Whats most important?

Mike answers:
Enjoying it.

We have a winner!!! The Only correct answer possible to this question. Many
times in the situation described, folks allow fishing to become angst-ridden.
Within the confines of the original question, stealth goes a lot farther than
people assume. Just because the fish are "used" to people fishing, doesn't mean
they are happy about it, or feed normally when people are observed. Try hiding
very quietly and see if they don't start feeding.....then trot out the other
skills mentioned.
Tom
p.s. this hiding period might take quite a while for the fish to relax, so
refer to Daytripper's answer, as well.

Trippers answer is correct no matter what the situation......Othe than that
throw a concussion grenade open up a fish see what they are eating select
proper fly move upstream about a mile and try again......


Handyman Mike
Standing in a river waving a stick

LOL , yup I agree. Having fun is the most important.
But... it sure would be nice to add to a fish or two for the effort.

I'll tell you what made me think of this question.
I was fishing the area described. Two guys were upstream from me. One
guy was crawling (on shore)on his hands & knees, laid on his belly and
casted 3 or 4 feet to the fish. The other guy was standing on a rock about
4 feet above the water. He looked about 10 feet tall over the water! ( I
grinned and wished I had my camera) Both were fishing the same large pool.
I was fishing dries and my buddy was fishing every nymph pattern he could
find in his box. Nothing all evening, we all got skunked.
We couldn't move easily to another spot because the stream was crowed.
So,we're all trying different things and nothing is working.
I think I know why the guy on the rock isn't catching anything but the
guy sneaking up on them wasn't doing any better.
I was just wondering if perhaps we were all doing the same thing wrong
(fly selection, presentation, whatever) or if it was the fishes fault once
again.
I must admit... at times like that... I would LOVE to be
the guy pulling 'em in!
Maybe next time!
Thanks for all your responses everyone.
Dave Mc

"Tom Littleton" wrote in message
...
Mike answers:
Enjoying it.

We have a winner!!! The Only correct answer possible to this question.
Many
times in the situation described, folks allow fishing to become
angst-ridden.
Within the confines of the original question, stealth goes a lot farther
than
people assume. Just because the fish are "used" to people fishing, doesn't
mean
they are happy about it, or feed normally when people are observed. Try
hiding
very quietly and see if they don't start feeding.....then trot out the
other
skills mentioned.
Tom
p.s. this hiding period might take quite a while for the fish to relax, so
refer to Daytripper's answer, as well.

On Sun, 18 Apr 2004 16:11:41 -0600, "Dave Mc"
wrote:

(snipped)
I was fishing the area described. Two guys were upstream from me. One
guy was crawling (on shore)on his hands & knees, laid on his belly and
casted 3 or 4 feet to the fish. The other guy was standing on a rock about
4 feet above the water. He looked about 10 feet tall over the water! ( I
grinned and wished I had my camera) Both were fishing the same large pool.


I think t he clue to the lack of success of the stealth guy is
answered above in the part that says, 'Both were fishing the same
large pool.' Unless it was very large, every fish in it was
doubtless alerted by the guy on the rock. No point to the other guy
fishing with stealth. I'd give odds that the fish don't follow the
cast and think that anything _but_ what the visible guy is doing is
safe.
--

rbc:vixen,Minnow Goddess,Willow Watcher,and all that sort of thing.
Often taunted by trout.
Only a fool would refuse to believe in luck. Only a damn fool would rely on it.

http://www.visi.com/~cyli