Why have you chosen to fly fish? Surely you can catch more fish with a spinning rod or cane pole. What is the reason you would give someone if they asked why they should pursue fly fishing?
This was a question we received when we were developing a presentation to be given to civic clubs and other organizations in our area of North Florida. We have opportunites to speak to these folks about the many aspects of fly fishing and inviting them to join us. This question kinda stumped us and we would like to get some input from you. (If you have a Power Point presentation of this nature, we would love to see what you have done)
Tall Fly,
I’ll bite.
I fly fish because I enjoy it. Let me explain. I have been fishing for 35+ years. Most of that time has been spin and bait fishing. I somehow started losing interest in fishing. In fact, in 2006, I did not go fishing one time. I needed something new. My son and I were watching one of the outdoor shows and there was a guy fly fishing. We both thought it looked fun and was something we could learn together to share a little quality father/son time.
Well, fly fishing is fun. There is a peaceful feeling that occurs when one gets into the rythmn of fly fishing. It’s more relaxed than spin fishing, and more first person involved than tossing a night crawler out and waiting for a fish to swim by. There’s also somewhat of a beauty of the sport with the line wizzing over your head and landing softly (well, most of the time landing softly) on the water.
Also, there is a social aspect. I cannot begin to tell you how many people have asked me about fly fishing and how many folks I’ve had a chance to get to talk with at the lakes and streams since I took up fly fishing. People are curious about the way everything works. Most fishermen think fly casting is a “black art” and the only way to be good at it is to go to a country crossroads at midnight and sell your soul. When they get a chance to cast my rod and line, they see that it really is something they could do.
Anyway, like I said, I fly fish because it’s fun. It’s not about the numbers of fish caught, it’s the quality of your time fishing that counts for the most.
Guarentee you get a number of responses to this one. I’ll be one of the first to happily answer.
I fly fish a number of reasons. Some deep, some shallow on a personal level. First and foremost, because it is more fun!! Second, because its harder. Third, I feel closer to nature-almost like I’m a part of the surrounding area when I’m fly fishing, versus when spin fishing-I feel like I’m intruding. Not to say I think that way about spin fisherman, but on a personal level, I feel so much more at peace when fly fishing than chuckin and rippin. I think the fact that using flies that imitate natural food has something to do with it (versus drowning powerbait or metal lures). Another reason: its so theraputic. Getting into a perfectly timed rythm with the rod, line, fly and water (and wind sometimes) is so soothing to the soul. Fly fishing seems like its more about the experience and less about the number or size of the catch.
I am also a mountain/rock/ice climber and have people ask me a lot too why in the heck would you do something like that? My response usually is: “Only climbers know why.” Ultimately, I think its the same here. Only fly fisherman know why we do it this way. If you want to understand, then pick up a long rod and get to it. Otherwise, its like trying to describe the tast of salt to someone who has never tasted it. 8)
elegance of the sport, healing nature of the sport. ahhhh…it is my therapy. I have no idea why I would even try to convince someone else to fly fish. They have to discover it and choose accordingly.
What is the reason you would give someone if they asked why they should pursue fly fishing?
if they asked why WE fly fish … bought a condo next a ski hill in PA. skiing lasts 12 weeks if you’re really lucky–lately it’s down to 8-9. so what else is there to do in our golden years when we want to get out of the Big City? choices: golf and fly fishing. golfing looked awfully expensive and would require planning days in advance. golf travel looked even more expensive. tried fly fishing instead and got well hooked. turned out it’s not exactly cheap, but that’s because we suffer Gear Acquisition Syndrome.
why fly?
only fly anglers can stand in one pool for two hours. in the shade. watching the fish. watching the birds. it’s as contemplative an activity as you can name, lots of times.
only a fly angler will tell you it’s not always about the fish–and often mean it.
fly anglers don’t need to drink beer while fishing because their two hands are already busy.
fly anglers can fish in the winter in a lot of states, especially states where the skiing is getting less every year.
it’s a very simple sport to take up, and one can succeed very quickly, but it offers a lifetime of things to learn as well.
there’s a ton of good writing about fly fishing.
lots of states make a very good effort to make it nice for fly anglers to come there, so travel is worth the the time and money.
the fly anglers we’ve met are all really neat people, ready to chat and trade ideas and explain. just look at this forum!
Mainly cause I got sick of the smell of dead rotting worms!
I also hate getting worm and minnow guts on my hands.
I do not like the smell or feel of power bait.
The other major reason is that I can keep my rod and a pack of gear in the car and any time I have 20 minutes close to water I can break it out and have some fun. I can fich ove rmy lunch hour, while the kids are in Tae, while I wait to meet someone, or even if I cut out of work early.
The first time I tried it, I was on a back-packing trip (Lost Creek Wilderness area for you CO people) and I had to worry about bait so I could fish, while my Dad only had to worry about his rod, reel, and a small box of flies. I ‘borrowed’ it while he snoozed one day and was hooked.
i started with a spinning rod and a fly and bubble setup. when the recreation department at the company where i was working at the time in colordao started having free fly fishing/tying lessons, i was hooked! for me its not a zen thing, a dark art to master its just a different method of fishing.
As a lifelong fisherman I had been exposed to the “traditional” ways of fishing; cane pole (not the $$$$ cane), bait caster & spin rigs. Each was practiced until catching fish became almost boring, so I would move to rods that were lighter in sensitivity, smaller in size and ultimately making the catching and landing of fish more challenging. I won’t say I was necessarily bored with fishing, but I became more complacent with it. Then one day I was walking the dog along the Chagrin River and watched some fly fishers catching steelhead trout. It was like an epiphany that this was my next step in challenging the prey of the water. AS it turned out, I spend over 95% of my fishing time with the fly rod because it continues to challenge me. I guess the best way for me to describe my fly fishing experience is that it is the great equalizer between me and the fish. Somedays I win…somedays the fish wins…and that’s OK with me. It continues to draw me back again & again.
i think everyone above covered it. i do it because its fun and just the satisfaction you get from making youre own flies and then tricking fish into biting it. its just an amazing feeling.
also “surely you can catch more with a spinning rod”. nope you cant. i have fished in lakes with friends while they were using live bait and lures and i was using the fly rod. i caught about 50+ more fish then them. more types of fish then them and had WAY more fun.
so yeah thats my contribution to this thread
I was spin fishing for trout and them darn fly guys were putting me too shame.
So I got me cheap fly rig and tried it for myself. Caught some fish too ? the biggest one was me.
:lol: :shock:
