Thread: So I'm Learning to Fly Fish

Living in Louisiana, we do not have trout and or the nice trout streams that others are privileged to have but we do have bass, panfish and an assortment of sea fish that can and are routinely taken on the fly ---via the old fly rod. So I'm learning to do this thing and have taken a couple of small bass on some poppers and dry flies ---but it is a skill to learn for sure. So if you fly fish and want to give me some advice or just want to chat about your fly fishing (or just fishing) adventures ---we'll here's your chance ---


Justin

Go rent 'A River Runs Through It' ....

....hours spent flipping flies on a trout stream are definitely NOT wasted hours.

Be prepared for the honorable addiction.


-Lou

Originally Posted by scarface

Go rent 'A River Runs Through It' ....

....hours spent flipping flies on a trout stream are definitely NOT wasted hours.

Be prepared for the honorable addiction.


-Lou

Hey Lou, how are you?

Maybe one day I'll be able to experience real trout fishing --- and I will honorably not waste hours flipping flies.

Question: I can see the advantages of fly fishing ---particularly dry flies for even panfish and bass as you really can't present a top water lure as well with a bait casting setup ---Are there times when trout will ignore everything but a well presented fly?

Justin

Justin,

Did you see this thread from a few weeks ago, you don't really need to worry about the fly. Apart from that, I can't really help much with fly fishing.

http://www.nothingtoxic.com/media/11...ne_Flying_Fish

Cheers
John

welcome to one of the other hobbies that can consume more $ and more time than golf. Fly fishing is one of the greatest things to do in life. Just you, the stream, the fly (that you may have tied yourself), and the fish. I fly fish for trout, although my time to do so has been limited due to children. I have always wanted to try saltwater flyfishing, as I have trout all around me (Colorado). Getting away to the mountains, relaxing, and enjoying the day is so nice.

Have to do to dinner. More to come.

Hey Justin,
I can't give you any advise because I never learned how, but I remember when I was a young boy my Grandpa took to a lake in Oregon where we used flies on a regular fishing pole! He called it trolling. my Grandpa would row us around the lake while we laid our flies on the water and let the line out slowly. There was nothing more exciting than watching a big trout suddenly jump out of the water, drop back into the water, and then feel that pull on your pole that lets you know that trout will soon be your dinner!

You know for a guy from Louisiana, the idea of catching trout is a special thing as I have only seen trout on a few occasions in other states but never have fished for them. It has something to do with water temperature --- the water is too warm in Louisiana but they do have trout in Arkansas and Texas (both stocked I believe). Yep you guys don't know how lucky (or maybe you do) you are with the trout, the mountains, the clear streams, . The fishing is great in Louisiana --- maybe some of the best saltwater fishing in the world ---but ----one day I'll wade through a rocky bottom, fast moving stream, and catch some rainbows, browns, or whatever on a well presented fly --- for now just dreams.

I've spent a little time of late in the what is basically the upper part of the Texas "Hill Country". The water there is fairly clear with some shallow creeks and streams. You can sit and see rolling hills for miles it seems --- maybe not a big deal to some --but here the land is very flat and trees everywhere and everything is marginally above sea level. I could get use to hills and mountains for sure ---- it would just take some time for the webbing between my toes to recede and the Louisiana cooking to be just a fond memory ---but I could handle it for sure (with fly rod in hand ).

Justin

Okay, dinner is over, and the kids are in bed.
If you ever get to Colorado, I can tell you some great places to go, which most people don't go, because you have to hike a ways in, and it is so worth it!!!!

Think of a mountain valley where a fire when through about 20 years ago, and cut a perfect path right down the stream from horizon to horizon. All the pine trees are standing dead, casualties to the raging flames. There is almost nothing to snag your fly since all of the trees have no needles, and only the stoutest of the branches still jut out of the dead trunks. The aspen are coming in new, and the wildflowers take your breath away with the purple, blue, red, yellow. The scent of summer hangs like French perfume, as you take as much of it into your lungs as you can on each breath. A lone hawk is circling above ready to streak down out of the blue, and catch some unsuspecting mouse out to munch on the grass and new aspen shoots. The stream about 10 feet wide meanders its way down the valley with the trickling sound of gently rolling water. About every 20 to 40 yards a dead tree has fallen into the stream and caused a natural dam, a perfect pool for trout to just sit and wait for a fly to haplessly land on the water, and lay its eggs. Not just any trout, but natural cutthroats. Great fighters, and renownedly skittish at any sign of a human. You stalk your way up to about 20 feet from the pool, crouching so the fish don't see you. You slowly start your cast, forward and back, forward and back. letting out your line. All you see is the pool, the dot of the fly obeying your every command. Then you let loose, landing the fly first, perfectly, almost no ripple detected by your keen eye through the polarized sunglasses. The rest of the line lays softly on the water, pointing its way to the target. The water just the right temperature where you don't have to wear waders, but still cold enough that you never quite get used to it, and constantly feel the water rushing past your legs, and into your old worn Nikes. The same Nikes which your wife desperately wants to give a one way trip to the dump, but they have been with you on every great fishing adventure, and you refuse to relinquish your cherished good luck charms. Then you see it, movement toward the fly as it drifts just past a branch of the fallen soldier who once stood as vanguard against others daring to cast their line into the stream in which it now lies. The strike, the end of your pole pulls down, your heart races, instincts take over, and you set the hook. A sharp pull up on the pole, but just enough to set it and not break your tippet. Your quarry takes off down the stream, you can't just stop it or the tippet breaks and you lose the fish and the fly. You increase drag on the reel with the palm of your hand as the fish dashes down the stream. The friction heats the palm of you hand. The fish begins to tire, and you being to pull in the line, slowly, methodically. The hawk lets out its loan scream as if taunting you that you will never land such a trophy. The fish breaks again, down the stream, you pray that it does not snag your line on a fallen tree. The fish tires, and you again bring in the line. carefully you get the fish at your feet, you reach around behind your back to grasp your hand made maple fishing net hanging off the grommet on the back of your vest. you dip the net in the water, praying that the fish does not again make a break for it, when you are so close to complete triumph. You maneuver the fish over the net, and BAM, you have it!!!

I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!

You are in for quite a ride my friend

Justin, I can't tell you anything about fly fishing. But whatever you do, make sure you wear underpants! We don't want another "John's Old Dad" incident

James.

PS There was an Australian series on fly fishing called "A River Somewhere" put out by the ABC. It made me want to take up fly fishing, just for the scenery. Then I remembered that I have no fine motor skills...

Ok, I'll bite. I just started Fly fishing about 6 months ago (fly fishing in Hawaii...) Unfortunately, I don't have a boat or the inclunation to spend $600 on a salt water 9 wt set up from the only fly shop in town. So I'm stuck catching nothing but banded cicalids and and occational bass (occasional as in I caught 2...there just aren't that many). Dispite all the drawbacks to fly fishing in Hawaii, I still love it.

We also have some good sized bones here (around 6-8 lb average), but not many. Too many people, not enough fish (many of the locals catch and keep with no disgretion [sp?]).

Colorado I'm told has some nice trout...