Frequently, fly rodding is the most productive method of fishing.
There are several reasons for this bonus attraction to the sport.
First, the fly rod is capable of laying a minute concoction of feathers
on the water with the gentleness of a lover’s whisper. Bait-casting,
spinning and spin-casting equipment must rely on the weight of the
lure to pull line from the reel. Anything with the mass to do that
must be accompanied by a considerable splashdown with little
subtlety. Flies enter the bluegill’s world like natural prey. Casting
plugs cannot.
Second, flies spend more time where the fish are. When a fly has been
retrieved, it’s simply and quickly picked up and recast into more
productive water. A bait-casting or spinning angler must reel in the
lure until it dangles within inches of the rod tip. In the course of a
day’s fishing, lures spend a sizable amount of time in fishless water.
Based on that fact alone, more fish are likely to see and, therefore,
hit a fly which remains in their baliwick.
Finally, the hook-set is cushioned by the springiness of the long,
limber fly rod. This is a considerable advantage when the quarry has
a soft, fleshy mouth that can be easily torn by even a moderate hook-set
from the bait-caster.
We have fished with nearly all the known sportsfish-catching devices
and confess we didn’t dislike any of them. For us, the fly rod provides
the most pleasure. Too often with other methods, satisfaction suffers
when fish-catching slows.
The fly rod won’t allow that. The cast must be rhythmic, gentle, and
smooth. Even when fish-catching slows, our enjoyment doesn’t. The
need within us for artful expression, as well as our pragmatic interest
in pure fish catching, is fulfilled best by the the fly rod.
~ Terry and Roxanne Wilson
Next time - The World’s Most Enjoyable Sportfish
This article is an excerpt from the Wilson’s new book, Bluegill . . .
Fly Fishing & Flies, published by Frank Amato Publications.
We appreciate use permission.
Originally published c. January 8, 2010 on Fly Anglers Online by Terry and Roxanne Wilson.