Any other fly fishermen out there?

[thinkingredneck]

I like to use a fly rod on top when they are shallow.  Anyone else?

[TnRiver46]

Yea I like fly fishing, got kind of burned out working as a fly fishing guide but I don't do that full time anymore (thank god). Now my fly fishing is for fun, I like it mostly for bluegill and trout. The fight is better on the fly rods, trout don't fight well with a jerkbait in their face unless they are fairly huge. I picked up an eagle claw fiberglass feather light 6'6" fly rod that makes rainbows fight like tuna 

[BuzzHudson19c]

I pretty much only run a fly rod when the mood strikes me. Usually for smallies in smaller rivers. Streamers and wooly buggers are about it, sometimes a popper.

Actually hooked into a channel cat (around 3lb) last year on a wooly bugger in current under a waterfall. Blew my mind, hooked right in the corner of the mouth.

[new2BC4bass]

No, but I'd like to be.  Have a rod, but it has never seen water yet.  Always seem to be more interested in my baitcast reels.  Plus a beginner like me needs lots of casting room.  Something not always available from shore at public spots.

[Further North]

You bet.

 

I spend about half my time on the water with gear, half with the long rod...it varies by the weather and what I'm chasing (everything from trout to musky).

 

Most of what I throw are streamers, particularly for warm water fish...I'll go to the surface for bass if conditions are right.

 

I find it less tiring over the course of a long day on the water to switch back and forth between gear and fly fishing...different muscle groups, techniques, etc.

[flyfisher]

I enjoy fly fishing for all species.  When smallmouth fishing in the local rivers i use the fly rod probably 90% of the time.    If i am fishing for the green bass i am probably 50/50 unless I am going after bedding fish.  Seems like a ell placed fly gets hit way more frequently than a conventional bait.  Also i love night fishing with the long rod in lilly pad fields....nothing better.  

[The Bassman]

I have a nice 5 wt. outfit that I would love to use for smallmouth in creeks. I've always had trouble controlling my back cast and never mastered a roll cast.  Not too many bass in the trees.

[jbmaine]

For 25yrs. I was strictly a fly fisherman. I caught anything from pan fish to stripers on a fly rod. 15 yrs ago when I started taking my wife fishing with me I switched back to spinning rods. It was easier for the two of us, fishing together in a small boat. I'm hoping to take it up again this year, ( we'll have a bigger boat this year.)

                                                                        Jim

[Robin]

I primarily fish the Llano River in the Texas Hill Country and spend about half the time fly fishing. I usually fish topwater flies for largemouth, Guadalupe and bluegill. The Llano River offers great fly fishing with a lot of clear shallow water. That being said, I generally catch larger fish on conventional tackle and certainly enjoy both types of fishing.

[WdyCrankbait]

yes, and love fly fishing for shallow water/sight fishing.

[Way north bass guy]

I’ve been fly fishing for smallies since I was about 14, mostly self taught, no pro by any means but I can get it out there fairly well and quietly.

I don’t do it as often as I used to but it sure is fun when a big bronzeback slurps up a little popper and rockets skyward!

The last few times I’ve used the fly rod, it’s been on a small lake near my house that’s full of largemouth. There’s definitely a bit more challenge with a fly rod in thick pads rather than the baitcaster but it is fun getting them on small weedless poppers, just have to up the leader size a bit and take your time with them. 

[Gundog]

I occasionally fly fish for panfish at a local lake in the dead of summer when I've only got a few hours to fish. Its fun and the action is non-stop. Every once in a while I'll hook into a small LMB. One of these days I'm gonna go out and fish for smallmouth on a fly. After fighting them on conventional tackle I can't wait to see what they feel like on my 5 weight fly rod. 

[boudroux]

I've been flyfishing for trout since I was 5.  Recently I've started catching smallmouth on the lower Colorado River in California on a 5wt using small streamers.  What a blast catching these guys on the fly.  

[Ratherbfishing]

I like to fly fish in the spring when the bluegill are bedding.  It's a real hoot to watch a big bull bluegill breach the surface in pursuit of a popper or spider.  But I don't do it much otherwise.  Not that I wouldn't like to, mind you.  It's just that time is limited and there are other methods which seem to be more reliable/versatile.  I tell myself that after I retire, more of my time will be spent with a fly rod in hand.

[trouttracker]

Over the last 20 years I've primarily fly fished in Michigan rivers with my own flies - dry/wet/nymph flies for trout, bass, steelhead and salmon.  About 3 years ago I bought a used Lund ProV, casting/spinning gear and baits for lake fishing and have been preoccupied with reacquainting myself with all of this stuff - did a lot of spin fishing with my Dad growing up.

 

Catching fish on a fly that you have tied is a real thrill and I will never tire of doing that.

[MI.Kayaker]

Started this fall and have been spoiled to say the least. Have converted to 100% fly for most applications. I will go back to throwing big swimbaits and jigs for bass this summer on conventional tackle.

[68camaro]

Yup, love fly for trout, smallies and soon to be trying Shoal bass on fly. LM I only use conventional tackle. Pretty soon biggest challenge will be what do I go after today.....Stripers in tidal river, brook or rainbows in streams, brown in rivers or LM in ponds/lakes.....:)

[crypt]

oh yeah,love it.have 2 outfits for when the mood strikes me. 3 weight for light stuff and a 7 weight for heavy fresh light salt.

[Big-Bass]

I'm a fly fishing fanatic too!  

 

Here is what I am currently rotating in my fly fishing lineup:

 

Orvis Clearwater 704-4 with Redington Drift 3/4

Scott G2 844-4 with Ross Evolution 1.5

Orvis Hydros 865-4 Mid Flex with no reel at the moment

Orvis Helios 2 905-4 Tip Flex with Lamson Litespeed 2.0

Winston Passport 905-4 with Lamson Velocity Nickel 2.0

St. Croix Legend Ultra 1006-4 with Allen Alphas II

Loop Multi 696-4 with no reel at the moment

Cortland Endurance 1007-4 with Redington Surge

 

 

 

[RPreeb]

When you've lived for more than 50 years along the east edge of the Rockies like I have, learning to use a flyrod is pretty much a given if you fish at all.  A friend taught me how to tie flies when we were working for the Forest Service the summer after my first year of college.  We would go out most mornings and pick one of the many creeks that fed into the Swan River and catch our breakfast.  My best memory was battling a 4 pound rainbow in the Swan River... wonderful fight for nearly 15 minutes before I could bring it into shore.

 

All that said, I haven't even owned a flyrod now for 25 years.  I've only fished rarely here and there with a spinning rig during that time, just trying to get back into a little bass fishing last year after a 50 year absence.