working on a new issue and one of our writers did a piece on flyfishing and he was in here dropping off some photos and we got to talking. he offered to take me out and show me how to cast and show me what its all about.

he was telling me all about it and it somewhat sounds like fun.

i'm not big joe fisherman, but flyfishing sounds like its a lot better than just baiting a hook and waiting for a bobber to drop so you can try to reel in some dinky 4" brown trout.

anyway, just wondering if any of you are into fly fishing?
like i really need another hobby, but my grandfather used to tie his own flys and he left me all his gear and a couple polls, so its not like i'll be out much.

 

I fly fish, its a family thing passed down from generation to generation...ever seen "A River Runs Through It" or read the book...yeah, that's my family with fly fishing.

 

well? is it fun? boring? somethign only old guys in jeeps do?

 

fly fishing is a relaxing experence. My Dad does it just to get away from everything.

 

I find it fun in the same way that a hunter finds hunting fun. Its about the experience mainly, standing by the stream, whisking away with your pole and line in hand, looking for that perfect rise. Its cool once you get into it.

 

We call them rods (poles you bait fish or spin fish with). Damn straight it's FUN. I fish mostly for Steelhead (Ocean going trout on steroids). When you hook one it's like a 50mph brick ripping off line. The fight can be up to a 1/2 hour. I pull him or her in, feel that cold wild animal in my hands, pop out the barbless hook and send him on his way!

I also usually stop after one fish. It's about figuring out where they 'should' be... what they 'should' be eating. As well as the best approach and angle for your drift over them.

It is a lifetime learning thing (not unlike golf or chess in that sense). My 9 year old girl loves it (she is still working on Trout ~ too big of river for Steelhead). My Dad just picked it up (@ 73 years!). Taught the ex-wife and her new mate (before the 'pairing') how to do it as well. It takes commitment to learn, you won't be a geek forever (but you will stand out as a 'beginner' ~ not unlike surfing).

Is it as fun as a ripping up a canyon in an STI or EVO? A 10+ woman in bed? Not hardly.

But, if you just need to clear your head... get in touch with nature, sit on the bank drinking a cold one and seeing just how smart an animal can be with a brain the size of a pea... Then go for it!

I am 53 (yep, an old fart), but I started at 12 with my uncle. I gave it up for fast cars, girls and booze. Then about 15 years ago got back into it ~ the good news? I still like fast cars, girls, booze AND fly fishing.

Oh...yeah. It's expensive. The better 'rods' are the cost of a cat-back and I have over a dozen of them in the garage right now. The better reels, the cost of a nice Rota 17" wheel.

Below ~ My fish and my daughter's fish caught on the fly!

 

Um, whatever dude, pole, rod, dick, same thing.