"Tom Nakashima" wrote

I do recall in one of your previous post that you didn't really care
about fly-fishing techniques,
so I'm a little surprised when post this. To me fly-fishing is all about
technique, or else one
might as well fish with a spin rod & reel and nightcrawlers.


I don't remember saying exactly that, but I'm not much of a fisherman. By
that I mean I'm not motivated all that much by catching fish. I know guys
that are obsessed with catching, and I used to have similar obsessions about
waterfowling, so I understand. But, I'm not obsessed about "success" in
fishing. (aside: Last summer after an evening on the HFork I was
chatting with a fellow that was moaning about "not catching" and he went on
to mention a famous Utah fishery and how it's so great because he could
catch "50 fish a day" there, bobber fishing. I noted that I had been
there, done that, and would never go back. Nearly indignant, he asked,
"Don't you want to catch LOTS of fish each day?" I answered and meant it,
"No, too boring." )

I fly fish about 90 days each year but I'm not an avid fisherman and I
doubt I'd fish ever if limited to bait or spinner gear.

But, it's not fly casting, or techniques that appeal ... for me it's the
chance for improved intimacy with my prey and it's micro-environment that
fly fishing allows/requires that make the sport engrossing.

A big part of what I mean is simply seeking less between me and my prey,
less weight, no gears, no machine made lures, less distance, even less
water.

Nearly 100% of my fly fishing is to visible fish, rising to a hatch or
positioned where I can see them in the water and sight nymph for them. That
dry fly and sight nymphing requires a wide range of casting skills and
variations in presentation .... most of which I've developed adequate skills
at ( but I am and admit to being a crappy caster, compared to many fly
anglers that are all caps FLY fishermen ).

But, 'fishing the water' isn't something I enjoy for long periods ... I'd
probably fly fish 4 or 5 days/ year ( and eat the catch) if it was all that
was available ( that is about how much I used to fish the typical Sierra
streams up the hill). I have, still can and occasionally do catch fish
on dries and nymphs in this more typical "likely lie" manner, but to me it's
dull work since, as I tried to point out, "catching fish" isn't my "why" in
"why fly fish." and because it doesn't force concentration to high levels.
( nymphing does require lots of concentration, but it's focus on tackle,
"watch the bobber" not focus on Nature, ala the hunts I love)
( Aside: most people seem to prefer to fish "with a buddy" ... I don't. I
enjoy chatting about fishing, before and after, but when I find the kind of
angling that I drive thousands of miles seeking, it requires too much
concentration to break with "while fishing" socializing .... when really
fishing, the whole world is just me, my prey, and that prey's intricate
micro-environment .... and that is how I want it).

However, this thread is about fishing moving water from a moving craft
to fish hidden deep in the water, using fly gear. NOT, my norm, not
even something I've tried more than an hour total in decades of fishing.

This thread exists because boredom is terrible stuff, I have a trout stream
(Lower Stanislaus) 3 miles from home and a kickboat, the weather has been
far too nice, and a float down that river seems like a nice way to spend a
few hours. If I'm going to float it, I might as well come prepared to
fish
.... I don't own any spin gear, so need to fish with fly gear. I have an
extra kickboat if someone wants to join me, seems exactly the type of
fishing where human company would be a good addition.

I'm leaning towards a beadhead woooly buggger fished as in stillwater at
places, dead drifted in others, allowed to swing in others .... if I catch a
fish or two .. cool ... if not, it should be a fun float and better than
the boredom that has me visiting roff and typing this.

Speaking of which ... this place seems dead ... R.I.P. R.O.F.F. ??