How has fly fishing changed you life?

[Rustyinfla]

   My son and I have only been fly fishing for about four years now, but something really strange happened to me right from the start. When I went to a local fly shop to buy my son and I both an outfit for Christmas there was a man there just kind of hangin out. When I was checking out at the register I told the clerk that my son and I were just getting started in fly fishing. The fellow that was doing the hanging out asked how old my son was. I said he was 12 years old. The fellow looked kind of sorrowful and said boy I wish someone had started me out fly fishing when I was 12 years old. I said really why is that? He said well I'll tell you, since I've started fly fishing it has changed my life. Really I asked... how is that? About that time the fellow's cell phone rang and he said OK I'll be right over after a brief conversation. He bid everyone farewell and rushed out the door. There I stood thinking wait, wait , you didn't tell me how fly fishing changed you life?

  I never did find out what the guy was talking about. Maybe you'd care to offer a little insight into what fly fishing has done for you.

         thanks,
           Rusty <><

[pastorp]

Rusty, Years ago in the south end of St Petersburg there was a tackle shop called Betts. One of their employes built rods and especially fly rods. In the evenings about twice a week he held a fly tying school in his home and gave fly casting lessons. I was about 20 years old and he taught me to fly fish.
Fly fishing is a different mindset, and it becomes a lifestyle. You savor the experience not just the catch. Sort of like motorcycles. The adventure is in the ride not just the destination. It teaches you to slow down and smell the roses so to speak. It is not for everyone, but if you love it then give your bass rods away and flyfish for everything. Some of my fondest memories of florida are flycasting to tarpon. A big snook on a streamer is a real trophy.  Regards, Byron

[Rustyinfla]

 I believe you're right about that Byron. The pleasure comes from the fishing, not just from the catching. When I first went to the Tampa Bay Fly Fishing club's monthly meetings I soon found out about a beginner's class they were having. When I went to the class the first thing the speaker said was that every fish that swims can be caught on a fly. That seemed to remove the handicaps right there. I've found that personally I get a great deal of satisfaction just from making a good cast. Enticing a fish to strike the fly is a bonus.
   It gets all that much better when he strikes a fly I tied myself.

        Anybody else?

           Rusty <><

[Buckskin]

Cost me a couple hundred bucks, and a little space in the corner of my gargage for my rod.

[pastorp]

Buckskin, sounds like fly fishing has really made a difference in your life.  How much time do you spend fly fishing? Tying flies? Reading about fly fishing? Just curious. Regards, Byron

[Buckskin]

About all I do is the yearly treck down to the steelhead rivers in Southeast Wisconsin in, well damn it's almost that time of year!!! Catch enough for the smoker, maybe a few more. I tie big ugly fly's, probably 12 a year. Although I am going to start tying fly's (streamers)for trolling in Lake Michigan this year.  Read about it? What's to read, steelhead fishing is almost as easy as carp spearing.  As for trout streams, give me a couple dozen redworms and I will out fish any guy with a fly-rod.

[pastorp]

Well can't argue with you on the worms. they will outfish most baits.  regards, Byron

I was in a hurry last evening and would like to add to this post a thought or two this evening. The above statement is true if you are only interested in the catch. Of course we could sein the creek and get a even larger catch (if legal).

I live in a subsistance area in Alaska. I can legally catch 800lbs of halibet in a day with comercial gear if I only cared about the catch. Same with salmon. I don't need that much fish.

I fly fish because I have chosen to increase the degree of dificulity in acheving my catch. Of course each sets their own limits, within the law. I don't read about fly fishing to learn how. I learned years ago. I read for the lititary content and the enjoyment of sharing in anothers experience.

I hope some day fly fishing will surpass a easy way to fish in a certain fishery, and make fishing a contest between you and a fish. I would rather catch one fish caught on a fly I tied, than a boat load in a gill net. Perhaps I am crazy but I jig for halibit with 6lb test line also. If it takes me and hour to land a chicken halibit I consider it a greater achivement and enjoy it more than a barn door with 200# test.

Oh well, please forgive the rambelings of a old man thats set in his ways.  Regards, Byron

[Rustyinfla]

 Byron,
   Maybe it goes back to the old saying about why they call it fishing instead of catching. I find it pleasurable to cast a tight loop or make a long double haul. To actually hook up is like icing on the cake.
   I fish mainly salt water and I find that a Clouser fits most of my needs. Gosh it's hard to move away from something that works so well.

       Rusty <><

[Buckskin]

I agree with you that it is more satisfactory to catch a fish on a fly.  Being one on one.  That being said, having 2 boys under 4 years, I really don't have the time to fish as I used to and I certainly don't have the oportunity to catch halibet (one of my favorite eating fish!).  Some day I hope to be able to take my kids up to Alaska and let them (as well as I) expirience how life should be.  Then we will fly fish, as well as bring home a barn door if we're lucky!

If I were in your shoes I would be a fly fisherman also.
Til' then.

[pastorp]

Buckskin, you could live in Alaska if you were willing to make the sacafrices necessary to acheive that goal.  Most just make excusses. Regards, Byron

[NONYA]

how has it changed my life?well lets see i have to spend my summer surrounded by 100,000 morons all dressed alike in thier orvis/queer eye color matching outfitts and i have completly stopped fly fishing because all the outfitters have ruined the good strechs of the rivers unless you want to stand shoulder to shoulder with  guys that want to tell you how much thier equipment costs and how rich they are and how much they love MT,ill be glad when this trend has seen its end.

[Buckskin]

Pastorp: Live there ha, a few visits will be plenty.  Winters are bad enough here in Wisconsin.

For once we agree on something NONYA.

[pastorp]

Buckskin, thats the beauty of Alaska. It's so large you can have almost any climate you want except tropical.  It was probably warmer in my part of Alaska this morning than where your at. 50 degrees here. I live in the rain forests of Alaska. Regards, Byron

[pastorp]

NONYA, glad your enjoying the montana yuppy fishery. You need to just move farther back into the mountains. Then you will excape the crowds.

We have combat fishing here in Alaska also. Any river within driving distance of Anchorage will be that way. Fortunally we have about 550,000 sq miles left for solitude.  Regards, Byron

[Rustyinfla]

 Well, nothing personal guys but I'm in Florida. I'm kind of stuck on tropical.


        Rusty <><

[NONYA]

Thats the problem,these queer eye for the fly guy fisherman are camped out in the remote parts of the state,no escaping them,anywhere.

[Buckskin]

Yeah, rain forests of alaska. I suppose next your going to tell me that the sun never stops shining.

[pastorp]

Buckshin, do a search on southeast Alaska or Tongass national forest. We grow some of the biggest bears in the world here. Alaska is larger than you can believe. Almost 3x the size of Texas.

If you put Barrow on the canadian border in the center of the us then southeast Alaska would extend into north Florida and the Aleutian chain into baha california.

With over 3,000 miles east to west and over 2,000 miles north to south you can see that would include a wide variety of climates.

Alaska has about 600,000 residents about one for each sq. mile. About half live in Anchorage, leaving lots of room for the rest of us.

Regards, Byron 

[pastorp]

Buchskin, the interiour does get lots of sunshine in the summer unfortnally most of our sunshine in southeast is of the liquid variety. About 190" a year where I live.  Regards, Byron

Rusty, You can adjust. St Petersburg is my home town. Byron

[Rustyinfla]

 Byron,
   I did have a missionary come to my church that was going to AK to start a mission project. he showed pictures of the AK State Fair. I remember they had some of the biggest cabbages and other vegetables I've ever seen. They attributed it to the long days during the growing season.

  Seriously, I would like to come up there some time.

  You want to know how small this world really is? the man that led me to the Lord when I was 11 years old moved away from me when I was in Md. He moved to Pa. where he retired from Westinghouse. He moved then to NC where he retired a second time from the state. He is now a missionary in S. Africa. When I first got my computer one of the first friends I met over the net lives in Ninichikl, AK. Would you believe that someone from his church is on the field in S.Africa with that man?

   Rusty <><

[pastorp]

Rusty, what church. Whats the missionaries name. I may know him. Alaska is huge but in many ways a small community, at least in the bush. I have been fortunate to travel a large part of the state and know people in a lot of the villages. If I don't know him I may know someone that does.

Were getting off topic I guess but have you ever attended a service at Rodney Howard Browns church in Tampa? His youth pastor was in several villages here in southeast Alaska a couple of summers ago. Very well received from what what I hear.

I will be in Georgia and Florida in june to visit family and for a wedding maybe we could eat lunch one day if our schedules work out. My favorite fish is catfish, you wouldn't happen to know a good seafood resturant that serves it. E-mail me if you are interested. Byron

[pastorp]

NONYA, concerning the yuppies. My son and a friend of his and myself had packed back into the Gila wilderness a few years ago with our horses. We set up a camp on Iron creek. We were elk hunting.

Downstream there was a yuppy looking fellow that had backpacked in and set up a small tent camp and was also elk hunting. His clothes were the latest fashion in hunting apperal. And he was perfectly groomed. My son naned him "MR. CLEAN" Looked like he just steped out of a Orvis catalog. We saw him several times during the 10 days we camped there and he always looked the same.

Of course we wore old clothes and heated water every few days for a sponge bath, so we did not look or smell like he did. Everytime we saw him my son would ask, Dad how does he stay so clean? His filson clothes probably cost more than my horse and saddle.  Regards, Byron

[NONYA]

I know the type,Im just glad i dont have to deal with them in the fall like the Dakotas do with the pheasent hunters...these guys look like they just stepped out of a LL Bean catalog and talk like they own the state,i was hoping whirling disease would kill all the trout but no luck.