It isn't easy to utter those words.. In the past decade or more I've become almost exclusively a fly fisherman. With a Blog dedicated to fly fishing a vehicle and kayak that read like an add out of drakemag.com and a rod collection that is measured in weights, I have realized something.....I just love to fish.
So where does this guilt of picking up a 7 1/2 foot spin rod with 10 lb test line and tossing spoons for Pike or a plow jockey for Bass come from?
I grew up with a fully stocked pond filled with Large mouth bass and Bluegill and LOVED those days out there throwing lures and worms for the pure satisfaction of a tug on the end of my line. Granted. that as fisherman I believe some of us evolve and change and look for a different challenge on the water, but I actually have guilt that I'm not throwing a tight loop or using flies that I tied. Now lets not get confused that my addiction and my passion is behind a fly rod but that passion all started with a spin rod in my hand and a need to be outside chasing something bigger than me. The love of the outdoors is what started this for all of us and the fly culture is an amazing environment and some damn good reading in social media and our favorite magazines.
Maybe I'm alone in this guilt or maybe not, but i do know that this spring and summer some of my pictures may have a different look than the environments that I normally post and some of the rods may have a different set up, but know for sure its about the experience and the time spent with family and friends that matters and not the hardware in our hands.
I'm Jeff and I'm proud to be a fisherman.... Are you?
I am with you 100% brother. I love to fly fish, there is just something about it BUT its hard to beat throwing a texas rig worm and feeling the slight nipple of a 5lb largemouth right before he takes it. I think its great. To be honest I still do both, and I can hold my own in both. There exists within Fly Fishing an elitism that really pisses me off at times and causes people to have guilt if they try something else. At the end of the day we are all just fishing and enjoying nature. If someone has a problem with how I fish, well they can jump off a cliff.
ReplyDeleteDamn right! Fish on my brother!
ReplyDeleteHey, Jeff, I just wanted to jump in here and give you a thumbs up with this post. You know, I have been a fly fisher for about (35) years or so. That being said, I am definitely not a member of the snobbish group. I like to tie flies and catch fish on flies I have tied. They may not be the prettiest of flies, but, they work for me. I am often fishing with in-expensive gear these days because of my senior citizen budget. In addition, I also fish with spinning gear when the setting is right. I am damn proud of it, too! I fish with my Grandkids often or other family members who may have no interest or developed that interest in fly fishing yet. I will not pass up an opportunity to fish with them if they want me too go along!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mel.
ReplyDelete