A note on ettiqute and common human manners

[Sasha]

A lot of fly fishermen are hypocrites and full of rules that make no sense. It's fine to have personal rules, just know the difference between those and regulations. Very different animals. My grandfather had so many * rules about fly fishing I had to be reminded last summer that even a hopper imitation was off-limits and considered to be f@%king around. Let's keep it legal and considerate out there and I think that's all that matters. As a side note, it's hard for me to understand how someone who's got 3 flies dragging the bottom of the river on every cast with a pink plastic bobber floating along can criticize someone else for not being artful or considerate of the fish and their environment, it's all in the eye of the beholder.

I am taking offense to your last sentence although rarely do I use three flies.

Andy

Three can be great (well at least up here it is), I rarely use two flies when I nymph these days. Although given the choice I would rather throw dries.

[DubL HauL]

A lot of fly fishermen are hypocrites and full of rules that make no sense. It's fine to have personal rules, just know the difference between those and regulations. Very different animals. My grandfather had so many * rules about fly fishing I had to be reminded last summer that even a hopper imitation was off-limits and considered to be f@%king around. Let's keep it legal and considerate out there and I think that's all that matters. As a side note, it's hard for me to understand how someone who's got 3 flies dragging the bottom of the river on every cast with a pink plastic bobber floating along can criticize someone else for not being artful or considerate of the fish and their environment, it's all in the eye of the beholder.

I am taking offense to your last sentence although rarely do I use three flies.

Andy

Three can be great (well at least up here it is), I rarely use two flies when I nymph these days. Although given the choice I would rather throw dries.

I will agree with you on that, nothing beats a good hit on the surface. On the other hand, it feels so good to feel the tug on the swing when the bobber goes under.

Andy

[fancyboy]

I am taking offense to your last sentence although rarely do I use three flies.

Andy

Andy, there was certainly no offense intended. As I said, as long as it's legal it's fine with me, and as I also pointed out, I can't even agree with my own family about fishing "rules". The thing I find interesting is that a spin fisher is not likely to expound on the virtues of his way of fishing while poo-pooing on yours, but a fly fisher just might do that, even if he or she is fishing in a manner that may or may not be more sporting or artful depending on who is making that judgment.
For whatever it's worth, I often fish with friends who do not fish the methods I do. I have one friend who is a streamer expert and another who nymphs as well as any I've seen, while I prefer to fish a dry fly even when I know it is futile. We like to tease each other, but it's all in good fun and they truth is I admire both of them immensely as fishermen. I sincerely do my best to only regulate myself with my rules.

[fancyboy]

It's worth mentioning in the interest of full disclosure, that as I was taught to fly fish I was literally taught that being the right kind of fly fisherman would get you into heaven. I don't mean that as a metaphor, I mean literally. The stakes were high for these men who taught me and the rules were very important. I have a lighter take on the whole thing, though I believe you can find harmony with nature's rhythms while fishing, I just don't think a hopper pattern, a bobber or a Mepps spinner interferes with that.

[FlyinFish]

Although given the choice I would rather throw dries.

As Captain Planet used to say, the power is yours, Sasha! Be the change you want to see in the world. Like I always say, the only way to get bit on the dry fly is to throw the dry fly... Seriously though, I used to feel exactly the same way about fly fishers. The sport is changing big time, from cheaper gear to cooler participants and cooler promoters.

Thanks for confirming my point that the dudes on this board are good people. Keep being awesome.

And Noah, regardless of how uptight of a fly guy one might be, there's no reason to be a * to people right off the bat. Either ignore them altogether, or, like I do, give them a chance to prove their idiocy. That's why I wear my Buff nowadays. It just creeps people out and they leave you alone.

[fancyboy]

FlyinFish,
I was trying not to be a *! I guess I'll just stick with what comes naturally.

[DubL HauL]

Can't you boys take a joke sheesh

Andy

[Sasha]

Can't you boys take a joke sheesh

Andy

No doubt

[Sasha]

That's why I wear my Buff nowadays. It just creeps people out and they leave you alone.

A clown wig or a skull balaclava seem to work well too

[FlyinFish]

FlyinFish,
I was trying not to be a *! I guess I'll just stick with what comes naturally.

Fo sho, I meant proverbially, not you of course.

[briansII]

Dragging three nymphs under a bobber is pushing my good nature d-ness.

briansII

[FlyinFish]

So if Euro nymphing doesn't require the use of flyline, is it really fly fishing? Or just spin fishing with a longer rod and a more expensive, yet less mechanically complicated reel? Oh snap...

[briansII]

This is just another method of fly fishing.

briansII