and offer them a couple. Fly guys/gals are the best group of people on earth.
Hopefully, they’ll ask “What do you have on?” instead. Then I’ll look at my fly patch and honestly say “Wooly bugger”. It’s not what I caught the fish with, that was probably a tiny dry, but it’s what’s really “on” my patch!
Trouts don’t live in ugly places
I lie.
I always lie. There is no benefit to telling the truth. Let me explain.
Let say you got skunked, and you say so. The person goes to the river with a lack of confidence, or just leaves. If this is great water, this is always the response. Try to look dejected. Ask them if they know any golf instructors you can call. Offer to sell them your fly rod.
Lets say you caught a 15 lb steelhead. They will never believe you. The homeless wino in the bushes just told them he caught a 20 lb fish with a worm, string and a tin can. You are already behind the eight ball.
Just be nice, change the subject, or get them to talk and try to figure out if they are telling the truth. Never say you did well.
- rriver
[This message has been edited by rriver (edited 02 November 2005).]
Hey Mantis,
I’m always happy to share what I caught
my fish on and most any details desired. It
helps that I’m one of the few folks in the
entire county (largest in the state) that
owns a fly rod.G Warm regards, Jim
always tell and share. but i fish in the ocean and there is plenty of fish for everyone.
It doesn’t matter because in general, the fly isn’t the problem. Presentation, water craft, etc is usually the culprit.
At any rate, catching fish shouldn’t be all that important for fly fishers… or is it?
Fishyfranky, you are right.
Letting go of that (fish counts, fish size) will always make your time on the river enjoyable. And you will end up catching fish, because you are paying attention to fishing well and observing what is happening around you.
- rriver
When I ask someone I hope that I get a true and helpful answer, therefore that is what I give someone when they ask. I think helping someone to catch fish is a great idea.
What do you really gain by not telling the truth?
jed
Catch???
I always tell them the type of fly, rather than a specific pattern, then turn the subject round to the method, depth, retreive (or not) etc.
Born to fish, forced to work.
I never ask another angler if they caught anything. I might ask them how they are doing, etc., but nothing relating to their fishing success. I don’t see why. If they want to tell me I’ll listen, but I don’t really care. Whether they caught fish or not does not mean anything to me.
I hope I don’t sound like a jerk (I probably do) but they could be excellent or terrible. Their fishing experience has no relation to mine. Many people don’t understand this. Somtimes I want to fish with a size 20 midge when steelhead are running. What does this mean to someone fishing an indicator with 5 split shot and a weighted nymph?
I don’t want or need to explain myself. I just want to enjoy the river.
- rriver
[This message has been edited by rriver (edited 02 November 2005).]
Geeez Edith…
LOL, a couple of you are reading way to much into a really simple question. Honest guys, there is no hidden meaning. I only see two ways you can read this…Either that you are in a pool with one or more anglers to the side of you…You catch a fish and the guy next to you asks “what did you get em’ on”, Or, You are {Pick your senario) loading up and leaving the pool, meeting friends for dinner, etc. and some one asks how you did, you tell them…and they ask “What did you get em on.”
Mantis…what mwebb said!!
I’ve given lotsa flies away. I’ve learned…from the generosity of those who shared with me as a newby.
Jeremy.
If I’m fishing a stream I don’t care that much about I MAY tell the truth but I’m usually vague about where and what specifically.
If I’m fishing someplace I want all to myself I lie right down to denying catching anything 
.
Most people I run into, I find that the best answer is “a fly”.
The hard part is answering the next question.
“How do you get it to stay on the hook?”
Support politicians who support the environment
I always say “Bunyon Bug Stonefly #2”.
Mantis,
It sort of depends on the situation. If the other fisher looks like an ad for a high end FF company, and their gear is brand new, I usually practice the art of deception. I’ve noticed that most folks dressed like that don’t listen anyway.
On the other hand, if their gear is well used and a shows some wear and tear, or they are obviously a beginner, I tell them the truth, show them some good spots to fish and offer up some flies to help them on the quest for fish. If they are a beginner I’ll stick around and watch for a while, then offer what advice I can to improve the experience for them.
REE
one time i asked a grizzled old fly angler about how to fish a stream and he said “they are right where they oughtta be.” it didn’t make much sense at the time but i’ve come to realize that was very good advice.