"Gene Cottrell" wrote

I'm
now retired and I can choose the places and times I fish, which makes it
better for me. I don't fish sun-up to sun-down any more and really don't
care how many I catch, just as long as I have a little action. If the
action
is slow, I pack it in and take a hike with my camera. I don't say I have
more fun now than I did when I fished harder, I had great fun back then.
Each person should fish the way that gives him/her the experience they're
looking for.




I thought I was reading my own post when I read that. I'm really getting
into sight nymphing, however, and find myself sometimes passing by risers
looking for fish I can see that are feeding below the surface.

That's the main difference I see in myself now than me "back when" ...
"fishing the water" simply bores me now, ... but if I can see my prey I'm
still a damn intense predator .... ah, in the stylistic manner of C&R

Actually I'm more INTENSE than the young me, probably the same amount of
emotion and concentration per day but spent in less hours. Now I seek out
fish that demand 100% of my ability.

Putting more of me into my fishing per hour, but
for fewer hours, suits me ... that way both the fishing and the 'just
sitting' are done to higher standards.

"Mike Connor" wrote

match the supposed hatch. If one is accurate with ones predictions, ( or
the chart is accurate!:)) this too can be pretty successful.



A couple years ago was a hot and accelerated season. Over a week after the
last Green Drake was seen, I saw a guy tossing a big green paradrake
pattern at some nice rising fish.

As I passed he asked the common, "how ya doin' " and I said I had managed to
catch a couple. He was fishless he replied and couldn't understand it as
"the fish 'should' be eating Green Drakes at this time of year"

Hatch chart blindness G there was absolutely nothing that even vaguely
resembled a Green Drake on the water, except that lone Paradrake.




On the "pattern vs presentation" deal ... I agree that presentation, as
defined by Willi is the game .... but the average guy thinks presentation as
nothing more than "no drag,"

To them, I like to say, and it IS true, for me .... "Somehow I always find
it easier to get a good presentation with the right pattern."