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[Greasy B]

5 minutes ago, Mitch f said:

Be honest guys, what was it that first lured you into being a fly fisherman?

Because it was hard,

Some of us don’t get our images and stereotypes from movies, magazines or other media BS we are still weirdos and darn proud of it.

[Mitch f]

10 minutes ago, Greasy B said:

Because it was hard,

 

 

Some of us don’t get our images and stereotypes from movies, magazines or other media BS we are still weirdos and darn proud of it.

 

 

Nice! That's a beast

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

I am by no means a fly fisherman.  Although, I did watch most if not all of Hank Patterson's videos.  What first interested me in it was a tournament that closed the dock of my favorite pond at the time.  People came out and put tape up closing the dock.   I figured it was for safety reasons.  So, being the diligent 10'ish year old boy I was, I decided it was my duty to figure out where the danger was.  Went out on the dock, everything was solid.  We no longer needed the tape restricting entry, so I removed it.  About an hour later, we were kicked off of the dock, due to a Fly Fishing Tournament.  "A what!?"  So the guy explained it to me.  They had rings on the water approximately 14 inches around.   Each one had a value.  It looked cool.  About25 years later, I got my first flyrod.  Used it a handful of times, just doesn't seem so interesting.   Maybe because it IS hard.  

[snagged in outlet 3]

Because that's the fishing rod my dad gave me when I was 3 or 4. 

I cant say how old but that's what I had as a real little kid. 

[BilletHead]

48 minutes ago, Mitch f said:

Be honest guys, what was it that first lured you into being a fly fisherman?

          Good question Mitch and discussion,

    I was tinkering with fly gear before "the movie". The lure was more control in the fishing process. Want an explanation? I know you asked one question but I am a bit windy so here goes. I need to be busy, very busy. If I slow down I fall asleep and have been known in the past trolling by myself falling asleep in the boat. Yes way back when if anyone seen a guy driving aimlessly it probably was me. So when fly fishing I have line in hand, mending or drifting in current, stripping and working the line continuity. Yes in other types of fishing this is done too but not all the time. Then there is the cast. When done properly it is a thing of beauty. I am not referring to me as I can get out of control :). I sometimes just sit back and watch Mrs. BilletHead cast and when she is on she is on. I watch the perfect cast to the perfect spot and the fish take. It doesn't get any better than that. The smile of success, man I get giddy watching her do it. Then there is the hook set. Not an eye crossing jerk but a smooth sweep of the rod or strip set. A big tough fish may need another strip set to sink it home. Next it is the fight. When it is a small fish it is not a mechanical drag but a physical drag, I am the drag letting the line slip on the run and stripping line as he tires. A big fish? You need to get the fish on the reel still holding the line on the run but simultaneously cranking the reel handle putting the excess line on the reel. Multitasking I suppose. All this time you are saying oh crap, oh crap, oh crap! Even then with the fish on the reel mine is set pretty loose and again I become the drag palming the reel. When a fish wins and I loose it there is no one to blame but myself. I have never had an equipment failure it has been  operator error with no excuse. The older I become the more I like the process. It trumps the catching now. Do I catch? Yep I could show that but most of you have seen the results before. Then there is fly tying and making your own flies , streamers and balsa baits. I buy and harvest my own material. There is something to assembly and then catching on your creations. The more control I have in my hobby the more I like it. Do I still fish with standard gear? Twice this season but it becomes less and less every year. Do I bash others for their passion? Heck no anything to get you out to enjoy what you do is good by me and I like to see everyone succeed. I find fly fishing a challenge and like other hobbies I have had in the past I like a challenge. If I could still hunt with my self bows, arrows out of road ditch shoots and stone points I would. Do what you like and do it well if that satisfies you. 

  Thanks for making me think Mitch,

BilletHead

[BilletHead]

1 hour ago, Daryk Campbell Sr said:

I am by no means a fly fisherman.  Although, I did watch most if not all of Hank Patterson's videos.  What first interested me in it was a tournament that closed the dock of my favorite pond at the time.  People came out and put tape up closing the dock.   I figured it was for safety reasons.  So, being the diligent 10'ish year old boy I was, I decided it was my duty to figure out where the danger was.  Went out on the dock, everything was solid.  We no longer needed the tape restricting entry, so I removed it.  About an hour later, we were kicked off of the dock, due to a Fly Fishing Tournament.  "A what!?"  So the guy explained it to me.  They had rings on the water approximately 14 inches around.   Each one had a value.  It looked cool.  About25 years later, I got my first flyrod.  Used it a handful of times, just doesn't seem so interesting.   Maybe because it IS hard.  

        Daryk,

 It really isn't hard. Generally the person trying makes it hard. I taught myself and the Mrs. We made it way to hard. Once it clicks in the mind and rod in hand all a person needs is practice to get better,

BilletHead

[fishinwrench]

My grandpa was a fly fisherman/fly tyer, not exclusively but he did it alot.  I sat beside him and prepped his materials when I was a little bitty guy, and he started me on it at very young age. My Dad never fly fished even though I think he actually wanted to, but here was this THING that I could do....and he "couldn't", and he was awesome enough to just let me have that.  

I didn't have another fly fishing buddy (besides Papaw) until I was 14-15 and then I met a 20 year old dude that was into it pretty good, he and I formed a bond and really tore into it.  Along the way we got a couple of other friends hooked on it and together we built a pretty special thing that I give total credit for saving the 4 of us from becoming hopeless drug addicts, alcoholics, and knocking up every girl in town.

[jdmidwest]

I ran across Brad Pitt this weekend on the Spring River.  I came over the waterfall above the Bayou and noticed only a hat and a spin rod sticking out of the water and the rod was fighting something.  Come to find out it was just a fat guy that overloaded his life jacket trying to get his powerbait off a rock he hung it on.  He had fell out of the inner tube that was floating around the hole with him.  He was about 350 lbs. and the life jacket looked like a little halter top on him.

But a River Runs Thru it came thru my mind right off the bat.

[Gavin]

Got into to fly fishing when I was 10-12. Used to jig fish the trout parks with dad and got interested in making our own jigs & spinners. Next logical progression was fly tying. Still have my first pattern book. Dad was a very good illustrator, and did Step by Step illustrations of the flies I learned to tie in my first class.

[lee G.]

My Grandfather was fly fishing for bass on the Niangua in the late 1940's. When I started fishing,I mean when i got  big enough, flyfishing was a natural option.

I still have his flyrod. Its a Heddon and a prized possession.