Why do I fly-fish?

[TDB]

This is a good post. I share many similarities with most on here. When it boils down for me I like the challenge, just like archery hunting, and ultimately golf - it can never be mastered!

Plus, to me, throwing spinners was so plug and chug - I;'ve never enjoyed that. Bait fishing, I had my fun times, but I hated dealing with keeping bait alive, planning bait purchases with fishing trips, catching lots of chubs, etc.

It's funny too, I can fly fish for an hour without catching and I do not get bored, but if I bait fished for 5 minutes without catching I began to get turned off..

To each his own, but I do know from experience that everyone I've "converted" over the years - none have ever reverted back.

 

[scotto]

The same reason I do all my hobbies - because I like it.

 

[Treeguy]

What else is there to do? Work ..hell no

I have been casting a fly rod since i was a little dink maybe 5 years old..but i fish with everthing and love spinfishing salt water

When it comes to trout i can not even think about spin fishing anymore...unless it is purely a dinner thing..

Fly tying to me brings it much deeper and casting is something we all can progress on for the rest of our lifes! You never will know all that true fly fishing has to offer it is so vast we all are begining..

 

[jaybo41]

Afish, great topic for discussion. My story is pretty much similar to yours. Started out spin fishing with my father, grandfather and uncles and had an ephiphany one day while trying to land trout in the summer. I couldn't catch a trout to save my life on a wax worm which always produced for me. I saw a guy throwing dry flies and hammering the trout. I stopped fishing that day and watched him for a few hours.

At that point, I decided it was time to give it a try so I went and got a cheapie fly outfit from Walmart. It was all downhill from there as my fly fishing addiction began :lol: I still would take my spin rod on trips but found myself using them less as my confidence with the fly rod began to develop. Then shortly thereafter I began tying.

Tying is extremely rewarding for me for a multitude of reasons. Like fishing it's a great stress relie, but giving flies away and watching fish being caught on them is where the magic is. Of course catching them on your ties and your own patterns is too. In the winter months when you can't get out on the stream due to frozen streams, cold temps or snow, tying is a great way to re-live past fishing trips and think about the next ones.

 

[ryguyfi]

I, still to this day, don't know how I got into fly fishing. It was a random idea to get a fly rod for my birthday one year. I did "some" trout fishing with spinners and powerbait, but maybe 5-6 times a year. I thought of it as "another hobby" that I'll do here and there. Boy was I wrong. I am now addicted to the sport. I'm on this site every day and love learning more or teaching. I think the draw to me is the challenge.

I am a man and love winning, but I know that fly fishing is more difficult but in the same way more enjoyable. I still have not been extremely successful at catching fish, but everything has improved since I started. I tie better flies, cast more accurately, catch a few more fish, but most of all enjoy it more and more every time I go out.

Like someone said before I get the "christmas morning" jitters every time I go out. I don't sleep before a steelhead trip, I talk about it like I'm getting a new bike, and I try to get others interested so I can teach them all I know and more. Fly fishing is more to me than getting away from home and out in nature. It's a place to relax and leave the office, a place to challenge myself in becoming better, and it teaches me something new every time I go out. I have always enjoyed games and this is the untimate challenge for me because I can never beat it. For me it is the untimate challenge with the untimate reward.

Ryan

 

[flipnfly]

awesome post its thes exact same story im going through learning and all the challenges bait fishing being way too easy i have nothing to add to any of this