Who here fly fishes? Where at and what for? Anything new you plan on chasing this year? Pics encouraged! I'll start. I live in west MI and fly fish for steelhead, brown/rainbow/brook trout, smallmouth/largemouth bass, bluegills, crappie, northern pike, carp, walleye, king/coho salmon. I think that covers most of it. A few from this past year... Hope to add musky to that list this year. My brother caught a few on Lake St. Clair this past year and I hope to join him this summer.
Sorry man. I love to fish, but I don't fly fish. Sheesh! You have caught bunch of good ones! Keep up the good work!
I used to fly fish a LOT as a kid, I grew up fishing some of the best spots on the east coast in rural Vermont. I actually attended the Orvis school when I was about 12 years old because I was so nutty/OCD about it and my parents finally let me do this instead of summer camp one year......lol. :D With that said, it's been probably 12 years. I ended up without the time/resources when I was in college, and to be honest the fishing in PA really wasn't as good as what I was used to in VT. That's really the time when I started getting serious about everything archery, and it really boils down to too many expensive/time consuming hobbies. I just this past year started fishing a bit more because my wife really enjoys it. It's more of a family thing though and I'm not sure if my wife has the patience to learn how to fly fish. Someday it's on the list of things that I'd really like to revisit when I have the time..........
RJ, Did you ever fish for stipers when you were in Vermont? That is something I really want to do someday. It can definitely be time consuming and expensive. I absolutely love bowhunting, but I would pick fly fishing if I were forced to. Fly fishing is 1a and bowhunting is 1b. Your wife might enjoy fly fishing. As an instructor, women/girls are often easier to teach because they are often more patient and many have not spin fished before...so the muscle memory of casting a spinning rod isn't there. My wife has tried both fly and spin fishing and she much prefers fly fishing because the casting is more fun. You never know.
Vito....I haven't been in years (sadly), but I'm planning on doing some flyfishing, soon. I got my gear out a little while back....and everything seems to be in working order (I suppose I'll find out for sure when I dunk 'em). I'd post some photos, but all of mine are pre-digital. I could scan a few though....and may. I've got a 4wt. & a 9'-er I love. Never had ANYWHERE NEAR the success you've had on large fish (location????....lol). My best is a 29"/6.5# brown (stocked section).....and I caught a 17" rainbow on my 3rd cast ever. Downhill, from there....lol. Few things I enjoy more than a big dip of skoal, while wading a creek the width of my truck's length......all in the hopes of catching a fish you'd likely use for BAIT! Awesome, awesome photos. man. Kudos.
Funny you posted this Vito. I have just been recently had flyfishing on my mind again (seems to kick in this time of the year). I've been over on Paflyfish.com again, looking through my new Cabelas Fly Fishing catalog, etc. I asked you a few questions last year about getting started, and I bought rod/reel, some flies, leaders, tippet, etc. I didn't get out once. This year I plan to get out some hopefully. I live in an area with GREAT fishing. Not tons of limestone streams, but lots of small headwaters, big creeks, etc. It's odd that I don't take advantage of this hobby more seeing as I have the entire summer off, but being a new homeowner, I have a LOT of summer projects. Not to mention what Matt said: I love to bowhunt. I love archery. I've also been trying to get into 3D more as well. It doesn't seem I'm good at trying to balance my time for all of these:D Long story short, I'm hoping to get out on the water this spring and summer a little bit. I may be picking your brain some Awesome pictures, btw. Do you take most photos on the water with a DSLR or what?
MGH: Ol Rob ought to be able to help you out in 3D. Anyone who's a top finisher in National tournaments should be utilized.
I used to spend a lot of time north of Livingston Montana flyfishing for Cutthroats and in Yellowstone NP. I miss those days. Now, I only get to whip the 9wt around with 6-9" streamers in the spring for Pike. Wish I had some pics!
Awesome fish there! I do some fly fishing for trout, I'm still a novice. Learning what to use when. I probably like dry fly fishing most, cause I love to see them sip it off the surface. But I'll try & use whatever they want to take.
We just can't avoid location being brought into a discussion, can we? LOL! :D In all serious, I know MI has some of the best fishing in the world. A lot of different species to fish for and some large fish at that. One of my favorite fish to chase are brook trout. They also happen to be the smallest I fish for. Love those pretty little fish. A lot of it has to do with the type of water they live in. By the far the prettiest areas I fish, most of them in the Upper Peninsula.
Thanks! I use a DSLR (Canon XTi) when fishing out of a boat and a point and shoot when wading. Most of the shots in my photo gallery (link in my sig) were taken with a point and shoot as most of my fishing is done when wading. Wish I could take the DSLR, but its much larger to pack and I'm worried about dunking it. Lets just say I have taken a spill or two in the river over the years. I have a Canon S3 Powershot which was a top of the line point and shoot when I bought it 4 years ago.
I used to go after Browns a quiet a bit, but this last 5 years I've really goten into down rigging the big lakes. I love hooking those 20# Lakers.
I would LOVE to fly-fish more.. and see myself getting into within the next few years. I think we'll have to trade Matt.. you take me steelheadin'... teach me what you know.. and you come hunt Illinois with me.
When I was a kid we lived in NY for a spell and I used to fish the Beaverkill and other great rivers, fished with and Lee and Joan Wulff, I have a White Wulff that Lee tied for me...cherished! Then I hit college and stopped fly fishing until my last tour here in VA. When we were up here in 2004 I built from a kit a 6'6" 2 wt rod for the mountains here. I used to tie fly's, and still have all my stuff...hoping to get back into that soon. Planning on taking my son out to overnight in the Shenandoah National Park this year. I have too many damn hobbies...hunting, fishing, woodworking, Harley's and so on and so on. Those are some great pics there!
