Fifty Plus (50+) - OT: Fly fishing

Any fly fishers out there?
From my last trip. Decent brown. Big ones about to be had soon. 4wt TFO with 6x tippet:

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q11/bigbadwulff/2011-10-30_11-47-11_780.jpg

This is the 1st year that I haven't gone flyfishing in a while. The summer here was hot and windy and with the price of gas being what it was, I was less inclined to drive 2-3 hours to hit my usual spots. Typically I use a 4DT with a 5 or 6x tippet on a Sage 7 1/2ft 4wt rod. One of my winter chores this year will be cleaning, rearranging, etc my gear. Its a wonderful way to fish and particulary with dry flies.:thumb:

I've even decided to bass/ bream(blue gill) fish with a fly rod. For that I use a Redington Predator 6wt 7'10" rod. Tons of fun especially when the bass are hitting the surface on poppers! for sub-surface I use a chain bead eyed wooley bugger mainly. The hits are completely different on the wb. More of a slurping up than a hard hit like on typical bass lures.

Natives.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v606/TRexRacing/Brookie.jpg

Nice pics guys. Here is a nice rainbow taken in late August on the Kanektok River in Southwest Alaska. Caught on a 6wt. Sage Rod using a egg imitation. Quite a fight - the rainbows in Alaska are strong!

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-prBWTAuh3jA/TrLq-02fDwI/AAAAAAAAAiY/pmcO9x5bdL0/s640/P1000803.JPG

I am taking my wife flyfishing tomorrow for our 25th wedding anniversary. Yes, my wife loves to flyfish too...I am a lucky, lucky man!

Nice bow!

Northerners, eat yer hearts out. This is what a blue gill is supposed to look like:
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q11/bigbadwulff/fish%20pictures/DSC00873.jpg
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q11/bigbadwulff/fish%20pictures/BrownsvilleBluegill.jpg

I fly fish mostly in warm water and catch black bass, stripers and white bass around home (east Texas). But my real love is fly fishing on the Texas coast for redfish. If you have never tried salt water fly fishing, do yourself a favor and check it out.

Now this is something I have a desire to learn. Possibly I'll go take the L.L. Bean 3 day fly fishing class in the spring.

But. And a big but. I do NOT need another expensive hobby !.

Sigh

I have not been for a year or so , but found a whole batch of rods and reels and my big box of fly tying stuff, so later this winter will practice up on tying technique,and get ready for the summer...
Bud

I haven't tried fly fishing, do some spin casting though, I don't fish to actually catch anything, I fish so I can sit by the water without needing to really do anything for an hour or two, I'll set my hook a couple of feet above the bottom, take a good cast, and just watch the floater, bounce up and down until I get bored and go home. Last time I caught something good, was with my Uncle and cousin, sitting in my Uncle's boat, I was probably 22 or 23 at the time......

On the Lamar River.... Yellowstone, 2008
http://inlinethumb56.webshots.com/48311/2259558880102275918S600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb10.webshots.com/47305/2566816720102275918S600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb62.webshots.com/47101/2815210120102275918S600x600Q85.jpg

I wish fishing was as good for you as cycling!
On the Elk River British Columbia....
http://inlinethumb07.webshots.com/47110/2462713330102275918S600x600Q85.jpg
http://inlinethumb23.webshots.com/48726/2350420400102275918S600x600Q85.jpg

Let's put this back on topic. Does anyone ride their bike to a favorite fishing hole? I am sort of surprised that I have only seen one person with fishing gear on a bike in all the miles of touring I have done. It seems like a great way to spend a rest day or two, even for someone who is as fishing ignorant as me.

Well, it does turn out that really great flyfishing destinations are often also great areas for cycling... especially mountain biking. Fernie, BC (http://www.hellobc.com/en-CA/RegionsCities/Fernie.htm)is an example. Durango, CO also, and many places in the great state of Montana.

Let's put this back on topic. Does anyone ride their bike to a favorite fishing hole? I am sort of surprised that I have only seen one person with fishing gear on a bike in all the miles of touring I have done. It seems like a great way to spend a rest day or two, even for someone who is as fishing ignorant as me.

Sure do. I love to strap my 4 piece rod to my camelback and ride my Mountain Bike in to a number of mountain rivers. On my bike, I can cover so much more ground than a hiker can, and get into places on rivers that get little pressure.

I feel like such a sissy! I ride 5 miles to a community pond and catch and release hatchery rainbows. Don't tell anybody, but I sometimes bring them home and eat them, fresh or smoked.

Best trip was combining dirt biking with fly fishing in Colorado. Great way to get from fishing hole to fishing hole.

Well, it does turn out that really great flyfishing destinations are often also great
, CO also, and many places in the great state of Montana.
The Bighorn in Montana, is really good,,,,
Bud

When visiting my son, Mountain bike along Rock Creek, MT. Just watch out for the outfitters hauling trailers. They are wide and fast!

225716

Well, it does turn out that really great flyfishing destinations are often also great areas for cycling... especially mountain biking. Fernie, BC (http://www.hellobc.com/en-CA/RegionsCities/Fernie.htm)is an example. Durango, CO also, and many places in the great state of Montana.
:thumb::thumb::thumb:

My town of birth (Fernie). I have been lucky enough to fish the rivers of both and enjoyed them both immensely. Durango is a great little town.

Yes I do. Any kind of water, cold, warm, salt..... Great fish pics everyone!

The Bighorn in Montana, is really good,,,,
Bud

I have made a note of that... it seems to be a float trip type environment.

I have made a note of that... it seems to be a float trip type environment.
and really worth it....
Bud

I live in Billings, MT and back when the the fly fishing passion seized me I used to fish the Bighorn year round. It's not as good as it was--many years of low water due to diminished releases from the dam has reduced the number of fish per mile from around 10,000 to 3,000-4000--but it is still a very good river, though there are far too many guided trips in the summer. A decent fisherman could catch 10-20 good-sized trout 16-24 inches) on a good day, but could almost always come away with half-a-dozen. The first twelve miles below the dam is where the good fishing takes place. You can walk parts of it, but most people float. Drift boats are popular, but you can use a canoe, rowboat, or touring kayak. There is no white water or rocks to worry about. I don't fish much anymore, but the Bighorn is some of the best flyfishing in the lower forty-eight. It is best for nymphing, but there is good dry fly fishing as well.

I live in Billings, MT and back when the the fly fishing passion seized me I used to fish the Bighorn year round. It's not as good as it was--many years of low water due to diminished releases from the dam has reduced the number of fish per mile from around 10,000 to 3,000-4000--but it is still a very good river, though there are far too many guided trips in the summer. A decent fisherman could catch 10-20 good-sized trout 16-24 inches) on a good day, but could almost always come away with half-a-dozen. The first twelve miles below the dam is where the good fishing takes place. You can walk parts of it, but most people float. Drift boats are popular, but you can use a canoe, rowboat, or touring kayak. There is no white water or rocks to worry about. I don't fish much anymore, but the Bighorn is some of the best flyfishing in the lower forty-eight. It is best for nymphing, but there is good dry fly fishing as well.

Bummer... it is the dryfly experience that I crave the most. I wonder if recent high water in MT will improve the Bighorn? I have fished the Madison many times between Ennis and Quake Lake and it is excellent scenery but not as productive as it once was (I am told). The Elk around the Fernie, BC area is the best fishing I have ever seen so far and I have been up there four times with great results every time. I can't wait to return to Durango someday to combine a fishing and cycling experience. I really liked it there but, alas, was not into cycling at the time of my previous visit.

I fish exclusively with fly gear.......tie my own flys and have even built 2 rods to date. I'm a self-confessed ultralight gear head. My favorite rod is a 7'6 Echo Classic 3wt, overlined with a DT4 to slow it down some. Last year i built a 7'6 2wt on a Dorber ultraweave blank that is the ***** for blugills, crappie and small bass.

Warm water is about all I really have around here so poppers.......woolly buggers and streamers......and attractors fill my boxes.

My favorite all-around fly is a chainbead eyed wooley bugger. Caught so many different kids of fish on it, it's amazing. All trout varieties here, LM and SM Bass, Crappie, Catfish, Bluegill, Rockbass, Warmouth.

Chainbead wooley bugger:
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q11/bigbadwulff/fish%20pictures/tied%20flies/chainbeadeyedwooleybugger.jpg

Although this guy was caught on spinning gear, I can't help but brag a bit:

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q11/bigbadwulff/fish%20pictures/SU1HMDA1NTctMjAxMDA0MTYtMTkxOS5qcGc.jpg
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q11/bigbadwulff/fish%20pictures/SU1HMDA1NTYtMjAxMDA0MTYtMTkxOC5qcGc.jpg

nice fish, the other day I was rooting around in the basement, and found my fly tying pile of stuff,
I havent tied for a couple years , but think I will go thru the stuff and get started again,(lotsa good stuff in the pile,,,,
\Bud.....

Scroll down to the last picture on this page http://www.moldychum.com/home-old/tag/brown-trout

It is a fish my son caught on his bachelor party fly fishing trip. He was a pro fishing guide in Missoula, MT before he got a real job. Anyway I have never been fly fishing but it looks like fun and I have someone who can teach me how to do it if I choose. My only brother also is a big fly fishing guy.

There are some good fishing spots around here that you can't reach by road or boat, but the MUPs go right to them. It makes for a nice combination for the angler-biker. A bike makes a handy shuttle vehicle for float trips down the river, too.
I usually use baitcasting or spinning gear, but I do fly cast -- badly -- from time to time. It's no fun in the wind, and I find it hard to avoid catching really tiny fish -- panfish and baby pike and bass -- with fly gear.

nice fish, the other day I was rooting around in the basement, and found my fly tying pile of stuff,
I havent tied for a couple years , but think I will go thru the stuff and get started again,(lotsa good stuff in the pile,,,,
\Bud.....

Good for you Bud. Get it out and have fun!

Scroll down to the last picture on this page http://www.moldychum.com/home-old/tag/brown-trout

It is a fish my son caught on his bachelor party fly fishing trip. He was a pro fishing guide in Missoula, MT before he got a real job. Anyway I have never been fly fishing but it looks like fun and I have someone who can teach me how to do it if I choose. My only brother also is a big fly fishing guy.

All I can say is "do it". I kinda knew in the back of my mind I'd love fly fishing. I'm 53 and only took it up like 5 years ago. Wasted all that time. I now tie my own flies and fish them 90% of the time. Always thinking of how to make a fly depending on what I see. Right now it's sow bugs. Hard little suckers to get right!
There is nothing like the feel you get of a fish on a fly rod. You feel every little move they make. You can't "horse" them in either. It's a finesse game.

Spin casting and using live "bait" is just wrong.

Spin casting and using live "bait" is just wrong.

I don't usually bother with live bait, because it's inconvenient and unnecessary, not because it's "wrong."
Fly fishing is fun and effective, but it's not a higher calling or a more spiritual quest than any other kind of angling. Spin fishing is often more effective. Baitcasting gear uses just as much skill as flyfishing and can be less stressful for large fish, because they can be landed without playing them to exhaustion. I get weary of "River Runs Through It" converts who think their hobby is a separate sport. It's all just fishing.

I don't usually bother with live bait, because it's inconvenient and unnecessary, not because it's "wrong."
Fly fishing is fun and effective, but it's not a higher calling or a more spiritual quest than any other kind of angling. Spin fishing is often more effective. Baitcasting gear uses just as much skill as flyfishing and can be less stressful for large fish, because they can be landed without playing them to exhaustion. I get weary of "River Runs Through It" converts who think their hobby is a separate sport. It's all just fishing.

Incorrect.

Did you read the rest of his post?

Did you read the rest of his post?

Assuming you meant me, yes. But I don't have time to deal with all the mistakes.

Incorrect.

I am haunted by waters.

I am an ardent fly fisher haunted by the ignorance and intolerance of many fellow fly fishers. It is sad to have a sport sullied by the small minded, mean spirited snobbery that so many non fly fishermen endure. It is one way to fish, hardly the only, or best way.
By the way, the South Holsten in eastern Tenn. is an amazing river, especially for dry flies. Great midge action all year.

This thread is getting too serious. Bait, fly, who cares? It's all fishin in the end.

What we need is more fish p0rn. Here is a Grayling that came up to eat a mouse pattern. Everyone should try mousing at least once - it's a hoot!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-MEMqAW1muow/TehV9UUkGBI/AAAAAAAAACs/LHpJSgp7gWo/s640/DSC02573.JPG

I will agree with the attitudes of some fly fishers. But then again there are a lot of rude drivers...

In the past month I have:
1) Fly fished for trout on the little red river in Arkansas with flies made by me.
2) Bass fished with a spinning rod and lures and also with flies on the fly rod
3) Bait fished for catfish with worms. (caught two on the fly rod also)

Enjoyed all forms of fishing and always will. Could care less how others fish as long as they are enjoying themselves.

This thread is getting too serious. Bait, fly, who cares? It's all fishin in the end.

What we need is more fish p0rn. Here is a Grayling that came up to eat a mouse pattern. Everyone should try mousing at least once - it's a hoot!
....

There's Grayling in Woodinville? Don't think I ever caught one when I used to live out that way.

There's Grayling in Woodinville? Don't think I ever caught one when I used to live out that way.

Haha, I wish. That fish was taken on a river in SW Alaska.

Took the kid up to the west branch of the Delaware this year. It's nice to see the sport through the eyes of the young while they learn. Caught a few... but more than that I got the kid hooked.... ;)

I am an ardent fly fisher haunted by the ignorance and intolerance of many fellow fly fishers. It is sad to have a sport sullied by the small minded, mean spirited snobbery that so many non fly fishermen endure. It is one way to fish, hardly the only, or best way.
By the way, the South Holsten in eastern Tenn. is an amazing river, especially for dry flies. Great midge action all year.

:roflmao2::roflmao2:

Around South Puget Sound the most common catch is the fifteen inch Radial whitewall. No limit!

Around South Puget Sound the most common catch is the fifteen inch Radial whitewall. No limit!

If you can't catch it with a dry fly, it's not worth catching anyway. Best to target a sportier quarry on the surface, like stray flip flops.

Around South Puget Sound the most common catch is the fifteen inch Radial whitewall. No limit!

Ummm... them's good eatin!


If you can't catch it with a dry fly, it's not worth catching anyway. Best to target a sportier quarry on the surface, like stray flip flops.

Probably nymphing!