"Guyz-N-Flyz" wrote


Damned Elitists!



FWIW, I never said I think I'm in any way "elite" because I usually just
sight fish. On the contrary, actually.

I think it reflects a weakness of predator instinct. I just can't maintain
concentration "fishing the water" the way people with a more intense desire
to catch fish can and I see that as a failing.

The best fisherpeople approach the water, seek, and find, the most elegant
way to catch fish in the situation at hand, regardless of that situation and
the technique it suggests. From his posts, Willi comes to mind, on this
"forum." creative and skilled at a variety of methods. Those of us with
limited approaches are just that, limited, and in no way "superior" imho ...
just the opposite.

As an aside, I'm exactly the same in my bird hunting.

I love duck and especially Honker hunting over decoys. I can sit when
nothing is flying and greatly enjoy "just being in a nice place." .... this
is much like sitting on the "anglers bench" waiting for a fish to rise.

Then, when the geese are first spotted, often a mile or more away, I am
super, super intense in my calling, and other efforts until my prey is
either captured or failure is accepted.....this is much like the stalk,
pattern selection, and presentations to the rising fish, very intense, very
much in the moment " now"

But, although I love to eat pheasant, I very seldom hunt them ( I'm
surrounded by them, it's season now and I've heard shooting this morning,
but I haven't hunted them in a number of years ) because the "hunting the
field" with the idea it may have birds doesn't hold my attention, much as
"fishing the water" doesn't. One can neither really relax and appreciate
the "place," as on the angler's bench, nor do I find the intensity of
concentration and predator behavior in myself that stops time and merges me
with Nature in the way that is my major reason for hunting and fishing
....both reasons I go out are compromised.

As I said, I see this as a weakness of predator instinct, compared to
others, and, certainly not a superiority.