05-17-2006, 02:43 PM
[cool][#0000ff]It is always good to keep an open mind, especially if you are a fisherman. I was born into a troutin' fambly in Idaho, but was transplanted to California when I was about 11 years old. An "Idaho spud" suddenly dropped into the Southern California "culture" in the 50's. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]That did not have nearly as much impact on me as discovering the wide wide world of fish other than trout. Within a couple of months of taking up residence in California I had made lots of new "friends" among the warm water species, and a lot of salt water ones too. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Since then, trout have always been the fish of my "roots", and I still dearly love them. However, I gotta admit that they often take the back burner when I have a decision to make about where to go and what to fish for. It helps to live in a state where there is great fishing for many different species. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Fly fishing? All of the species you named are very susceptible to being caught on flies. I have taken lots of cats on flies, both accidently and on purpose. They are definitely sight feeders in clearer waters and can be taken on anything from sunken nymphs to streamers to floating grasshopper imitations. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]In all humility and modesty, I will make the claim that I have caught almost every species of fresh water fish in America, and most of them on flies at one time or another. The single notable exception is the sturgeon. I have taken them on quite a number of different baits, but have never heard of anyone catching one on an artificial (at least legally).[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I share your passion for fly fishing, but I am not a purist or a zealot about it. But, once I catch a new species on other lures or baits, I start hatching a plan on where and how to catch it on flies. In most cases, if you can present something remotely edible-looking, at the right time and place, in the right way, you can count on a hookup. That's the fun part of the challenge.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There are times when you have to cross the line between flies and bait, and apply some scent to a big bushy fly in order to "seal the deal". Does that count? Maybe or maybe not. Do I care? Nay. Just bring on the fishies and I'll deal with the ethics problems in my spare time...when I'm not fishing.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]That did not have nearly as much impact on me as discovering the wide wide world of fish other than trout. Within a couple of months of taking up residence in California I had made lots of new "friends" among the warm water species, and a lot of salt water ones too. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Since then, trout have always been the fish of my "roots", and I still dearly love them. However, I gotta admit that they often take the back burner when I have a decision to make about where to go and what to fish for. It helps to live in a state where there is great fishing for many different species. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Fly fishing? All of the species you named are very susceptible to being caught on flies. I have taken lots of cats on flies, both accidently and on purpose. They are definitely sight feeders in clearer waters and can be taken on anything from sunken nymphs to streamers to floating grasshopper imitations. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]In all humility and modesty, I will make the claim that I have caught almost every species of fresh water fish in America, and most of them on flies at one time or another. The single notable exception is the sturgeon. I have taken them on quite a number of different baits, but have never heard of anyone catching one on an artificial (at least legally).[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I share your passion for fly fishing, but I am not a purist or a zealot about it. But, once I catch a new species on other lures or baits, I start hatching a plan on where and how to catch it on flies. In most cases, if you can present something remotely edible-looking, at the right time and place, in the right way, you can count on a hookup. That's the fun part of the challenge.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]There are times when you have to cross the line between flies and bait, and apply some scent to a big bushy fly in order to "seal the deal". Does that count? Maybe or maybe not. Do I care? Nay. Just bring on the fishies and I'll deal with the ethics problems in my spare time...when I'm not fishing.[/#0000ff]
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