Fly Fishing Question

[M.D. Holloway]

When I was very young, I remember watching this ol guy fly fishing. First thing he would do is walk along the shore of the lake picking at the ground and looking under leaves and so forth. The he would reach into his vest and pull out a small hook and some feathers or something and some line and proceed to tie a fly with his bare hands. He would cast maybe twice to three times and a fish would hit. It was amazing.

I talkied to him once - I asked him what he was doing and he told me he first checked out the various bugs that were local, then he figuered out at what stage of life they were in then he tied a fly (wet or dry - depending on the stage of the bug or the fish or the time). Fish like familar food he would say - I guess he was right.

It wasn't till years later that I learned just how good this guy was. To be able to figuer out the bugs stage is good, to tie a fly to mimic it is better, but to do it with just your fingers and no vice or needle noise and to cut the line with your teeth? Serious chops. I'm not sure but this maybe a lost art that I sure wish I learned from him - once again, I will chalk it up to yet another person I wish I got to know better but didn't!

Anybody ever see this done? Hear of it?

[vash]

i took a fly casting class once. i kicked butt. then i got out to a river and i was an effen walking disaster. my mind vaporlocked. i gave it up. fishing is one of my favorite pastimes. i am sorry i dont do it enough. i would if i lived in texas!

i like dropping big bass plugs, from the deck of a loud gas guzzling bass boat for my fishing kicks. but the most fun i have ever had was casting bits of popcorn and rice krispy treats with a fly rod to rising carp. what a rush. i got a bit grossed out, when all the chinese folks in my hood ate the fish.. ( i tried a bite, it wasnt bad )

[slodave]

I decided one time that I was in the perfect spot, but really need to move to the left a little due to a tree behind me. I moved my pole instead and ended up catching my left cheek - my face people, my face. I should've just moved. And by the way, I have never seen anyone just flick some leaves around on the sopt and tie a fly, sorry.

Dave

[M.D. Holloway]

Dave - fishing with two friends many years ago and way too many beers, Johnny V casts his lure only to catch Al's eyebrow. Al, with lure safely embedded was screaming and Johnny V was doing all he could to keep the line loose. I came over to check it out - Al was swearing his head off. I took out a pair of needle nose and tried to take out the hook. I know it is'n t funny but for the life of me I still don't understand why Johnny V and I just started busting out and got into a laughing jag that made us both useless. Al cut the line and is now standing above us as we are rolling on the ground.

He has a lure dangling from his brow and screaming at us on how insensitive and immature we are. After we calm down I walked over to Al who was now just sitting on the bank as pissed as a guy could be. I backed the hook out, told him I was sorry for being a prick and we spent to rest of the day fishing. About every 10 to 15 minutes Johhny V and I would just bust out again. Yep, I'm a prick...

[vash]

fishing and beer! love it. i took some college buddies out. me and two drunken fools on a boat is two too many drunken fools. well, i was hitting white bass on a rapala shad lookalike, and they all decided to switch too. this one guy ties on one and sets gets ready to cast. way too much extra line. well the plug is sitting on deck, right when the second guys goes, " hey lookee here, i will use this plug". he picks it up, right when the other guy cast, and takes up all the slack. he did a fantastic hook set right into the guys clenched hands. it was hideous. i laughed my butt off, as i rocketed the guy back to shore for hook removal. oh, pain is a good sobering agent.

[Don Ro]

Speaking of carp, best way to cook it:

Chop fresh rosemary & garlic, toss into freshly squeezed lemon juice, add salt/pepper.
Saturate cedar shingle with above.
Pre-heat oven to 400'.
Place carp onto shiingle and into oven for 20 - 30 minutes.
Remove, toss out the carp, eat the shingle.
.
.
.
.
Old North Dakota fishing joke.
You had to be there.

[slodave]

I was very gald that it was catch and release and that the hook was barbless. I have hooked myself on my finger with barb before.

Dave

[Eric Coffey]

You are not a true fisherman until you have a lure removed from your body (right hand for me), and placed on the Kenai, AK Hospital "wall of shame" cork board.

[gassy]

Rapala, right ear for me.

[austin552]

I hear you go to get out in the yard and put in the practice. My Mom caught a seagull with a spinner once.

[carnutzzz]

Rapala treble hook- scalp.

What the old timer was doing was called "match the hatch".

[Joeaksa]

Lived in Montana years ago, one of the mecca's for fly fishermen. Tried it a few times but it takes years of practice and a bit of help from someone who knows what they are doing.

Once you get it down there is nothing like it...

[fintstone]

I used to tie my own flies when I fished for trout back home as a kid. Just thread and whatever feathers or fur (like a squirrel tail) I could find. They did not look too pretty, but the fish would strike them. Apparently they are not as selective as one would think if the general dimensions and action are correct. Especially in fast water.

[ledhedsymbols]

I'm an avid fisherman of all stripes, and my goal for the last few years has been fly fishing. I'm living in Western Washington now. I have never seen anyone tie their own flys on the fly (clever huh) but many fly fisherman carry markers to change the appearance of flys to match a little more precisely. On a weekend, I'll also scout Friday evening. Go home, tie flys and then get out early Sat and Sun. My goal this year is steelhead on a fly. Up here that is part of becoming legend. The few who can make a steelhead rise to a dry fly.... Well, they are demigods.

Tight Lines Everyone
Micah

[HardDrive]

My father is a fly fishing guru. Ties all his own flys. Fishes the rivers of western and northern Michigan during the summer, as well as Montana and Washington.

[yellowline]

Rapalas are ridiculously sharp.

I had some kind of hook stuck in the back of my right hand from a very bad cast.

Fly fishing is an art - that said, it's tough enough to fish normally around here, what with all the cover and trees bordering most banks.

[ledhedsymbols]

Two words "steeple cast"

Gamakatsu are the sharpest hooks I use, the Owners I use to tie on are pretty wicked too.

Micah

HardDrive,
Are you a feather tosser as well? I see you are in my hood.

[austin552]

My wants to try surf casting.
Rule #1: You catch you clean.
ended that one...

[K. Roman]

I used to tie flies when I was a kid. I caught a brown trout on a fly I made out of my dogs hair! I recently (a few years ago) have gotten back into fishing. Caught a six pound trout on a black rooster tail in San Francisco, Lake Merced. That was one of my favorite catches ever...Who has caught a trout is SF?

[K. Roman]

yeah.