04-09-2009, 01:04 AM
Joni, I'm sure we both have mutual respect for each other's experiences, and are both more proficient than most with the long rod. In saying that, I think your reply made my point. Yes, while there are SO MANY aspects to fly fishing, the original poster should begin by keeping things simple. An new fly fisherman isn't going to be able to make a side arm cast, into a cross wind, around the bush, with a 4-foot tippet, into the drift lane, with a perfect dead drift, right into the slurping trouts lane. Heck, it may even take me a couple casts to get it "just right"
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My point was simply for the original poster to get frustrated by reading all the jargon, the latin, and thinking he needed all the gadgets to get started catching trout with a fly rod. Rather, learn to cast, practice, fish with a teacher, and work your way into the activity instead of trying to take it all on from the start. It only gets "complicated" when we want to take further steps. That's what I meant by saying that we, as fishermen, make it complicated. It doesn't have to be that way unless we choose to make it that way.
I still don't believe its complicated at all, but it does take time to learn, and I'm sure you would agree with that. For you and me, its a peice of cake. But think back to your first few years. For me anyway, it was a little overwhelming watching those I fished with catch trout after trout while I untied my latest wind knot or cluster f***. I had some truly great mentors, some of the best in the West and the country, and I still needed thousands of hours on the water to even begin to get good.
I think I've learned and experienced what MOST of flyfishing has to offer, (salt water, freshwater, warm water, rivers, lakes, ponds, tiny streams, spring creeks, steelhead, salmon, bass, etc etc) however, I still pick up a casting rod in certain situations because they too have all the aspects that fly fishing has. I can't say that fly fishing has more aspects to it than choosing and using an artificial on a bait casting or spinning rod. Only the cast is different, all the other aspects are the same as fly fishing. (the fish, the presentation, the offering, the conditions, etc.) Only the means of delivery change.
I'm glad you're a moderator here, and we can actually have a good, lively, intelligent debate! Hopefully others will learn from just peeking in on our back and forths!
Come on now, fly fishing isn't complicated, is it? See fish, cast to fish, catch fish. 1, 2, 3.
I know you're a still water junkie, and I pretty much live to fish moving water, but we need to fish some water sometime, some place. Maybe compromise with a super-slow moving creek/river or something?
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] My point was simply for the original poster to get frustrated by reading all the jargon, the latin, and thinking he needed all the gadgets to get started catching trout with a fly rod. Rather, learn to cast, practice, fish with a teacher, and work your way into the activity instead of trying to take it all on from the start. It only gets "complicated" when we want to take further steps. That's what I meant by saying that we, as fishermen, make it complicated. It doesn't have to be that way unless we choose to make it that way.
I still don't believe its complicated at all, but it does take time to learn, and I'm sure you would agree with that. For you and me, its a peice of cake. But think back to your first few years. For me anyway, it was a little overwhelming watching those I fished with catch trout after trout while I untied my latest wind knot or cluster f***. I had some truly great mentors, some of the best in the West and the country, and I still needed thousands of hours on the water to even begin to get good.
I think I've learned and experienced what MOST of flyfishing has to offer, (salt water, freshwater, warm water, rivers, lakes, ponds, tiny streams, spring creeks, steelhead, salmon, bass, etc etc) however, I still pick up a casting rod in certain situations because they too have all the aspects that fly fishing has. I can't say that fly fishing has more aspects to it than choosing and using an artificial on a bait casting or spinning rod. Only the cast is different, all the other aspects are the same as fly fishing. (the fish, the presentation, the offering, the conditions, etc.) Only the means of delivery change.
I'm glad you're a moderator here, and we can actually have a good, lively, intelligent debate! Hopefully others will learn from just peeking in on our back and forths!
Come on now, fly fishing isn't complicated, is it? See fish, cast to fish, catch fish. 1, 2, 3.
I know you're a still water junkie, and I pretty much live to fish moving water, but we need to fish some water sometime, some place. Maybe compromise with a super-slow moving creek/river or something?
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