The Art of Photography and Flyfishing

Ha, ha...this thread has some of the neatest posts I could have ever dreamed of...

Just finished reading "A River Runs Through It" and some of the comments here could have been incorporated in the book!:)

I do agree wholeheartedly about the path, not the destination, although in both cases, the destination is mighty sweet.;)
 
Got my eye on the Superfine rods by Orvis. They are on sale at $100 off. They also have a Conservation Limited Edition on sale at almost 50% off!

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I know a split cane rod is a thing of beauty but a glass or carbon rod is so much lighter and more powerful for casting distance. Also easier to maintain or re-ring it. Cane rods are OK for small streams but not big or powerful rivers.
I very nearly had a Lance Nicholson split cane rod (Dulverton on the River Exe, Exmoor) made for me years ago but decided on a glass rod in the end.
 
When I saw the title I just shook my head. Poor Dave picked two of the most compulsive, GAS driven, hobbies a man can have.
I recommend counciling.
 
Going on thirty years of fly fishing, and I still don't understand why they use the shiny nickel eye-candy when you are trying to not be noticed (by fish). It's like the gold plated Leicas.

I don't fish as much anymore, as I realized the fishing was just an excuse to go to cool places. Kinda like with cameras. Now I just go.

Good luck thinking like a fish Dave!
 
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There are some streams in Western North Carolina that are so lovely in the early morning, or late afternoon, that you can't help but grin. Flyfishing for trout is so internally rewarding. For me, it is not about so much about catching fish, but it is the process of trying to catch fish. I do not need to fish to eat, if I did I would be a hardware fisherman or use worms or another form of bait.

This time of year is great for wet wading.
 
fly fishing and photography? that's like trying to mix beer and pretzels!

but speaking of... does anyone remember the book "Upstream" by Thomas McGuane and Charles Lindsay? Images shot on a Rollei... very good representations of a day on the stream.
 
Ducky said:
When I saw the title I just shook my head. Poor Dave picked two of the most compulsive, GAS driven, hobbies a man can have.
I recommend counciling.
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But the worst is GOLF. Pick the hardest sport on Earth to master and then spend the rest of your life spending money on the next magic piece of equipment which will undoubtedly get your handicap down to scratch.
 
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dave lackey said:
Nice pic, Ken!

Also, as you mention, a bamboo rod would be the coolest thing I can think of...although expensive if bought through Orvis! But, the analogy is superb!:)
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I have my grandpa's old bamboo fly rod, which he taught me to flyfish with! He died about 10 years ago (not the grandpa on my website). I tie my own flies too.
 
MikeL said:
Going on thirty years of fly fishing, and I still don't understand why they use the shiny nickel eye-candy when you are trying to not be noticed (by fish). It's like the gold plated Leicas.
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Because trout is a predator and will chase anything that moves or glints. Most of the time they aren't taking fly at all. Its just that fly fishermen go out when the sun is shinning and the flies are hatching. The other 70% of the time a lure is a far better option. And especially a sunken lure in a deep pool where the bigger fish like to hangout below rough and therefore well aerated water. Plenty of oxygen for them.
 
My best days on the water usually dont involve fish at all :)

It is obsessive! I like to use a 2wt to go after stockers on the toccoa. You get a 10" fish and it feels like a tarpon!

The real trick we have found is the use of trained water otters to go get the fish for us. We stand out in 34'water looking cool and then the otter brings us the fsh; we impale him on our hook then we take a picture of our fishing ability :) kind of like some of the guides I have met!
 
Going on thirty years of fly fishing, and I still don't understand why they use the shiny nickel eye-candy when you are trying to not be noticed (by fish). It's like the gold plated Leicas.
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tlitody said:
Because trout is a predator and will chase anything that moves or glints. Most of the time they aren't taking fly at all. Its just that fly fishermen go out when the sun is shinning and the flies are hatching. The other 70% of the time a lure is a far better option. And especially a sunken lure in a deep pool where the bigger fish like to hangout below rough and therefore well aerated water. Plenty of oxygen for them.
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I believe he was referring to the bright nickle-silver reel seat hardware in the Orvis photo. I too feel it counter-productive. I darken nickle silver hardware with gun-blue - to include the ferrules. Just looks nicer that way. Trout in skinny water notice flash from shiny things rather quickly - their lives depend upon it.
 
Chris101 said:
Ah. But do you have any fish worthy to post? :D

I plan on fishing for relaxation once I hit retirement. But I don't think I'll use a hook. All that stuff after the catch seems counterproductive to relaxation. Maybe I'll hold the worm on with an alligator clip. That way we can tug back and forth for a bit, but the fish'll always win.
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Ralph Cutter, a well known west coast fly fishing master, actually does cut the hooks off his flies. "I fish for the grab", he says.
 
Ken Smith said:
I believe he was referring to the bright nickle-silver reel seat hardware in the Orvis photo. I too feel it counter-productive. I darken nickle silver hardware with gun-blue - to include the ferrules. Just looks nicer that way. Trout in skinny water notice flash from shiny things rather quickly - their lives depend upon it.
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Not surprising that someone from Montana would catch my drift! (terrible pun, I know). I like the idea of blueing, much better than electrical tape. ;)

Rant on: Maybe it's just in California-Oregon-Idaho, where I've fished a bit, but when I see folks with the nickel-plated grapho-carbo-nano super-shooter, white or pink wicking-material shirts, stomping around the stream to areas where they can cast easily, I head up to the next couple holes as fast as I can. Rant off.

tlitody said:
Because trout is a predator and will chase anything that moves or glints. Most of the time they aren't taking fly at all. Its just that fly fishermen go out when the sun is shinning and the flies are hatching. The other 70% of the time a lure is a far better option. And especially a sunken lure in a deep pool where the bigger fish like to hangout below rough and therefore well aerated water. Plenty of oxygen for them.
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Uh oh, rant on again: I think we may be doing things differently since I respectfully disagree with just about everything in this post. The trout I go after don't chase anything that moves or glints, they carefully inspect whatever goes by. Fly or lure, the trout I'm familiar with like it to be presented a certain way, whether purposefully done or not. I also don't go out fishing in full sun, and rarely do the flies hatch at this time.

Last, trout are not in the 'rough' water for aeration. Oxygen is supersaturated (especially in the daytime) in most rivers that support trout. Trout are typically making decisions based on energy gained to energy expended, cover from predators, and interactions with other fish (competition). Physical controls like temperature can also drive behavior, but I'll stop now while I'm only fairly annoying. Rant off.
 
Why go with electrical tape when you can have this? It's kind of like having an M3, etc. with the beautiful engraving on a black body. Although, I do note the comparison of a graphite rod with digital and a bamboo rod with a rangefinder. Even at $749 on sale, I only wish I could afford one...

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Maybe it's just in California-Oregon-Idaho
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Nope Mike - it's spread all over to the East, Mid-West, the West, and the West Coast. Started back in the late 80's/early 90's with those pastel colored vests and spread from there. I watch a lot of drift boats float past me and it seems most of the occupants are jockeying for the cover of an Orvis catalog. All those bright colors make me feel like I'm at a streamside Dead Head convention. Khaki is no longer the color on the stream. Gone too is the art of wading and and the art of high-stick nymphing - everyone uses a bright colored "bobber" now-a-days. I think those neon floatie thingies come color matched to the clothes :D I wanna blend into the background - not stick out.
 
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