Ya know, its funny you say that because I was just reflecting on that this weekend. Prior to this past winter, I was strictly a bass fisherman. I wouldn't bother fishing for bluegills when the bass wouldnt hit the lures. Only a largemouth or smallmouth bass was suitable. I don't know what it is about fly fishing's relationship with all other methods of fishing, but fly fishing *does* come across to devotees of other styles as the elite snob division of fishing. I always thought that fly fishing was pretty much for doctors, lawyers and other useless individuals with summer homes in new england. At this point I could really kick myself in the ass for not making my way along to fly fishing a lot earlier. Somehow though, the typical bass fisherman doesn't have much respect for the fly fisherman. I would say that the average trout in my brief trout experience this spring and early summer is probably a bit easier to catch than the average bass. In my mind, thats a big plus really. Bass fishing is entirely too technical. There are too many super lines, tweaked soft plastics, pheromone attractors and $30 Japanese lures on the market. Bass fishing offers a much greater opportunity to go overboard than trout fishing (again, opinion). My best bass fishing rods cost less than my entry level fly fishing rod and reel and they're darned fine rods. Fly fishing can reasonably justify this because the rod itself is the main tool the fisherman will use on the water. While I doubt I'll ever have the means to purchase a multiple thousand dollar rod, they are things of beauty which someone has taken great care to make perfectly. Graphite bass rods I believe are more or less machine made. Bass fisherman rely on an arsenal of $5 lures to get a fish on the end of the line. An average dry fly probably has a total material cost of around $0.25 i'd think. Really, I believe that to maintain an average bass fishing hobby its got to be more expensive than maintaining an average fly fishing habit. Tying my own flies makes the experience so much more rewarding and it makes me absolutely responsible for everything thats going on on the water. If fish won't take anything in my box, and i tied em all, I can't blame it on the clowns at the Rapala factory taking it easy on a friday afternoon. I made the thing, and if the fish won't fall for it, its my own problem. If they DO fall for it, its also entirely my own triumph.
Man.....this is an awful lot of rambling. My point (and I'm pretty sure I never got even a little bit close to making it directly) is that I believe that a lot of the stereotypes that I and many other bass fisherman have assciated with fly fisherman are reflective of the shortcomings in the bass fishing industry. What makes it all the more bizarre is that in EVERY case, when I've gone into a fly fishing shop, the service is better and more helpful than it is at a bass shop. The people on the lists are friendlier. The people I see on the stream are more often pleasant than on the lakes and reservoirs. The world is basicly wrong about fly fishing. Honestly though, I'd like to keep it that way. No need to crowd the streams too much....if all the bass fisherman of the world figured out how much fun trout are to catch, I'd have to wait in line for a spot to fish... Thanks for your time all! John Roth [EMAIL PROTECTED] on 06/22/2002 03:19:40 PM Please respond to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] cc: (bcc: John Roth-CPD/USA/MCCRK) Subject: Re: [VFB] USA today story It's curious how certain people try to pigeon-hole us into an elite category somewhat relating us to wealth and snobbery. It really gets me riled when I hear someone categorize us into some elitist position that takes a superior aire towards others. They seem to point to the expense of the equipment, the distances we travel to "play" the fish, and the elegant little vest and paraphenalia we put on as part of our ritual. I'd like to hear someone mention what a bunch of goof-balls we really are. The kind that surveys cosmetic and craft stores for material substitutes to tie flies. The kind of people that buy a sable paint brush for a lifetime's supply of microfibbetts. The kind of people who stick their head in the water to "see" what the fish are really doing. The kind of people who would rather release the fish unharmed than throw it in the skillet. The kind of people who enjoy the "chase" more than the end-result. Hey, And I've got no problem with the baiters, they can catch all the planters they want. Go ahead and use powerbait, your treble hooks, and fish the most accessible streams...Why, because then the places I want to fish are left to me and my brethen and the satisfied baiters have no desire to exert the additional energy to be where I am. Steve Schalla
