Montana or the Ozarks

[Al Agnew]

It depends a lot on what is more important to you, the fishing or the fish.  Unfortunate fact is, there are lots of reasons why non-fly tackle is simply more effective for bass much of the time, and that includes nearly all the time that I'm fishing for stream smallmouth.  Examples:

Fishing out of a canoe the way I like to do it, as Wrench mentioned, especially solo canoe fishing.  Managing the fly line in a canoe while also handling the canoe is very problematical.  And for me, even in a tandem canoe with a partner, seems like I'm usually in the back handling the canoe.  Not to mention that stowing a 9 ft. fly rod in the canoe is a lot more difficult.

Wade fishing on small, very clear streams.  In these situations you must usually make long casts.  Making long enough casts with a fly rod when your back cast room is tight to non-existent is nearly impossible.  You can sometimes get around that by being VERY stealthy, but in the crunchy gravel of Ozark stream bottoms that isn't easy.

Fishing from the jetboat.  My problem there is that I pretty much use the jetboat only in the offseason, from November through March.  Then, I'm usually fishing slow and fairly deep.  You could certainly use the fly rod with weighted jig type streamers and such, but what's really the point, since you'd be fishing the fly rod exactly as you fish spinning or casting tackle.

There are lures that are among my most effective for stream bass that are difficult to impossible to duplicate when fly fishing.  I'm still trying to come up with a surface "fly" that has a good walk the dog action.  You can find designs over the internet and even buy some that purport to walk, but I've tried them and can't get them to do anything close to a decent WTD lure.  And suspending jerkbaits are another near impossibility.  It's easy to weight a streamer to make it neutrally, but how do you get down 5-7 feet and THEN suspend, as the bill on a jerkbait does.  And there are a lot of lures, spinnerbaits and crankbaits for instance, that attract bass by moving fast and steadily past them, maybe with short pauses, but mainly they keep moving.  You can't do that with a fly rod.

Trout are a different story.  Since they feed so much on insects that are either floating or mostly drifting near the bottom, fly tackle is perfect for those situations.  

So yes, stream bass fishing is much more of a challenge with fly tackle...but at what point is the challenge so difficult that I'd just rather catch fish the easy way?  Am I really ready to change the way I like to fish the most--out of a canoe, covering lots of water with lots of casts, or wading long stretches using the same tactics?

[rumrunner]

i love to flyfish.i flyfish all i can.both kayak and wading. i ve caught alot of largies flyfishing out of my kayak.but when we're wade fishing the rivers and my buddy outcatches me 4 to 1 on smallies, i gotta switch.usually, as al mentioned, it s the wieght issue.getting the fly deep enough quick enough.

[rumrunner]

i just realized we may have wondered a little off topic........

[fishinwrench]

Al,  the pole dancer is a looser.  A crease fly on a sink-tip will walk on top sexier than any hard bait on the market.   Also I remember you being into "sub-walk" baits, and for that there is a pattern called "Airhead" made from slinky fiber and shoe goo.   That sucker is deadly!

[oneshot]

Ok I do understand the attraction of Fly Fishing in the mountains. I lived on the Arkansas River in the mountains of Colorado. Now live on the Niangua River.

Me and my wife was just talking about this. We now have a nice house but it would be so much better up by Warsaw on Truman Lake where I enjoy Catfishing.

Everyone has their own choice about where they are happy.

oneshot

[Old plug]

I fished a fly rod religiously for a few years on the Meramec river. I used you coil the the line on my fingers by wrapping the the. Line through the middle of my fingers in a figure 8. Then I would just put my thumb on the line turn my hand towards the next cast it as the line went out for. Next cast. Keep in mind there is a limit about how much you can store between your fingers. But it is as smooth as casting off a reel and  no line all over in the boat. 

 

[joeD]

Fly fishermen use vises and books and hackles and hurls and feathers and all manner of accoutrements, trying to reproduce an exact replica of various water borne meals for hungry fish. To be presented by carefully designed and priced rods and reels and line and the attendant proper clothing. All that effort to place a well researched and vetted imitation of, lets face it, a little insect. All that with a physical choreography of using that fly rod to place that fly in a particular place. Yes, it is a skill.

Yet, year after year, a drunk (as I'm described) like me catches fish after big fish with a cheap piece of white plastic bought from Wal Mart. 

Now, who do you think is more skillful?

 

[BilletHead]

More skilful Or more simple

[fishinwrench]

Ahh,  but who has the most fun ?  Preparing to go fishing is enjoyable. Tying flys, building leaders, and all that stuff gives me things to do that build the anticipation for the next trip, and keeps me out of the bars.

As I said....you are going to release the fish anyway, so the goal isn't really just to catch the fish.  

[mic]

I guess I'm like an independent voter during primary season, just don't fit in.  I like to fish both so I never fit in with this crowd.  I need to find some Regan Democrats to fish with I guess.