04-09-2009, 02:34 AM
[quote flygoddess]
Now as far as Stillwater...get me into a 50lb Laker on an 8 weight at the Gorge (your territory) and I am all over that.[laugh][/quote]
Heck, it took me over 20 years just to get one over 50 with a darn lead head jig! I could put you on some 2-8's with the fastest sink tip line you can get in the fall, but it wouldn't really be worth the effort considering you can catch fish that size that are far more worthy than lowly lake trout. I know of some places in Canada where you can catch 20's and 30's with an 8-wt, but they're nearly as costly as Alaska trips, and again, there are better options for the time and expense than lake trout. For the price of a place to catch big lakers on a fly, consistently, you can go tarpon fishing too, and they put any freshwater fish to shame.
I'm with you on casting out a Kastmaster, and any kind of bait fishing. OK for some and perfectly all right for those who like it, but not my style or interest. Now side-arm skipping a top water plug under a mangrove bush for an exploding 20 pound tarpon or snook with a spinning rod . . . that gets my attention!
I'm just a spoiled rotten, over-fished bum who wants to see the fish I'm going to catch before I catch it, and then have it come to the top of the water when I do catch it, if possible. The so-called "fight" is of least importance. Sometimes, I wish I wasn't as experienced and well-traveled, and still found excitement in some of my old ways and old places. Its harder and harder to find fishing that excites me, although I've still not lost the interest in most any kind of fair, sporting fishing. I just go for different reasons now, often just to get away from my daily guiding pressures. My own catch isn't near as important as it used to be.
As for the original post, just have fun, learn what you can at your own pace, keep it simple to start, and enjoy the ride and learning process. If it becomes a complicated obsession, then you must be liking it, and that's the whole idea! Learn at a pace you can enjoy, try not to make it difficult. You won't become an instant expert. Nobody does.
Joni: got any private spring-creek water you guide on that a moderatly-poor guide can afford? I'll pay to play for some choice dead-drifts! (Used to fish the Livingston creeks and Milesnick's in MT every year)
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Now as far as Stillwater...get me into a 50lb Laker on an 8 weight at the Gorge (your territory) and I am all over that.[laugh][/quote]
Heck, it took me over 20 years just to get one over 50 with a darn lead head jig! I could put you on some 2-8's with the fastest sink tip line you can get in the fall, but it wouldn't really be worth the effort considering you can catch fish that size that are far more worthy than lowly lake trout. I know of some places in Canada where you can catch 20's and 30's with an 8-wt, but they're nearly as costly as Alaska trips, and again, there are better options for the time and expense than lake trout. For the price of a place to catch big lakers on a fly, consistently, you can go tarpon fishing too, and they put any freshwater fish to shame.
I'm with you on casting out a Kastmaster, and any kind of bait fishing. OK for some and perfectly all right for those who like it, but not my style or interest. Now side-arm skipping a top water plug under a mangrove bush for an exploding 20 pound tarpon or snook with a spinning rod . . . that gets my attention!
I'm just a spoiled rotten, over-fished bum who wants to see the fish I'm going to catch before I catch it, and then have it come to the top of the water when I do catch it, if possible. The so-called "fight" is of least importance. Sometimes, I wish I wasn't as experienced and well-traveled, and still found excitement in some of my old ways and old places. Its harder and harder to find fishing that excites me, although I've still not lost the interest in most any kind of fair, sporting fishing. I just go for different reasons now, often just to get away from my daily guiding pressures. My own catch isn't near as important as it used to be.
As for the original post, just have fun, learn what you can at your own pace, keep it simple to start, and enjoy the ride and learning process. If it becomes a complicated obsession, then you must be liking it, and that's the whole idea! Learn at a pace you can enjoy, try not to make it difficult. You won't become an instant expert. Nobody does.
Joni: got any private spring-creek water you guide on that a moderatly-poor guide can afford? I'll pay to play for some choice dead-drifts! (Used to fish the Livingston creeks and Milesnick's in MT every year)
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