[VFB] The fly fishing purist

[Tom Davenport]

As we all know, sometimes fly fishing gets a bad wrap from the "Fly 
fishing purist".  The Balsa wood thread belongs somewhere in that camp. 
The stereotype would go something like this: Member of Sierra club, 
uses a Sage rod and Simms gear, prefers to fish with dry flies made 
from all natural products (no foam abominations, thank you), and looks 
at nymphs, especially nymphs fished with lead split shot  and a strike 
indicator with distain.  Will only catch and release fish, and always 
uses barbless hooks.

Now there is nothing necessarily wrong with any of the above, unless 
this person also refuses to acknowledge the legitimate claim on the 
sport by others who choose a different route (including the dreaded 
worm fisherman).  But consider some of the following case studies:

Case Study #1 An employee of a local flyshop, and excellent fly 
fisherman and fly tier, spends a day fishing a local river using his 
fly rod.  He meets a variety of fly fisherman along the river, the swap 
stories and share flies.  The next day he decides to take his spinning 
rod and target some bigger fish.  He meets several of the same people 
who pass him by with out even a hello.  Why?  He figures its the 
spinning rod he carries.

Case Study #2 The Provo river in Provo canyon is one of Utah's few 
legitimate Blue Ribbon trout streams.  The stretch below Deer Creek 
reservoir is the most famous, and has artificial lure and fly only 
regulations.  But it is over populated with fish, and the fish are 
starting to stunt and suffer diseases common to overpopulation, This, 
combined with a six year drought is a recipe for disaster.  The 
Department of Wildlife Resources has been begging fly fishermen to 
harvest a few trout for years, to no avail.  Now they have decided to 
increase the slot limit and allow bait fishing.  The flyfishermen 
purists howl!

Case Study #3  Years ago I am fishing with a buddy and accidentally 
lock my wallet, which holds my license in his car.  He is already far 
downstream.  I think "What the heck, no one has ever asked for my 
license" and of course find myself staring at a badge before I even wet 
the line. I explain to the game warden my predicament.  He looks at the 
light olive ninja turtle neoprenes I was wearing,  my K-mart vest that 
shrunk one size with its first  (and only) washing, and my cheap 
Pro-graphite rod.
"Local?" he asks?
"Yup". I reply and tell him where I live.
"Well..." he pauses.  "You don't look like some Mr. Orvis from 
Colorado, so I guess I'll believe your story and let you fish"

Obviously he could spot the "purist" and I wasn't it.

Well, times have changed, and I have adopted a lot of the "purist" 
philosophy.  I will always release trout, because I have no interest in 
a dead one.  Ever.  I have upgraded my gear several notches (but still 
haven't hit the Simms and Sage level).  But I try to be friendly and 
civil with all I meet on the stream, even the spinner fisherman who 
tosses his spinner into the run I am fishing.  I figure he doesn't know 
any better.  That's how we purists think...