I'm in the same boat with the other guys on this one. Adding an attractant turns fly fishing into bait fishing. In Maryland, its illegal to do something like this anyway on any designated flyfishing water. Like John Martinez just said, it does sound like a shady practice and it really does take away from the joy of fly fishing.
For my whole life before taking up fly fishing, I'd been heavily into bass and heavy saltwater fishing. In each of those areas, something is being presented which really must be manufactured. I don't have machines to mold hard plastic lures or sheets of silicone from which to cut rubber skirts, and I doubt very many bass and saltwater fishermen do (actually, I made most of my own saltwater rigs, but I still had to buy a lot of the stuff). One of the main elements of fly fishing that really drew me in is the fact that I've got absolute control over what goes onto the hook to attract fish. Theoretically, if I'm doing my job well enough, part of the reward of having a big day on the water is knowing that I've tied something that looks enough like real food to fool the fish. There's no need to add jagermeister-scented attractants with oild and metal flakes in it since I've got absolute control over the creation of the lure. I just don't see the point in crossing fly fishing with scents. I think the sport gives me the perfect balance of great days, mediocre days and swift kick in the butt days that it maintains my interest as it is without having to panic in search of something to one-up the next guy. John Roth "Dr. Doug Miller" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> on 02/04/2003 11:34:35 PM Please respond to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] cc: (bcc: John Roth-CPD/USA/MCCRK) Subject: [VFB] Fish oil Now here's a question for the list. Since all fish stocked into Blue River in Oklahoma have been fed fellets which are infused with fish oil (sardine, salmon, etc.) is it ethical to soak a nymph in sardine oil and fish with it?� The local marine biologist is recommending that the bait chunkers mix fish oil into their dough bait. Made me wonder how many flyfishermen are doing the same with nymphs?!? BTW - another Oklahoma nuance:� people are encouraged to KEEP what they catch since there is no possible way for the fish to survive much past mid-April.� The water gets far too warm for them to survive. And you didn't believe me when I said I was in a trout void! Doug
