I think I am in the "Master of none," phase. I like being able to do many types of fly fishing. Dry droppers on a small stream, a day on a big river in a drift boat, still water in my float tube, swinging flies with my switch rod on the big water trout spey, stripping streamers and the ultimate...dry flies! Well...and emergers. I can't do any of them at a high level but at least I can do and enjoy them. As long as I am in a beautiful place, even downtown Red Bluff, CA qualifies, I am in my happy place. Cool video.
Good podcast sir..I agree on most of your points. I am 77 yrs old and went through many of the things you mentioned. I used to fly fish for trout at least once a week and have had 40-50 catch days. Now, I get out 5-6 times a year, even with lessened wading skills, I usually catch 2-3 trout....
I'm 41 been tying and fishing since the age of 8 ,I never stop learning but in the stage of my career that I get more joy out of helping others ,donating flies,the more I give away the more I get back,my other stage is I average 12 trout ,mostly more per outing
I've heard it as 5 stages of a "sportsman's" life.... 1st. Just let me catch a fish any fish. 2nd. Got to catch my limit. 3rd. Trophy stage, looking for that 10 pound bass, the "wall hanger". 4th. What can I do to make it more challenging? Go for a World Record? Use lighter tackle? Try Tenkara. Only use one type of fly? 5th. Teaching. Love to see the smile of a kid catching their first fish. Every fish you catch, it's like I caught it. At age 78 I teach the Fishing and Fly Fishing merit badges to the scouts... love introducing them to fly tying and casting a fly rod. I never thought about the "gear guys". and the "sub groups'. That is so true. 🤣 . Why do we do it... for those smiles on kids (and adults) faces..😊😊😊 FISH ON ! Aloha.
Something you may include is that, at least in my case, you can be in more than one stage at the same time. I started very late in life. I’m 72 and only been fly fishing for just over a year. I started as a sponge and have maintained that status. I want to learn everything and learn it now! Always practicing going for that picturesque image of the fly line in the air holding that perfect loop. Plus wanting to be an ambassador to the art, and it is art. All my life I have collected knowledge on a variety of subjects and now I just want to give back and fly fishing is no exception. Catching fish, outsmarting the fish, putting myself in the fish’s head, this is what I love trying to do. I have never worried about how many fish I caught. And because I never catch very many that’s probably a good thing. I’ve really enjoyed your down to earth approach at sharing what you’ve got to offer. I’m sure that you’ve been an excellent educator throughout your life. Thank you, Wes
Yep, know where you are coming from. I am now 79 and have fished from being about eight years old for both coarse fish and trout. I can recognise the different stages in my own fishing looking back over the years and whilst I am still keen as ever and want to feel that tug on the line, it doesn’t matter if it doesn’t happen as I have just been out in my own world for a few hours doing what I love.
Interesting reflections, I have never thought on that. I fully agree on the first few stages, but much less on the final ones. I started fishing at the age of 4, I am now 51... and fly fished since I was 14 (self teaching myself on it), at the beginning I wanted to catch anything :-), then I wanted numbers and most importantly a huge one :-) I passed as well the dry fly only step :-) and now I believe I am a fisherman that it is adaptable, uses several techniques depending on the situation. I enjoy even if I do not fish... but even more if the fishing is good as often I go alone, unluckily for me I leave far from good fishing areas so that makes my life a bit miserable. Thanks for your videos!! Greetings from Spain.
I'm at the stage of too old and impatient for the impracticality of the rod and line and how long it takes to cast and recover line...but...I love to tie flies...so I tie big heavy flies that I can cast ultralight BFS and I fish for anything with fins and I have a great time...which is really the whole point. It feels great to use a lure you have created...and the fish have never seen it and they just attack it...and then the humor of creating a lure the fish REFUSE to eat!!! Very much agree on the beauty of fishing streams. I think you covered the stages...nice content.
I guess i am on first stage (not for fishing, mean fly fishing), many years to go and i am looking forward to it. I will see what will be my stages are. Curently i always take my son (he is 10) with me if i able to. Thanks for sharing your experience. Oh yeah youtube is final stage -was LOL
I am 55 and I enjoy the peace and forgetting about the world when I'm fishing. I have two grandsons age 9 and 7 that are just starting to learn fly fishing and patience is what I'm really learning a lot about now. Teaching a kid to fish is rewarding and challenging at the same time. I have really been into tying and fishing old school wet flies and spiders lately if that's a stage.
I am stuck at the homemade stage. I built my own lines, rods. I design to 3d-print saltwater reels (started by replacing the innards with plastic to fight corrosion.) I read a lot of academic papers on the elasticity of tapered cantilevers to understand rods and casting etc.
Since I began fishing so late in life, I probably accelerated through most of the stages ( except tenkara; never did tenkara). Now, a good day with good people followed by a good supper/drinks around the fire is my nirvana.
Focus and meditation. When the mind is scattered and the body is frustrated, fly casting does not work for me. Tangles and knots. (you know what I mean ) Forgetting everything and focusing on the lure. The focus, rhythm, timing, breathing, not getting distracted, and peripheral vision gets tuned in. Your ears pick up bird sounds to indicate feeding activity. Sharpening the mind.
I think I am in the "Master of none," phase. I like being able to do many types of fly fishing. Dry droppers on a small stream, a day on a big river in a drift boat, still water in my float tube, swinging flies with my switch rod on the big water trout spey, stripping streamers and the ultimate...dry flies! Well...and emergers. I can't do any of them at a high level but at least I can do and enjoy them. As long as I am in a beautiful place, even downtown Red Bluff, CA qualifies, I am in my happy place. Cool video.
Sounds like you just ENJOY the experience , which is great.
Good podcast sir..I agree on most of your points. I am 77 yrs old and went through many of the things you mentioned. I used to fly fish for trout at least once a week and have had 40-50 catch days. Now, I get out 5-6 times a year, even with lessened wading skills, I usually catch 2-3 trout....
It's just good to get out and stand in a stream once in a while.
I'm 41 been tying and fishing since the age of 8 ,I never stop learning but in the stage of my career that I get more joy out of helping others ,donating flies,the more I give away the more I get back,my other stage is I average 12 trout ,mostly more per outing
I've heard it as 5 stages of a "sportsman's" life.... 1st. Just let me catch a fish any fish. 2nd. Got to catch my limit. 3rd. Trophy stage, looking for that 10 pound bass, the "wall hanger". 4th. What can I do to make it more challenging? Go for a World Record? Use lighter tackle? Try Tenkara. Only use one type of fly? 5th. Teaching. Love to see the smile of a kid catching their first fish. Every fish you catch, it's like I caught it. At age 78 I teach the Fishing and Fly Fishing merit badges to the scouts... love introducing them to fly tying and casting a fly rod. I never thought about the "gear guys". and the "sub groups'. That is so true. 🤣 . Why do we do it... for those smiles on kids (and adults) faces..😊😊😊 FISH ON ! Aloha.
Yes those smiles keep me going!
Something you may include is that, at least in my case, you can be in more than one stage at the same time. I started very late in life. I’m 72 and only been fly fishing for just over a year. I started as a sponge and have maintained that status. I want to learn everything and learn it now! Always practicing going for that picturesque image of the fly line in the air holding that perfect loop. Plus wanting to be an ambassador to the art, and it is art.
All my life I have collected knowledge on a variety of subjects and now I just want to give back and fly fishing is no exception. Catching fish, outsmarting the fish, putting myself in the fish’s head, this is what I love trying to do. I have never worried about how many fish I caught. And because I never catch very many that’s probably a good thing.
I’ve really enjoyed your down to earth approach at sharing what you’ve got to offer. I’m sure that you’ve been an excellent educator throughout your life.
Thank you,
Wes
Good point about when in your life you start this journey. Us older guys have a clearer picture of what we want in our pursuits. I'm also 72.
Not a bad club to be in. 😊👍🏻
Yep, know where you are coming from. I am now 79 and have fished from being about eight years old for both coarse fish and trout. I can recognise the different stages in my own fishing looking back over the years and whilst I am still keen as ever and want to feel that tug on the line, it doesn’t matter if it doesn’t happen as I have just been out in my own world for a few hours doing what I love.
I couldn't have said it better!
Great video as always! I’m at the stage where I’m learning to fly fish with disabilities!
I have seen a lot of creative ways to fish!
Interesting reflections, I have never thought on that. I fully agree on the first few stages, but much less on the final ones. I started fishing at the age of 4, I am now 51... and fly fished since I was 14 (self teaching myself on it), at the beginning I wanted to catch anything :-), then I wanted numbers and most importantly a huge one :-) I passed as well the dry fly only step :-) and now I believe I am a fisherman that it is adaptable, uses several techniques depending on the situation. I enjoy even if I do not fish... but even more if the fishing is good as often I go alone, unluckily for me I leave far from good fishing areas so that makes my life a bit miserable. Thanks for your videos!! Greetings from Spain.
We all follow our own path, but its good to reflect on it once in a while.
I'm at the stage of too old and impatient for the impracticality of the rod and line and how long it takes to cast and recover line...but...I love to tie flies...so I tie big heavy flies that I can cast ultralight BFS and I fish for anything with fins and I have a great time...which is really the whole point. It feels great to use a lure you have created...and the fish have never seen it and they just attack it...and then the humor of creating a lure the fish REFUSE to eat!!! Very much agree on the beauty of fishing streams. I think you covered the stages...nice content.
Lots of roads to get to the same place. Thanks
Mike. This is such a great commentary! Fantastic observations
That's what I try to do, keep it real.
I guess i am on first stage (not for fishing, mean fly fishing), many years to go and i am looking forward to it. I will see what will be my stages are. Curently i always take my son (he is 10) with me if i able to. Thanks for sharing your experience. Oh yeah youtube is final stage -was LOL
You will have fun along the way!
I am 55 and I enjoy the peace and forgetting about the world when I'm fishing. I have two grandsons age 9 and 7 that are just starting to learn fly fishing and patience is what I'm really learning a lot about now. Teaching a kid to fish is rewarding and challenging at the same time. I have really been into tying and fishing old school wet flies and spiders lately if that's a stage.
You are so lucky you have two grandsons who you can fish with. Remember snacks help with kids a lot!
I am stuck at the homemade stage. I built my own lines, rods. I design to 3d-print saltwater reels (started by replacing the innards with plastic to fight corrosion.) I read a lot of academic papers on the elasticity of tapered cantilevers to understand rods and casting etc.
Sounds like you’re a real inventor! I really like to take bits from other tasks and apply them to fishing.
Since I began fishing so late in life, I probably accelerated through most of the stages ( except tenkara; never did tenkara). Now, a good day with good people followed by a good supper/drinks around the fire is my nirvana.
Its the whole experience. Especially with people you like.
Focus and meditation.
When the mind is scattered and the body is frustrated, fly casting does not work for me.
Tangles and knots. (you know what I mean )
Forgetting everything and focusing on the lure.
The focus, rhythm, timing, breathing, not getting distracted, and peripheral vision gets tuned in. Your ears pick up bird sounds to indicate feeding activity.
Sharpening the mind.
I had a tenkara phase when i was between 5 and 7 years old , we called it by its proper name , a cane pole....lol
hahaha
But I'm truly in the stage of wet fly fishing that's what I enjoy the most
Only fishing with flies you’ve tied
OOOH good one!
@ That’s where I’m at right now
Test