Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: Xgolfman on February 02, 2007, 02:27:49 PM
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I had a good discussion while out fishing yesterday about fishing habits and how you feel on the river. We got shut out but I still felt like it was a very successful day on the water...Matter of fact, I had a great time..It wasn't about the fish we caught or didn't but time well spent, with good company, doing something you love.
I've read on here and listened to guys who seem to be only about the numbers and I wonder where that comes from? I know in golf they used to tell you "You aren't what you shoot" and so I'm applying that to fishing....
I'm specifically talking steelhead here. I know in Salmon season allot of people are fishing for food so that can put a different bend on things.. With Steelheading, by their numbers alone your not going to get near the hookups in a season that you might honestly get in a good day salmon fishing. So what's the big push or weight you guys feel on whether you catch one everytime or at all for that matter? Why would you feel it's a competition? Or that you aren't somehow "worthy" unless you can show numbers?
I'm not writing this to sound like I'm preaching or being some smug a$$hole. I have only caught a half a steelhead this year :o and would really like to hook up a helluva lot more, but to me that would mean parking my pretty little butt like a fence post on the lower river and to honest....the lower river just doesn't do anything for me....and fishing like that even less....That's just me, probably why I love fly fishing so much too... ::)
I understand competition..I've spent my whole life doing it and have never settled for being Just OK or even just good at something...I want to be at the top...that said, fishing is my release, my escape from all that...I don't want to be a beek but I also don't want to be called Billy Joe and wear a nascar uniform on my bass boat...
So, what's it all about for the rest of you??? Any day fishing is a good day -or- I'd rather be dying of cancer then not catch a fish???
Probably why I enjoy being a member of the S.C.& P club!!! ;)
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I am what I catch, because I floss myself every morning.
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Its OK to not catch one buddy your having a great time meeting good fiends and enjoying life!!!
What more could you want?
The sport is called fishing not reeling in :)
Take it EZ
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Doesnt matter to me if I catch a fish or not. Now if you want to just talk steelhead I will. I have only been on the Vedder 3 times so far this year. If I cared so much about catching a steelhead that number would be more than three times that amount. Personally I just like going out with friends shooting the BS and fishing. If I wanted the numbers I would have been over to the island already this year if it meant so much to me. I like doing more types of fishing as fishing just for one species or doing the same type of fishing over and over is boring to me.
I noticed especially on this board that numbers are huge. So many people on here care too much about how much you catch. If someone posts a report with no fish he will get a few replies. If someone posts a report about catching a fish and especially if he has pics he will get a ton of replies. Personally I reply not based on the catch but on the story. If the story interests me I will make a reply. If it is a post where it sounds like every other one I will just read and move on.
Fishing should not be a competition unless its a derby. I played hockey,football and baseball starting from the age of 3 untill I was 18. It was very competitive and I had to be the best no matter what. When I came back to the sport of fishing in my twenties it was for some relaxation. It wasnt to be competitive. I guess some people that are competitive when it comes to fishing might not have had that competition growing up.
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I just love being outdoor,catch or no catch it doesn't really matter to me,just want to go out and enjoy a day.Number doesnt really mean anything to me ;)
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over the past few years i have fished with a few guys that are "all about the numbers" and that basically led me to fish solo for steelhead all last year. I fish to clear my head and enjoy myself.... don't get me wrong though, there is always a time and place for a little competition but for me... it's not while pursuing steelhead. Steelheading to me is all about braving what the winter throws at ya and putting to test the skills gathered from years of river fishing. Many guys seem to think that because you post pics or regular reports it's an ego thing... for some of us it isn't. If i go fishing with someone and they are all about the ego, they won't be fishing with me again.
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It's funny you brought that up alwaysfishin, I was thinking the same thing..I'm NOT a morning person but there is something really incredable about watching the sun come up over the vedder mountains...The heavy frost on the upper and the way the water looks, and thinking "how stupid is this" to out on days where is snowing or raining hard..and you just gotta laugh at yourself because you love it in some stupid way...
Bryon, maybe it's because we played sports so long that this is why we enjoy it more for not being a sport...though I gotta admit you in a nascar uniform on a boat would make you even more of a dead ringer for your look a like Elway... :D
Rodney were not talking about what underwear you wear here...Danes??? ::)
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Some years I can go out 10 times and not touch anything!!! For me, its about having my 3-4 hours of peace with nature. If I catch a fish, fine. If not, I will try again another day.
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I like fishing weather i catch fish or not. While i'm standing on the rivers edge with my bait in the water i rarely speak. I concentrate on my float but still my mind wanders. Currently i only get to fish 3days a week max, so i often stand and reflect on the week past or whatevers on my mind while keeping an eye on the float. If i'm with a buddy i save the talking for the walk back to the car or while in the car. All my fishing partners know what they're doin', and rarely talk while fishing.
While i'm on the river i truely enjoy the time i have with myself. I have the time to think over every little thing that pops into my head, and diverge on any tangent i like. I can take as much time to think things through as i please.
However, after a few days of not catching or hooking fish i get frustrated.
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I also grew up playing competitive sports and because of that do not enjoy competition on the river. Competion for me back then was everything and it consumed my life. I never regretted it though as I did compete on the national team, been all over the place, seen things that most people will not but because of it I now just want to do things for pure enjoyment and fishing has always given me that. That to me was my escape during the very short off season( usually only a month) or my one day off from training every tenth day. Even sitting back on a log and watching other people fish is relaxing especially if flyfishing. I have been teaching my kids that it does not matter how many you catch (if any) but do it for enjoyment and I hope they do that off the river as well.
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I dont get out much, so when i do i concentrate on fishing yet i still soak up the senery and the beuty of the river. Fish or no fish, a day out fishing is better than a day anywhere else.
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I love being outdoors. I take a camera with me and as I hike and explore new areas I take pictures and enjoy the day. I bring food and when I'm hungry I sit on a rock, eat my lunch and enjoy the scenary and deeply breath in the fresh air. Ahhh so relaxing :)
If I don't catch anyhitng it's okay coz I still had fun.
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I worked at a fishing lodge for two seasons. At the lodge people payed top dollar to fish there. Unfortunately most of the guests
were all about catching. Sometimes the lodge owner had to remind people that the lodge didn't control the fish and that there is
a difference between fishing and catching. It really made you sad to see people angry because they didn't catch or didn't catch
enough. The thing that made the guides really good there wasn't just there knowledge on how to catch the big one. The really
good guides could take people out and show them a really good time without any fish. I learned allot from that, enjoy all the
aspects of the sport and if you don't catch that day it still was fun to be there.
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I thought I was what I ate....not what I catch...unless I catch something from something I ate in which case whatever I ate, I caught therefore I am? ??? ??? ;D ;D
Seriously though. I guess when you think about it, the intent of fishing is to catch fish. So, that tells me that catching a fish is important to this whole process. But, as this is a process there are many facets to it and so many things that make up the total cumulative experience that we call fishing. Many of you have mentioned most of them already and in fact the only one that was missed (as far as I'm concerned) is having a good cigar. Not for everyone here, especially kids under 21, but one more element. Or, for others it might be a can of beer (one can, not keg). Pop a cold one, sit back and enjoy the scenery and make sure you take your can with you. Whatever turns your crank. But fishing is still a numbers game, like it or not. We always want to know how many? How much did it weigh? How many hits did you have? etc. etc. Maybe that puts pressure on us to perform for others and for ourselves. Just imagine this for a second. Your buddy comes back from a fishing trip and the first thing you ask him/her, "How was the sunrise this morning?" Or: "Did you enjoy the sight of the ice forming on the tops of puddles, transluscent and shimmering as if behind the ice there lies another world?" And if you never ask about how many and how much, maybe we can change the mindset of fisherfolk everywhere! We could start a new revolution! A world where fisherfolks don't post stats on numbers and weights of fish caught but instead of how many American warblers they managed to see during their time on the water! Or, we could just stick to how many fish did you catch today? ;D
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I thought I was what I ate....not what I catch...unless I catch something from something I ate in which case whatever I ate, I caught therefore I am? ??? ??? ;D ;D
Seriously though. I guess when you think about it, the intent of fishing is to catch fish. So, that tells me that catching a fish is important to this whole process. But, as this is a process there are many facets to it and so many things that make up the total cumulative experience that we call fishing. Many of you have mentioned most of them already and in fact the only one that was missed (as far as I'm concerned) is having a good cigar. Not for everyone here, especially kids under 21, but one more element. Or, for others it might be a can of beer (one can, not keg). Pop a cold one, sit back and enjoy the scenery and make sure you take your can with you. Whatever turns your crank. But fishing is still a numbers game, like it or not. We always want to know how many? How much did it weigh? How many hits did you have? etc. etc. Maybe that puts pressure on us to perform for others and for ourselves. Just imagine this for a second. Your buddy comes back from a fishing trip and the first thing you ask him/her, "How was the sunrise this morning?" Or: "Did you enjoy the sight of the ice forming on the tops of puddles, transluscent and shimmering as if behind the ice there lies another world?" And if you never ask about how many and how much, maybe we can change the mindset of fisherfolk everywhere! We could start a new revolution! A world where fisherfolks don't post stats on numbers and weights of fish caught but instead of how many American warblers they managed to see during their time on the water! Or, we could just stick to how many fish did you catch today? ;D
Did you just call me a warbler??? I was a little uneasy about how you were staring at me at times...but PLeassseeeeee.............just for that...no upman for you.. :-X
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I thought I was what I ate....not what I catch...unless I catch something from something I ate in which case whatever I ate, I caught therefore I am? ??? ??? ;D ;D
Seriously though. I guess when you think about it, the intent of fishing is to catch fish. So, that tells me that catching a fish is important to this whole process. But, as this is a process there are many facets to it and so many things that make up the total cumulative experience that we call fishing. Many of you have mentioned most of them already and in fact the only one that was missed (as far as I'm concerned) is having a good cigar. Not for everyone here, especially kids under 21, but one more element. Or, for others it might be a can of beer (one can, not keg). Pop a cold one, sit back and enjoy the scenery and make sure you take your can with you. Whatever turns your crank. But fishing is still a numbers game, like it or not. We always want to know how many? How much did it weigh? How many hits did you have? etc. etc. Maybe that puts pressure on us to perform for others and for ourselves. Just imagine this for a second. Your buddy comes back from a fishing trip and the first thing you ask him/her, "How was the sunrise this morning?" Or: "Did you enjoy the sight of the ice forming on the tops of puddles, transluscent and shimmering as if behind the ice there lies another world?" And if you never ask about how many and how much, maybe we can change the mindset of fisherfolk everywhere! We could start a new revolution! A world where fisherfolks don't post stats on numbers and weights of fish caught but instead of how many American warblers they managed to see during their time on the water! Or, we could just stick to how many fish did you catch today? ;D
Did you just call me a warbler??? I was a little uneasy about how you were staring at me at times...but PLeassseeeeee.............just for that...no upman for you.. :-X
Here's an oxymoron. A sensitive American. ;D
Gotta watch what you say folks, you can't go and p*ss of the chairman of the Board of Directors of the S. C & P. Club.
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Kinda like a pin club for guys who have in total between the three founding members used a pin for less than a full season in total? ;D ;D ;D ;D
Oh and X, how do you get .5 of a steelhead?? You caught a bow, not a steelhead. They are 2 entirely different things!! ;D
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Personally I just like shooting BS and fishing.
:o :o :o :o :o I can't believe you wanna shoot BS !!! he isn't that bad !! I know he is a pain but why would you wanna shoot him?
For me fishing for Steelhead is all about the cold weather , the ice the snow, the sun coming up over the mountains, watching the dippers mess around in the water, the Eagles in the trees.... hanging out with great friends, telling a few jokes , smoking a good cigar !!
if and when I do catch a Steelie it is a total bonus for me, I just love being away from the city, away from work ..... being able to say you shook hands with a few Steelies is always a good thing, of course the reason we are all there in the first place is so we can hook one of these ghosts, and I have to admit I can't wait to see XGolfman's face when he finally gets a Steelhead on his line !!!
TR
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Well, perhaps X's moment will be on Sunday!! ;) We can only hope. ;D
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Kinda like a pin club for guys who have in total between the three founding members used a pin for less than a full season in total? ;D ;D ;D ;D
Oh and X, how do you get .5 of a steelhead?? You caught a bow, not a steelhead. They are 2 entirely different things!! ;D
Hmmm. You must've missed my post about 4 current members and a 5th being considered.
Oh, by the way if he caught a bow which looks like this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Hun_bow.jpg
It is entirely different. However, if you're thinking rainbow as in rainbow trout, you might want to reconsider your statement:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_trout#Subspecies
And to get back onto topic so this isn't a hijack...
Maybe for those who think numbers are really important or are into competition on the river are missing a huge part of the whole experience. The quality versus quantity argument all over again.
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No I didn't miss that post!! ;D Just having a little fun!! I hope that both you and X get into one or more on Sunday!!
As for the Trout thing, if you want to get all technical, well then yeah!! :-[ ;D But I think you know what I was getting at!! ;D Just that when he does get a real steelhead, he won't even remember the little Bow, and like all of us, the joy of getting to shake hands with one, even landing one will be a totally different feeling than what you get with any other river fish. To me steelheading is the pinnacle of the fishing season. Sure I do the numbers thing, but that is just me, I am a stats guy, it is just the way I am. But does that mean that I don't appreciate what we have when we just get out into nature, NO!! I love just getting out there, why do you think I went out so many times, even without getting one for that extended stretch. Had some great days that had some great surprises in them, a couple of which were watching Freak get his first, that was awesome. Then there was when that Buck came charging up river at us, the got the heart going and resulted in a lot of good laughs and some fun memories about how big of pansies Freak and Myself were when we took of running like little screaming school girls!! :-[ ;D But nothing beats Ricks Derby day just yet, that was the day I frostbite my thumb, got to listen to Searun yelling from behind me when he crapped in his waders while taking the morning constitutional, I am still laughing at that right now.!!!!! ;D ;D ;D :D :D ;D Then followed up that day by getting Skunked in the raffle!! I still think something was up with that, I mean come on, was I like the only one not to win something. ;D ;D Getting to socialize with a ton of great people, great food, a warm fire and watching Rick in his glory receiving his first place prize, thinkin "That BASTARD!!!" and smiling the whole time. Was also really happy for him and impressed that he was able to pull that off, and how much support was out there for it. Anyhow, now I am rambling, so...... I guess that what I am trying to say, is that it is more than just fishing to me. I still like the numbers and keep a journal, but that is so I continue to learn and become a better fisherman, isn't that why we all go out though? It is something we all love to do, and it isn't always about the fish, there is so much more to it than just that. :) DO we have bad days, I know I do. Do I get a bit grumpy sometimes, yeah. Frustrated, hell yeah. But doesn't everyone? Everyone I have ever fished with has. But we keep going whenever we get the chance. I guess there is more to it than just catching fish. :)
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No I didn't miss that post!! ;D Just having a little fun!! I hope that both you and X get into one or more on Sunday!!
As for the Trout thing, if you want to get all technical, well then yeah!! :-[ ;D But I think you know what I was getting at!! ;D Just that when he does get a real steelhead, he won't even remember the little Bow, and like all of us, the joy of getting to shake hands with one, even landing one will be a totally different feeling than what you get with any other river fish. To me steelheading is the pinnacle of the fishing season. Sure I do the numbers thing, but that is just me, I am a stats guy, it is just the way I am. But does that mean that I don't appreciate what we have when we just get out into nature, NO!! I love just getting out there, why do you think I went out so many times, even without getting one for that extended stretch. Had some great days that had some great surprises in them, a couple of which were watching Freak get his first, that was awesome. Then there was when that Buck came charging up river at us, the got the heart going and resulted in a lot of good laughs and some fun memories about how big of pansies Freak and Myself were when we took of running like little screaming school girls!! :-[ ;D But nothing beats Ricks Derby day just yet, that was the day I frostbite my thumb, got to listen to Searun yelling from behind me when he crapped in his waders while taking the morning constitutional, I am still laughing at that right now.!!!!! ;D ;D ;D :D :D ;D Then followed up that day by getting Skunked in the raffle!! I still think something was up with that, I mean come on, was I like the only one not to win something. ;D ;D Getting to socialize with a ton of great people, great food, a warm fire and watching Rick in his glory receiving his first place prize, thinkin "That BASTARD!!!" and smiling the whole time. Was also really happy for him and impressed that he was able to pull that off, and how much support was out there for it. Anyhow, now I am rambling, so...... I guess that what I am trying to say, is that it is more than just fishing to me. I still like the numbers and keep a journal, but that is so I continue to learn and become a better fisherman, isn't that why we all go out though? It is something we all love to do, and it isn't always about the fish, there is so much more to it than just that. :) DO we have bad days, I know I do. Do I get a bit grumpy sometimes, yeah. Frustrated, hell yeah. But doesn't everyone? Everyone I have ever fished with has. But we keep going whenever we get the chance. I guess there is more to it than just catching fish. :)
Sorry BS but not everyone that you fish with gets frustrated. I know that I don't. And I definatly do not throw temper tantrems and throw my gear like some ;D ;D .
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Now I am calling bs on you!! I have been out with you in a certain seasons when you have almost lost it!! ;D ;D You might not see it but we do so don't kid yourself!! ;)
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Who knew this would be another pissing match ::)
I can honestly say that in all my years fishing I have never been tempted to throw my gear in the water. If someone is tempted to throw their gear in the water or has done so they have issues.
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Now I am calling bs on you!! I have been out with you in a certain seasons when you have almost lost it!! ;D ;D You might not see it but we do so don't kid yourself!! ;)
Sorry must call BS on that. I did not have a sport phsycologist for over 8 years to loss it on a river. Fishing does not frustrate me you do ;D ;D .
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Now I am calling bs on you!! I have been out with you in a certain seasons when you have almost lost it!! ;D ;D You might not see it but we do so don't kid yourself!! ;)
I notice you didn't deny it yourself! ;D
Anyways, like I also said earlier, fishing is about catching fish too. I'm 0 fer 9 so far, so I do the math too. But it'll be so sweeeeet when I land my first of the season.
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How is this a pissing contest. Everyone is just telling you what they like about fishing and why they do it.
Now I am calling bs on you!! I have been out with you in a certain seasons when you have almost lost it!! ;D ;D You might not see it but we do so don't kid yourself!! ;)
I notice you didn't deny it yourself! ;D
How could I deny it!! Everyone knows I have a temper. At least I know that I am alive. I wear my heart on my sleeve sometimes, and get pissed off at some things. Why would I just let it build up then explode, that wouldn't be healthy for anyone. ::)
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well I'm looking forward to sunday..I got a couple boxes in from the Dominican and that alone is worth the effort... ;D Journals are a good thing, I keep one for fly fishing as it's so consuming on so many fronts...
I brought this subject up more from being out this week and starting on the lower river and it just wasn't that cool. Saw Marco's and that was as he hooked me up with my new pin..but you look around and it's like these unsmiling junkies desperate for a fish...everyone doing there best to get to the tailout and damn who ever else is there first...Merc had words with one a$$hole, then down river on a small seam, two OLD guys came up, looked at us and low holed us..So, like Ken (Derby77winner) said, "Don't buy that crap that there was any etiquette back in the day either"
I also fished with a guy who does catch steelhead and I remembered him saying a bit ago..."It's more fun fishing the upper river and catching fewer fish, then putting up with the lower, you tend to also catch more wild fish and it's allot more enjoyable"....It's funny how guys think immediately your pointing the finger at someone or other...when I was just thinking what a great day I had Thursday even though I didn't catch anything.....
Oh and damnit it was a half a steelhead, it's adipose fin was clipped..More of a jack really...but your right BS it won't compare to the real deal...
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To me its all about getting out, being with friends enjoying the beauty of mother nature and of course if you catch one, the thrill of the little bit of lightning thats suddenly attached itself to your line. I think most of us have that love of the outdoors ingrained in our souls and
its that pull that continually tugs at us until we find, even in the worst, unforgiving conditions there we are, back again. Hell, I don't even like the taste of fish (can I say that on this board) but I sure do like everything about being there and catching them. Hey BB, played sports competitively from 3 to 18. I hope you did'nt stop at 18. I played football, rollerhockey, 18 plus years of softball and lots of this and that competitively up until I reached the ripe old age of 40. Have'nt played for the last ten but keep saying to myself I should ::). But I certainly can relate to that competitive feeling as I came from a family of fourteen, 7 boys, 5 girls. You should of seen dinner time ;D. For me, its always about savouring every, every moment.
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This is the reason that I wont be fishing the Vedder this weekend once again. I just found out today I will get some fishing time this weekend. I have the morning on Sunday to fish before the SuperBowl. No way you well catch me on the Vedder. I will be out catching cutthroat. I will not see a single person on the water I am fishing enjoying the scenery and watching these magnificant fish take my fly.
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Good luck to you Brian. Can not wait to get out to do some fly fishing.
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This is the reason that I wont be fishing the Vedder this weekend once again. I just found out today I will get some fishing time this weekend. I have the morning on Sunday to fish before the SuperBowl. No way you well catch me on the Vedder. I will be out catching cutthroat. I will not see a single person on the water I am fishing enjoying the scenery and watching these magnificant fish take my fly.
Why don't you try and hook up with Floon? I bet the boys will be out swinging it somewhere near..
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Good luck to you Brian. Can not wait to get out to do some fly fishing.
Why arent you doing it now?
Xgolfman I am doing a solo mission on Sunday. Sometimes its good to get out yourself. I am going to try and get some more underwater pics and get some good ones this time. I'll post some if I catch some fish.
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Good luck to you Brian. Can not wait to get out to do some fly fishing.
Why arent you doing it now?
Xgolfman I am doing a solo mission on Sunday. Sometimes its good to get out yourself. I am going to try and get some more underwater pics and get some good ones this time. I'll post some if I catch some fish.
I don't know. I just have never really fly fished this time of year. Usually don't until March on the stave.
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Good luck to you Brian. Can not wait to get out to do some fly fishing.
Why arent you doing it now?
Xgolfman I am doing a solo mission on Sunday. Sometimes its good to get out yourself. I am going to try and get some more underwater pics and get some good ones this time. I'll post some if I catch some fish.
I did the EXACT same thing your doing this winter, last winter...and no one was going to tell me any different either...BUT...I also learned, there isn't any bait happening right now and the water temp. is still to cold to make them as aggressive as they will be...Were just in a between season funk...I can't even tie any more flys...I'm full up except for my chironomid box... ;D Time will come and i'll be out again...wait till the early boatman on the lakes...wooohooo...smacker time...
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Once you hook a few steelhead on the fly, there is no turning back. It's not hard, all you need is patience, and with the development in fly lines the last few years it has made it that much easier. Plus concentrate on water that gear guys have difficulty fishing. I don't catch as many steelhead as when I gear fished, but every steelhead caught now is that much more special.