wrote

I didn't mean it sarcastically - I was only gigging you a bit. You
seemed to me to be genuinely attempting to add to the discussion, but I
didn't really understand what you were attempting to convey.


OK

I wasn't really replying to anyone ... or "adding to the discussion" ...
just trying to express something I've noticed about myself, I was talking to
myself more than chatting with others


That something I've noticed is that I MUCH more enjoy fishing when I'm
deeply concentrating. When I'm focused to the point where things become
'timeless' is when I most appreciate fishing. I'm sure you know what I
mean, without looking at your watch you don't know whether it's been 10
minutes or two hours since you started trying to catch that fish over there.



Since I seldom "prospect" for fish ... i.e. 'fish the water' .... when I use
a 'two fly" system it's an admission that I don't really know how BEST to
try for the fish I've spotted ( or am absolutely certain is 'home'). That
uncertainty reduces my confidence and concentration and, therefore, pleasure
in the pursuit. The other times I resort to two flies are times when
"prospecting" seems less boring than just leaving ... but I'm usually
wrong, it's not less boring, and I quit soon. I am NOT much of a fisherman,
that is I am NOT too motivated by 'catching fish,' per se, so I'm not that
drawn to techniques that "work" but I don't find pleasure in using.



BOTH fishing a dry when I'm certain a good presentation /pattern combo will
get eaten AND fishing a nymph with similar faith are FAR more pleasurable
for me than fishing both at the same time, just hoping one or the other will
appeal to my prey. The reason revolves around the effect "hedging your
bets" has on my mind, and is not a reflection of tangle problems or fish
catching 'efficiency'. .



Catching the fish is only the most obvious goal, but the tangents are
usually more important to ME. One of those tangents is the fierce
predatory concentration that comes to me when I'm certain, "If I do this
right, this fly and this technique WILL catch that fish." I can't seem
to conger up that level of focus fishing two flies at one time.



there ya go, clear as the lower Mississippi during run off G