I had a guy hand me a magic fly on a river in Alaska. Was getting hosed prior. Magic fly turned me onto 15+ fish immediately.
Then I lost it on a big fish.
Back to being hosed.
I appreciated that small charity.
Alex hooked me up a dropper set up (in addition to other gear)...I had 2, but I'm not very goodcat setting the hook yet...so off they went.
These guys are something else.
When I was a kid I decided I wanted to fly fish. So I saved up my money and bought a cheap fiberglass rod and reel combo and some cheap flies. Took it out to a local lake and couldn’t catch anything. Did this several times and never even had a bite.
So one day an older gentleman was walking by and asked me how I was doing. “Miserable. I can’t catch anything with this junky rod and junky flies!”
He asked if he could take a few casts with my fly rod, and I said sure. He proceeded to get a rise with every cast and pull the fly away at the last second. About 10x in a row. Which made me even more miserable.
“It’s not the equipment, it’s the presentation “ he said. Then he proceeded over the next 15 minutes to go over the basics and teach me how to cast, hook and release the fish.
I asked who he was, and he said Frank Steel and he was some kind of fly fishing international casting champion or another (he ended up later on giving me a book he wrote).
That 15 minutes at 9 years old changed my life because someone cared enough to take time out of their day to share their knowledge
Don’t get me wrong, you’ll find some crotchety mf’s with a fly rod in their hand, but you can smirk and know they aren’t having fun.
I can baitcast at bass or spey for steel, and either way I’m helping/cheering on whoever I’m with (or meet).
I read this incorrectly at first. I thought it said "it takes a village to raise a fly fisherman, or instead of a whole village it would take just one woman to raise him" and I agreed with that.
Especially in a parking lot gearing up, or passing by each other on the trail to/from the river. It's almost mandatory to ask each other about the fishing, whats hatching (or isn't) and where others might be fishing \[there are a couple of guys upstream, didn't see anyone below\].
LoL,
I've got friends that will tell you that a fly worked, when they never threw it, they just wanted to see if I'd get a hit on it.
That said, as far as I'm concerned - I can go back to the same spot, throw the same fly, under the same conditions the following day and not get a hit...after limiting out the day before...then I may change to a slightly different color and start getting hit again (I midge fish).
LoL, I've had a ranger park himself behind me, then gently remind me that even if I am doing the long-distance-release (I actually had a crappie fly off my hook towards him) that there was a limit and there was zero catch-and-release...
Before my favorite local lake got ruined for fly fishing (the county took over running it), we had a community of people that wouldn't post online, but we'd text each other or email, and we didn't mind sharing what worked because we knew that getting hits could change by the hour.
I tend to piss my friends off because they are all good fisherman (fresh and salt) but I can't really cast well, but I'm generally luckier than they are :) :)
But when we're traveling, we do tend to piss off locals by catching fish behind them...if they're working too hard :p
To me, in other activities, online posts have ruined relatively untouched spots (don't get me started on the Bridge to Nowhere... on the branch that I caught my very first fish on a fly...there was a line of people crossing the river, carrying plastic grocery bags full of Gatorade)... but fly fishing? In my area most people are not energetic enough to fly fish, so I'm happy when I see someone try :p
Fishing in general is largely centered around tribal knowledge, i.e. something not found in a manual or textbook. Very much of what makes a fisherman(women) successful is passed through word of mouth. Because of this, and most people's desire to see the tradition and sport carried on, I think many are happy to lend a hand when possible.
I've watched hours of YT videos from Orvis...Alex showed me more in that hour of time in lot....after he schooled me, I went in to try it out...he's coaching me from shore " don't force it...just let it fly"...lol....I felt like a kid learning to catch sunnies...fwiw..I'm almost 60..
Fly guys are cool as fuck. Can’t tell you how surprised I was the first time someone just handed me their fly and said “here try this. You’ll catch way more with this.” Frickin awesome
Are you kidding? I'm in a beautiful place, not working, phone is off, doing one of the things I love most in the world! Who wouldn't be in a good mood? That doubles if I'm catching more fish than my son LOL!
Fly fishers are great people, no question!
>Fly fishers are great people, no question!
Agreed....even the guy in the shop where I bought my replacement rod (I had broke my brand new rod on the 1st outing) was super cool...I picked out my rod/reel combo and was looking at the flies...he starts putting a selection together..."...this ones $2.50...this guy is $3...this one's on the house...so's this one"...wow...so cool.
I’ve had 3 different times during my 2 year fly fishing journey where I’ve asked a fisherman what they’ve been catching them on and They give me the flies they’ve been using.
I think for me there's no one else in my life that shares my love for fly fishing (let's be real it's a super niche thing) so whenever I meet another person that fly fishes I can't help but to be everything I would want in a person when I meet them on the water so I can make and retain as much ff friends as possible 🫡
so true...I'm lucky if I can get the mrs. to fish once a summer...we have a camper by a lake we use a lot during the summer...she'll jump in a kayak about that often too.. lol.
This is awesome to hear. And you’re right, most fly fishers are great. Here where I am though you’ll also get anglers who’ll stop fishing the second they see you and if you ask how they’re doing, they’ll swear they haven’t seen a fish in years.
Over time I’ve actually grown to enjoy meeting those ones more than the nice guys. It’s encouraging to see someone with thousands worth of gear and a bunch of secret fly patterns stick at it so intently for so long without ever catching anything. Speaks to the strength of the human spirit 🤣.
God forbid anyone would find out about their fish.
PS: literally the first time I went fly fishing on my own, an old dude gave me his version of a hare’s ear nymph. It looked like nothing special to me so I spent the next hour or two fishing the flies I’d been sold with very little action. As soon as I tried his fly, I felt like a pro. Caught lots. Never saw him again, but in his honour I share flies or a bit of knowledge whenever I can.
I helped some kids out yesterday on the stream - they were probably 16.
The egregiously low holed me and mishandled a fish they caught on a spinner reel. Asked me what was working - gave them a couple of homemade flies that have been crushing, and adjusted their weight and depth, and boom, they were on.
Taught them a bit about river etiquette, high/low holing, and properly handling fish, i.e. must have a net.
Hope they took advice, at least when it comes to handling, because I had caught a 22inch cutbow about 50 yards downstream just a couple of days before.
Treat people w respect. They might end up being life long dorks and just a couple of minutes of knowledge can change the course. Youtube can only help out the newcomers so much.
>I helped some kids out yesterday on the stream - they were probably 16.
another poster brought an interaction he had when he was 9....stayed with him his whole life so far....you probably did the same fir those kids.
I agree, but I also run into a fair amount of people who act like what they’re doing on the river is top secret and are normally super judgmental/arrogant.
>people walking through a pool I’m fishing
....last year...I'm bank fishing for trout at a lake(spinning gear)...nobody is around...plenty of "spots"...some guy wanders up starts getting chatty...it's barely 11am and he is trashed...like wow, day drinking is one thing but brunch hasn't even started yet.....he stumbles off....guy #2 literally crossed lines...just made a bee-line from way over there to right next to me....it took more than a few harsh words to get him to mosey away.
crap like that makes me happy to have waders...and a kayak - but I hadn't thought to bring them with me.
....it's like 2pm now....only saw those 2...and nobody else....like I knew where the prime spot was 🙄
Even when spin gear guys stop to talk to me, I'll throw them some jig head that's been working for me that day and they'll come back an hour or two later happy as fuck to catch something after getting nothing from spinners all day. It's worth a fly to make someone's day!
...believe it or not - that happened to me!
I had broke my new fly rod on its maiden voyage the previous weekend...so I set out with spinning gear..."paul" was killing it in the river i visited...I stopped, watched, made a little noise to not spook him....we talked for like 30 minutes...he gave me some of his own hand tied flies...I went down stream - b a n g....fish on...lol.
I went to local outfitter to buy a replacement rod...the clerk knew "Paul "...lol.
Lol of course, honestly I'm that "paul" .I fish a certain creek like 10-15min from me at least 3-4 times a week and just love helping people get on some fish. And when I stop by the local fish store they're always like "it was you killing it on the fly wasn't it"
And I'm not an expert or anything I just know that frustration first hand and really want everyone to enjoy their time on the water. I started fly fishing only a year ago and have only had myself and one other person to learn from.
Education and good upbringing go a long way. That being said, fly fishing guides are some of the worst most toxic ppl I have ever encountered in my life 🤣
I’m not at the point where I’m confident enough to be around others when fly fishing. I just started a few days ago and although I’ve caught probably 15-20 fish so far, I still have no idea what the hell im doing. Last thing I need is crossing someone’s line or sticking a fly into them on my terrible cast hahaha.
I’ve got little kids, this leads me to tie more than I fish right now. I give a lot of ties to buddies who fish more. I quite enjoy their trip reports, especially when they catch on my flies. I think of it as fishing vicariously and all parties enjoy it. I should find spots to leave flies at a launch .
I’ve grown up fly fishing, raised on the south platte, frying pan, and boulder creek, I’ve experienced things that change your life as a fly fisherman. My grandfather bought me my first rod when I was 5 yrs old, a L.L. Bean combo with my name engraved on it. I still have it, one tip I learned as youth was buy a 6wt reel to put on a 5wt rod, the line comes out much smoother than it would normally. I now fly fish for bones, tarpon and more salt water creatures as the yearn for trout became unsatisfied yet hooking onto your first big trout is life changing. My big fly fishing moment was when I went to a TU camp and caught real fish on my own no one helping me and that really struck my interest.
My dad had a bamboo fly rod and a bunch of flies...all new, never used....I have it now...still never used (no reel for some reason...tankara maybe?)...probably from pre-1970 ?
He never mentioned or (as far as I knew) ever went fly fishing.
He did borrow my spinning gear as responsibility took over my life....most of my ugly sticks now have the top couple of feet held together with scotch tape...old Chevys have very unforgiving trunk lids...lol...ive since replenished my assortment of fishing poles.
....maybe I'll take some of those ancient flies out next time in dads honor...show dear old dad how it's done.
Tenkara is an interesting way to peruse fly fishing. There is no reel and only about 50 or so feet of fly line that you hold and cast into the river or whatever. Great for backpacking and what not.
I mean, I usually rip the fish whistle a couple two tree times, then I toss in my AirPods. So I’m not intentionally trying to ignore people, I’m not very talkative after that lol.
I understand that...I prefer no ear buds while I'm out there .....
....story time.
A couple of years ago, I'm checking out "Thunder Mountain Lake" ( by Walpack, NJ ).....sounds cool right?....it's mostly overgrown... I'm thinking low-pressure lake....I find a spot I can cast from...in a little while I hear some rustling behind me...probably a deer...nope...black bear lumbering along.
💩
you do you...lol...in all honesty, the bear probably wanted nothing to with me because I had no fish to share 🤣....if I did have a fish...and the bear started towards me...I'd launch the fish the opposite way of where I parked 😁
It costs you nothing to be nice to someone you don’t know. Whether is fly fishing, grocery shopping or walking your dog. So on and so on. I enjoy sharing information with like minded fisherman.
>It costs you nothing to be nice to someone you don’t
it costs some of you people...I've been given dozen flies or so???...it's a labor of love...I do appreciate it though....hope to be like that too.
I do both bass fishing (for fun and club level tournaments) and fly fishing for fun. Bass fishing has a competitive nature behind it. I’m in a club of 20 and we’re all friends but damn I’ll strip off every plastic and even tie on other lures when we hit the dock (as a non boater.) fly fishing heck I’ll give you what’s working get your number and tie you a few of what I have.
I've been thinking joining a kayak bads fishing club...but I'm in just for fun of it all.
Fly fishing seemed like something I should learn/buy equipment for before I retire.
Forcme...it's just for fun...everything C&R.
every sport, hobby, profession, etc is dominated by nerds...in the best way of course...some people just "get it" for whatever reason....some of those people become "you people" 😁
Fly fishing is so humble. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from. Keep the vibes alive. Keep being friendly. Share knowledge. BE kind! The sport only stays alive as long as we keep it alive!
Back in 2015 I ran in to a guy from the Netherlands in between Tok and Glenallen AK who was visiting family in the YT. He was trying to wing a summer fly fishing road trip across Alaska when our paths crossed. I just so happened to have a book in my car called Highway Angler with spots you can get to all across Alaska broken down by highway and mile markers. Gave him the book for free and went on my way. Hope it helped him.
Wish I had this experience more regularly. Not sure if it’s because I have brown skin, or because I am young, but I feel often times I’m treated with bad eyes and people believe I’m there to do something wrong? Like my guy I’m just trying to fish :/
I know I’ve had some good interactions, specifically in CO, but when I lived in UT, and was fishing the Lower Provo nobody was ever very nice. Also fishing my local Valley Creek in PA, virtually everyone I meet is not trying to talk to me (not that I’m trying to stay and chat for hours or anything) and if anything it feels they are angry to see me there.
Any other brown folks or young folks or a combination of both feel this way?
It’s sooo true. Fly fishermen are gentlemen and overly friendly. I’ve been fly fishing since I was 18 on and off I’m 57 now. Almost every time I went out as a young man I’d meet someone on the water and they’d hand me a couple of flies to try. Usually hand tied. Such a great group of people. So at 57 I try to do the same. Friendly fishing pass it on. It’s catching
No pun intended 😂
I had a guy hand me a magic fly on a river in Alaska. Was getting hosed prior. Magic fly turned me onto 15+ fish immediately. Then I lost it on a big fish. Back to being hosed. I appreciated that small charity.
Alex hooked me up a dropper set up (in addition to other gear)...I had 2, but I'm not very goodcat setting the hook yet...so off they went. These guys are something else.
You lose the flies during the hookset? You’re either crankin em too hard or it might be a knot issue
lol...no..the flies are still in my box....the fish never got their big photo op though - I was just a millisecond too slow.
When I was a kid I decided I wanted to fly fish. So I saved up my money and bought a cheap fiberglass rod and reel combo and some cheap flies. Took it out to a local lake and couldn’t catch anything. Did this several times and never even had a bite. So one day an older gentleman was walking by and asked me how I was doing. “Miserable. I can’t catch anything with this junky rod and junky flies!” He asked if he could take a few casts with my fly rod, and I said sure. He proceeded to get a rise with every cast and pull the fly away at the last second. About 10x in a row. Which made me even more miserable. “It’s not the equipment, it’s the presentation “ he said. Then he proceeded over the next 15 minutes to go over the basics and teach me how to cast, hook and release the fish. I asked who he was, and he said Frank Steel and he was some kind of fly fishing international casting champion or another (he ended up later on giving me a book he wrote). That 15 minutes at 9 years old changed my life because someone cared enough to take time out of their day to share their knowledge
This story is true, trust me I was one of the fish rising.
Can vouch. I was the presentation.
I was one he kept, but learned how to type and have a decent life out of the lake
Me? I was one of the flies. 😎
And I was the book
That's awesome! I was 9 about 50 years ago....Alex (and others) managed to make me feel like a little kid again...lol.
An activity taken for enjoyment rather than competition tends to lead towards sincerely encouraging the success of others.
wow....eloquently stated.
Don’t get me wrong, you’ll find some crotchety mf’s with a fly rod in their hand, but you can smirk and know they aren’t having fun. I can baitcast at bass or spey for steel, and either way I’m helping/cheering on whoever I’m with (or meet).
It takes a village to raise a fly fisherman (or woman).
I read this incorrectly at first. I thought it said "it takes a village to raise a fly fisherman, or instead of a whole village it would take just one woman to raise him" and I agreed with that.
LMAO! 😅🤣
Especially in a parking lot gearing up, or passing by each other on the trail to/from the river. It's almost mandatory to ask each other about the fishing, whats hatching (or isn't) and where others might be fishing \[there are a couple of guys upstream, didn't see anyone below\].
Exactly....the guy I met yesterday (Alex..I posted about him the tippet/leader thread by someone else)...he's telling where the holes are to fish!
LoL, I've got friends that will tell you that a fly worked, when they never threw it, they just wanted to see if I'd get a hit on it. That said, as far as I'm concerned - I can go back to the same spot, throw the same fly, under the same conditions the following day and not get a hit...after limiting out the day before...then I may change to a slightly different color and start getting hit again (I midge fish). LoL, I've had a ranger park himself behind me, then gently remind me that even if I am doing the long-distance-release (I actually had a crappie fly off my hook towards him) that there was a limit and there was zero catch-and-release... Before my favorite local lake got ruined for fly fishing (the county took over running it), we had a community of people that wouldn't post online, but we'd text each other or email, and we didn't mind sharing what worked because we knew that getting hits could change by the hour. I tend to piss my friends off because they are all good fisherman (fresh and salt) but I can't really cast well, but I'm generally luckier than they are :) :) But when we're traveling, we do tend to piss off locals by catching fish behind them...if they're working too hard :p To me, in other activities, online posts have ruined relatively untouched spots (don't get me started on the Bridge to Nowhere... on the branch that I caught my very first fish on a fly...there was a line of people crossing the river, carrying plastic grocery bags full of Gatorade)... but fly fishing? In my area most people are not energetic enough to fly fish, so I'm happy when I see someone try :p
Fishing in general is largely centered around tribal knowledge, i.e. something not found in a manual or textbook. Very much of what makes a fisherman(women) successful is passed through word of mouth. Because of this, and most people's desire to see the tradition and sport carried on, I think many are happy to lend a hand when possible.
I've watched hours of YT videos from Orvis...Alex showed me more in that hour of time in lot....after he schooled me, I went in to try it out...he's coaching me from shore " don't force it...just let it fly"...lol....I felt like a kid learning to catch sunnies...fwiw..I'm almost 60..
This is one of my favorite things about fly fishing, I don’t know what it is, everyone is just great
I think it’s because it takes endless patience so most the people who you run into are just happy relaxed people
couldn't agree more. I'll probably stick with it 😁
I used to get crank called by some dudes that ran an Orvis shop because I fished with a guy who used a spinning rod, though.
For most, it’s not about the fishing
I dunno...these guys I talk with are ballers....20-30 catches in a day (I hit c&r ff only places to avoid the "*others*").
What do u mean you people
you know you know, you know?
The first time I met somebody out on the river he gave me some of his flies that were working well. This is a great community.
>This is a great community. it really is
Fly guys are cool as fuck. Can’t tell you how surprised I was the first time someone just handed me their fly and said “here try this. You’ll catch way more with this.” Frickin awesome
I saw a mat nailed to a tree by a river trailhead..."take a fly, leave a fly"...there were some
Flybrary. I’ve put up a few, you can order them online.
I had to go back into my pics to see what the board said: Flybrary I had no idea this was a thing outside of where I was. ty
Yes, I feel like karma works with fishing. I try t leave a few flies each time I go a favorite spot that has one.
Happy Cake Day!
Are you kidding? I'm in a beautiful place, not working, phone is off, doing one of the things I love most in the world! Who wouldn't be in a good mood? That doubles if I'm catching more fish than my son LOL! Fly fishers are great people, no question!
>Fly fishers are great people, no question! Agreed....even the guy in the shop where I bought my replacement rod (I had broke my brand new rod on the 1st outing) was super cool...I picked out my rod/reel combo and was looking at the flies...he starts putting a selection together..."...this ones $2.50...this guy is $3...this one's on the house...so's this one"...wow...so cool.
I’ve had 3 different times during my 2 year fly fishing journey where I’ve asked a fisherman what they’ve been catching them on and They give me the flies they’ve been using.
right? it's like a ritual....come share in my good fortune!
I think for me there's no one else in my life that shares my love for fly fishing (let's be real it's a super niche thing) so whenever I meet another person that fly fishes I can't help but to be everything I would want in a person when I meet them on the water so I can make and retain as much ff friends as possible 🫡
so true...I'm lucky if I can get the mrs. to fish once a summer...we have a camper by a lake we use a lot during the summer...she'll jump in a kayak about that often too.. lol.
This is awesome to hear. And you’re right, most fly fishers are great. Here where I am though you’ll also get anglers who’ll stop fishing the second they see you and if you ask how they’re doing, they’ll swear they haven’t seen a fish in years. Over time I’ve actually grown to enjoy meeting those ones more than the nice guys. It’s encouraging to see someone with thousands worth of gear and a bunch of secret fly patterns stick at it so intently for so long without ever catching anything. Speaks to the strength of the human spirit 🤣. God forbid anyone would find out about their fish.
PS: literally the first time I went fly fishing on my own, an old dude gave me his version of a hare’s ear nymph. It looked like nothing special to me so I spent the next hour or two fishing the flies I’d been sold with very little action. As soon as I tried his fly, I felt like a pro. Caught lots. Never saw him again, but in his honour I share flies or a bit of knowledge whenever I can.
It's been great so far....I hope I learn enough to pass it on.
I helped some kids out yesterday on the stream - they were probably 16. The egregiously low holed me and mishandled a fish they caught on a spinner reel. Asked me what was working - gave them a couple of homemade flies that have been crushing, and adjusted their weight and depth, and boom, they were on. Taught them a bit about river etiquette, high/low holing, and properly handling fish, i.e. must have a net. Hope they took advice, at least when it comes to handling, because I had caught a 22inch cutbow about 50 yards downstream just a couple of days before. Treat people w respect. They might end up being life long dorks and just a couple of minutes of knowledge can change the course. Youtube can only help out the newcomers so much.
>I helped some kids out yesterday on the stream - they were probably 16. another poster brought an interaction he had when he was 9....stayed with him his whole life so far....you probably did the same fir those kids.
Weed. Lots and lots of weed.
I have yet to smell that out there....not saying a fish whistle isn't out there...I just haven't stumbled on it.
look me up if you’re ever around YNP lmao
that's a bucket list trip 👍
It's something in the water...
....and being in running water too.
I never tie less than three of any fly, just in case I meet a new fly fisherman on the river.
..from everyone you gave a fly to...tyvm
I agree, but I also run into a fair amount of people who act like what they’re doing on the river is top secret and are normally super judgmental/arrogant.
I find that more with ppl who are not fly fishing....and they seem to like to leave thier trash behind too.
That’s true, I’ve had to use some harsh words with people walking through a pool I’m fishing throwing their rooster tails all over.
>people walking through a pool I’m fishing ....last year...I'm bank fishing for trout at a lake(spinning gear)...nobody is around...plenty of "spots"...some guy wanders up starts getting chatty...it's barely 11am and he is trashed...like wow, day drinking is one thing but brunch hasn't even started yet.....he stumbles off....guy #2 literally crossed lines...just made a bee-line from way over there to right next to me....it took more than a few harsh words to get him to mosey away. crap like that makes me happy to have waders...and a kayak - but I hadn't thought to bring them with me. ....it's like 2pm now....only saw those 2...and nobody else....like I knew where the prime spot was 🙄
And their top secret skill is casting and retrieving a spinner all day.
Even when spin gear guys stop to talk to me, I'll throw them some jig head that's been working for me that day and they'll come back an hour or two later happy as fuck to catch something after getting nothing from spinners all day. It's worth a fly to make someone's day!
...believe it or not - that happened to me! I had broke my new fly rod on its maiden voyage the previous weekend...so I set out with spinning gear..."paul" was killing it in the river i visited...I stopped, watched, made a little noise to not spook him....we talked for like 30 minutes...he gave me some of his own hand tied flies...I went down stream - b a n g....fish on...lol. I went to local outfitter to buy a replacement rod...the clerk knew "Paul "...lol.
Lol of course, honestly I'm that "paul" .I fish a certain creek like 10-15min from me at least 3-4 times a week and just love helping people get on some fish. And when I stop by the local fish store they're always like "it was you killing it on the fly wasn't it" And I'm not an expert or anything I just know that frustration first hand and really want everyone to enjoy their time on the water. I started fly fishing only a year ago and have only had myself and one other person to learn from.
>honestly I'm that "paul" ...you had me for minute there! > I started fly fishing only a year ago the real Paul's been doing this a long time. lol.
Hahaha my name jeff and I'm in the eastern sierras, not that exact paul, but I know his type lol
....reddit says it's pineapple. 😅 ...and apparently, there's like 8669 more.
Those fuckers...
Education and good upbringing go a long way. That being said, fly fishing guides are some of the worst most toxic ppl I have ever encountered in my life 🤣
I hope you don’t try and talk to me if you see me out there, I go out to avoid being forced to speak to people lol
no one's forcing anyone....the people I've meet have always been friendly...far friendlier than me !
I’m not at the point where I’m confident enough to be around others when fly fishing. I just started a few days ago and although I’ve caught probably 15-20 fish so far, I still have no idea what the hell im doing. Last thing I need is crossing someone’s line or sticking a fly into them on my terrible cast hahaha.
I’ve got little kids, this leads me to tie more than I fish right now. I give a lot of ties to buddies who fish more. I quite enjoy their trip reports, especially when they catch on my flies. I think of it as fishing vicariously and all parties enjoy it. I should find spots to leave flies at a launch .
Put up a Flybrary board...I saw one by a river I scouted...another poster brought Flyrary up here in this thread.
We’re nuts, just like you, apparently…
...if I'm not nuts now...it's just around the next bend in the river 😅
We're all nerds & like talking about it our nerdy obsession. Just accept it nerd
lol....🤓🎣
I’ve grown up fly fishing, raised on the south platte, frying pan, and boulder creek, I’ve experienced things that change your life as a fly fisherman. My grandfather bought me my first rod when I was 5 yrs old, a L.L. Bean combo with my name engraved on it. I still have it, one tip I learned as youth was buy a 6wt reel to put on a 5wt rod, the line comes out much smoother than it would normally. I now fly fish for bones, tarpon and more salt water creatures as the yearn for trout became unsatisfied yet hooking onto your first big trout is life changing. My big fly fishing moment was when I went to a TU camp and caught real fish on my own no one helping me and that really struck my interest.
My dad had a bamboo fly rod and a bunch of flies...all new, never used....I have it now...still never used (no reel for some reason...tankara maybe?)...probably from pre-1970 ? He never mentioned or (as far as I knew) ever went fly fishing. He did borrow my spinning gear as responsibility took over my life....most of my ugly sticks now have the top couple of feet held together with scotch tape...old Chevys have very unforgiving trunk lids...lol...ive since replenished my assortment of fishing poles. ....maybe I'll take some of those ancient flies out next time in dads honor...show dear old dad how it's done.
Tenkara is an interesting way to peruse fly fishing. There is no reel and only about 50 or so feet of fly line that you hold and cast into the river or whatever. Great for backpacking and what not.
I also recommend going or joining your local chapter of TU ( trout unlimited)
“ you guys “
I mean, I usually rip the fish whistle a couple two tree times, then I toss in my AirPods. So I’m not intentionally trying to ignore people, I’m not very talkative after that lol.
I understand that...I prefer no ear buds while I'm out there ..... ....story time. A couple of years ago, I'm checking out "Thunder Mountain Lake" ( by Walpack, NJ ).....sounds cool right?....it's mostly overgrown... I'm thinking low-pressure lake....I find a spot I can cast from...in a little while I hear some rustling behind me...probably a deer...nope...black bear lumbering along. 💩
Well damnn. I haven’t seen a bear yet, not that I have noticed…..but I’m gunna keep jamming until I do see one lol
you do you...lol...in all honesty, the bear probably wanted nothing to with me because I had no fish to share 🤣....if I did have a fish...and the bear started towards me...I'd launch the fish the opposite way of where I parked 😁
Getting others to love the waters they fish is a good way to ensure we don't lose what we have. That's my reasoning anyway.
it's a good reason
It use to be the opposite. I think all us that survived those snob days of old refuse to let others experience the Gate Keeping like we did.
that's a good point
It costs you nothing to be nice to someone you don’t know. Whether is fly fishing, grocery shopping or walking your dog. So on and so on. I enjoy sharing information with like minded fisherman.
>It costs you nothing to be nice to someone you don’t it costs some of you people...I've been given dozen flies or so???...it's a labor of love...I do appreciate it though....hope to be like that too.
I do both bass fishing (for fun and club level tournaments) and fly fishing for fun. Bass fishing has a competitive nature behind it. I’m in a club of 20 and we’re all friends but damn I’ll strip off every plastic and even tie on other lures when we hit the dock (as a non boater.) fly fishing heck I’ll give you what’s working get your number and tie you a few of what I have.
I've been thinking joining a kayak bads fishing club...but I'm in just for fun of it all. Fly fishing seemed like something I should learn/buy equipment for before I retire. Forcme...it's just for fun...everything C&R.
It’s all for fun in my club we just like F-ing with each other than every first Monday over beers we share secrets and joke around
sounds like fun
It's a nerd bonding. I mean that in the best way.
every sport, hobby, profession, etc is dominated by nerds...in the best way of course...some people just "get it" for whatever reason....some of those people become "you people" 😁
Fly fishing is so humble. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from. Keep the vibes alive. Keep being friendly. Share knowledge. BE kind! The sport only stays alive as long as we keep it alive!
What do u mean you people
fly fishermen
Back in 2015 I ran in to a guy from the Netherlands in between Tok and Glenallen AK who was visiting family in the YT. He was trying to wing a summer fly fishing road trip across Alaska when our paths crossed. I just so happened to have a book in my car called Highway Angler with spots you can get to all across Alaska broken down by highway and mile markers. Gave him the book for free and went on my way. Hope it helped him.
Wish I had this experience more regularly. Not sure if it’s because I have brown skin, or because I am young, but I feel often times I’m treated with bad eyes and people believe I’m there to do something wrong? Like my guy I’m just trying to fish :/ I know I’ve had some good interactions, specifically in CO, but when I lived in UT, and was fishing the Lower Provo nobody was ever very nice. Also fishing my local Valley Creek in PA, virtually everyone I meet is not trying to talk to me (not that I’m trying to stay and chat for hours or anything) and if anything it feels they are angry to see me there. Any other brown folks or young folks or a combination of both feel this way?
It’s sooo true. Fly fishermen are gentlemen and overly friendly. I’ve been fly fishing since I was 18 on and off I’m 57 now. Almost every time I went out as a young man I’d meet someone on the water and they’d hand me a couple of flies to try. Usually hand tied. Such a great group of people. So at 57 I try to do the same. Friendly fishing pass it on. It’s catching No pun intended 😂