Journeyman...i`ve been doing this for about twenty years , maybe if i didn`t live on the wrong end of the state and there where some good streams near my house i think i would learn more, right now it seems the only fishing i get in is when i go to camp
Rate your skill level
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PSUFishMenace
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I've got fish lies down but everywhere else I'm approaching journeyman. I've caught enough nice fish and I'm good enough at casting that I think I've passed the "beginner" stage.
ryguyfi
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This is a very interesting topic. I like the responses so far. I classified myself as a journeyman. I would be inbetween beginner and approaching journeyman without this site. I learned so much early on that it helped me climb the learning curve pretty quicky from asking questions on here and applying them to my fishing. I have a passion for this sport and always try to learn from others.
I have only been doing this for 3 years but feel very confident when I fish. I have learned a handfull of bugs and hatches and my flies that I tie catch fish. I think once I can afford some good necks and capes my dries will look better, but mine right now still catch fish. My ties are good enough to hand out and not be embarrased about. I don't always stick to the basics on tying and always look for something new and different. Not afraid to go outside the box. . I can cast pretty well, both forward and backwards, and can adjust my line to make my drift better. I recognize good water and catch fish a lot more than I used to.
I think that being able to help others on the stream is a good way to judge how you have progressed. I have taught a few people from the get go how to fly fish, and can get some beginners into some fish when I meet them on the stream. I feel I have a long way to go, but feel like I'm getting there. I love the sport and glad I randomly got into it 3 years ago.
Ryan
I have only been doing this for 3 years but feel very confident when I fish. I have learned a handfull of bugs and hatches and my flies that I tie catch fish. I think once I can afford some good necks and capes my dries will look better, but mine right now still catch fish. My ties are good enough to hand out and not be embarrased about. I don't always stick to the basics on tying and always look for something new and different. Not afraid to go outside the box. . I can cast pretty well, both forward and backwards, and can adjust my line to make my drift better. I recognize good water and catch fish a lot more than I used to.
I think that being able to help others on the stream is a good way to judge how you have progressed. I have taught a few people from the get go how to fly fish, and can get some beginners into some fish when I meet them on the stream. I feel I have a long way to go, but feel like I'm getting there. I love the sport and glad I randomly got into it 3 years ago.
Ryan
gfen
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I'm a level 6 cleric!
Oh, wait... Wrong game.
Either alot of people are way underestimating themselves, or I've way overestimated what some of you can do, or I'm way worse off than I thought and you've just crushed my confidence.
I'll take a lil from column A, and a lil from column B. Oh, and I chose "beginning journeyman," not only because its fun to say, but because it probably sums it up.
Oh, wait... Wrong game.
Either alot of people are way underestimating themselves, or I've way overestimated what some of you can do, or I'm way worse off than I thought and you've just crushed my confidence.
I'll take a lil from column A, and a lil from column B. Oh, and I chose "beginning journeyman," not only because its fun to say, but because it probably sums it up.
flipnfly
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i imagine im a journeyman approaching journeyman but i voted i am proficient at most but always need steering in the right direction could use casting help since im self taught i have learned to tie but always room for improvement i can id bugs pretty well except for the latin naming schemes need help with streamers and some expansion with nymphs i feel im an expert at reading trout lies and streambed structure and i always expect to catch fish but who doesnt all in all i feel my skills are spread out or "well diversified" from each just a little less than i like good topic makes one really think what they need help with....
pafisherman
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I guess I would be somewhere between Advanced & Journeyman. I have been fishing for pretty near 50 yrs with about 40 of them flyfishing off and on. I am not an expert and any aspect of flyfishing. I may ruffle a few feathers here but I sort of think it takes more than a few years with a fly rod in your hands on a stream to finally figure out you really dont know as much about fishing as you thought you did when you were twenty something...lol
Bill A
Bill A
salmo
Well-known member
I have been fly fishing for over 30 years, but I don't get out enough. I rated myself approaching journeyman. If I could master nymphs I would move myself up one notch. I frequently catch fish, I tie some and have read a lot. I just can't get the hang of subsurface fishing.
Salmo
Salmo
PaulG
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I would like to add a few things to my first post. First of all I've fished with a lot of very good fishermen over the years, I think that always helps you get better, and a lot of them from this site, I couldn't name them all. The last couple of Jams I wasn't able to fish alot so I did a lot of watching, many of you guys might not be giving yourself enough credit.
The last two years my ability to fish has plummeted, has a lot to do with my health and age. I think the biggest thing is my wading, I just can't get to the places I would like to get, I think placement in the stream has a lot to do with it, but thats alright I had my day and I can still get out there!
I never consider myself a really good fishermen because I never did much nymph, not that I couldn't but just didn't like doing it. Always loved that dryfly fishing 🙂
Jay, I've watch you fish, give yourself some credit, squaretail, gave a lesson a couple of times this year, that guy can fish. Maurice , if you just didn't set the hook so hard, I think you would land a hell of a lot more fish ;-) Pad my old buddy, I never seen a guy go from never fishing and know some much and do so well in such a short time, so many more!
PaulG
Hhmm...This is interesting.
As with self-rating any skill, whether work related or hobby, there's always going to be the issue of modesty, ego, perception vs reality, differing standards, and regional bias. Curiously, few have chosen "expert" although some of the fishermen who have posted on this thread would certainly receive that designation from me.
I like Squaretail's thoughts on this.
Obviously, we all have new things to learn and days when we catch the skunk - but this is true for Lefty and Whitlock and the sport's leading practicioners. Even the best at something have strengths and weaknesses. My unabashed opinion is that my biggest strengths are fly tying and casting and my biggest weaknesses are knowledge of hatches and bug ID.
Certainly, time on the water helps and my 30+ years at this game matters in my mind, esp considering that it has been an intense 30 years (some long time FFers never get passed beginner - even though they still enjoy their outings). I fish a lot and fished a lot in my teens/20s, taking the sport seriously. I'm not sure I could out fish today the younger version of myself from the 1980s. I think one can reasonably become an expert in a few intense seasons of FFing, tying, and reading about it if they're really committed. Guys like JayL, Sal, 3wt7X, Ryguyfi and others are impressive in their skill, dedication to this sport, and willingness to help others - they remind me of myself two decades ago.
In the end, I think a big part of what would transition an FFer into the "expert" or borderline-expert.....would be the capability to think beyond the conventional and really intensely focus on new aspects of a FFing angle. I'm on the record as believing that much of what makes one a very good FFer is possesing a keen sense of observation. Some dedicated, long time FFers are perfectly happy to enjoy the sport without this intense focus on details. I suppose folks like this can be categorized as "old hands" but I think to reach "expert" one needs to master real specific detail and develop some unique and unconventional stuff.
As with self-rating any skill, whether work related or hobby, there's always going to be the issue of modesty, ego, perception vs reality, differing standards, and regional bias. Curiously, few have chosen "expert" although some of the fishermen who have posted on this thread would certainly receive that designation from me.
I like Squaretail's thoughts on this.
Obviously, we all have new things to learn and days when we catch the skunk - but this is true for Lefty and Whitlock and the sport's leading practicioners. Even the best at something have strengths and weaknesses. My unabashed opinion is that my biggest strengths are fly tying and casting and my biggest weaknesses are knowledge of hatches and bug ID.
Certainly, time on the water helps and my 30+ years at this game matters in my mind, esp considering that it has been an intense 30 years (some long time FFers never get passed beginner - even though they still enjoy their outings). I fish a lot and fished a lot in my teens/20s, taking the sport seriously. I'm not sure I could out fish today the younger version of myself from the 1980s. I think one can reasonably become an expert in a few intense seasons of FFing, tying, and reading about it if they're really committed. Guys like JayL, Sal, 3wt7X, Ryguyfi and others are impressive in their skill, dedication to this sport, and willingness to help others - they remind me of myself two decades ago.
In the end, I think a big part of what would transition an FFer into the "expert" or borderline-expert.....would be the capability to think beyond the conventional and really intensely focus on new aspects of a FFing angle. I'm on the record as believing that much of what makes one a very good FFer is possesing a keen sense of observation. Some dedicated, long time FFers are perfectly happy to enjoy the sport without this intense focus on details. I suppose folks like this can be categorized as "old hands" but I think to reach "expert" one needs to master real specific detail and develop some unique and unconventional stuff.
I chose advanced jounrneyman in spite of the fact I do not tie, nor do I want to tie flies. I have tied 2 in my life and hated every second of it.
I believe my strengths are the willingness to "stalk" fish by planning the best approach and QUIET wading, intensity and the abililty to "think outside the box".
Though I have have only been FF 5 years, I have averaged 180 outings a year. I fish for anything that swims and have caught each species I have attempted to target.
My weakness is naming the bug, but I most often am in the ball-park and do know which fly to choose.
I, too would lik to know what other I have fished with would rate me. Perhaps I am too full of myself(as my wife would say) or too modest(as ??? would say).
I believe my strengths are the willingness to "stalk" fish by planning the best approach and QUIET wading, intensity and the abililty to "think outside the box".
Though I have have only been FF 5 years, I have averaged 180 outings a year. I fish for anything that swims and have caught each species I have attempted to target.
My weakness is naming the bug, but I most often am in the ball-park and do know which fly to choose.
I, too would lik to know what other I have fished with would rate me. Perhaps I am too full of myself(as my wife would say) or too modest(as ??? would say).
jayL
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Thanks for the compliments, gentlemen.
If I must rate myself, I'd probably go with what paul said. Somewhere between journeyman and advanced journeyman.
My casting needs work. I can get a fly anywhere I need it, but I still need to refine stuff like aerial mends and double hauling. I also screw long roll casts up here and there. Luckily, I can cast well with my left and right hands, and I can mend pretty effectively.
Bugs- I need work here. I am learning more and more about hatches, but still pale in comparison to guys like maurice.
Tying- My tying improved by leaps and bounds this year (I also fished with my own flies almost exclusively), but I still have a ways to go with certain techniques. I still suck with deer hair. I would say the positive to my tying is that I don't follow patterns. When I see people asking for specifics about a pattern, it confuses me. The fish don't have the recipe. Use stuff interchangably, and don't be afraid to mix it up.
I do catch more than my share of fish, but that's something that came about within the last few years. I was very wet behind the ears when I attended my first jam. Since then, I got a bit of a rabid obsession with FF. I look back at those times, and feel like I am a completely different fisherman. I thank this site for that.
I would consider myself an advanced journeyman once I get some more non-trout angling under my belt. If we were just talking (non-Penns :lol🙂 trout streams, I'd say I'm advanced. I have been getting more and more interested in non-trout species lately, so hopefully I can call myself advanced within a few years.
I'm not going to name names, but I have fished with a handful of guys from this sitethat are most certainly experts. Some of you are too modest.
If I must rate myself, I'd probably go with what paul said. Somewhere between journeyman and advanced journeyman.
My casting needs work. I can get a fly anywhere I need it, but I still need to refine stuff like aerial mends and double hauling. I also screw long roll casts up here and there. Luckily, I can cast well with my left and right hands, and I can mend pretty effectively.
Bugs- I need work here. I am learning more and more about hatches, but still pale in comparison to guys like maurice.
Tying- My tying improved by leaps and bounds this year (I also fished with my own flies almost exclusively), but I still have a ways to go with certain techniques. I still suck with deer hair. I would say the positive to my tying is that I don't follow patterns. When I see people asking for specifics about a pattern, it confuses me. The fish don't have the recipe. Use stuff interchangably, and don't be afraid to mix it up.
I do catch more than my share of fish, but that's something that came about within the last few years. I was very wet behind the ears when I attended my first jam. Since then, I got a bit of a rabid obsession with FF. I look back at those times, and feel like I am a completely different fisherman. I thank this site for that.
I would consider myself an advanced journeyman once I get some more non-trout angling under my belt. If we were just talking (non-Penns :lol🙂 trout streams, I'd say I'm advanced. I have been getting more and more interested in non-trout species lately, so hopefully I can call myself advanced within a few years.
I'm not going to name names, but I have fished with a handful of guys from this sitethat are most certainly experts. Some of you are too modest.
Hmmm not sure were I would rate myself since this is seems to be mostly about trout . But I will say that I'm good at a lot of things, but great at none. And have had my a$$ handed to me buy one angler on here many of times pssst his nickname is old man tweed.
You young bucks have no respect for us old guys in rocking chairs....
Fredrick hasn't been FF or tying for that long (3-4 years) yet he is and an accomplished tier (especially WW & SW flies and streamers) and good fisherman. When he caught the bug, early on he took casting lessons, joined TU and Mainline fly tiers, attended the PAFF jams, and began fishing with some of board members. I guess it proves hanging around here is not a COMPLETE waste of time.
There are many great PA FFers on this site. I would encourage anyone to take advantage of offers to fish with some of them, whether on a trip together or at a jam. I always find it interesting to see how someone else approaches FF and fishes. You'll learn a bunch about how and where to fish, and I will bet you will have a great time, and you may even gain a good friend.
gulfgreyhound
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Some 60 odd years ago I was a beginner of the first order.Self taught, making mistake,and wearing oder de skunk.
Got a vise and taught myself to tie flies that resembled nothing in nature, but caught fish.Learned to double haul and read a stream .Left New York and put all the fly fishing stuff away.Got the bug some 20 years ago and started from scratch.Better gear new vise, felt waders, etc.Beginner in another era.Go from a glass rod to a graphite ,from level or double tapered to wt forward or shooting line .Still eager to learn and become a kid again when I hit a crick. I guess I'm still evolving into a better fisherman and that's all I hope to do.
All men are equal in the eyes of the fish. Please excuse my rambling.GG
Got a vise and taught myself to tie flies that resembled nothing in nature, but caught fish.Learned to double haul and read a stream .Left New York and put all the fly fishing stuff away.Got the bug some 20 years ago and started from scratch.Better gear new vise, felt waders, etc.Beginner in another era.Go from a glass rod to a graphite ,from level or double tapered to wt forward or shooting line .Still eager to learn and become a kid again when I hit a crick. I guess I'm still evolving into a better fisherman and that's all I hope to do.
All men are equal in the eyes of the fish. Please excuse my rambling.GG
