A little TV fishin'

After a long day on the property, yesterday, settin' up auto-deer feeders, I decided
to spend a lazy day inside today. Sittin' here listenin' to NPR and watchin' PBS, I
watched a program about scientist who were attemptin' to capture--live-- a monster
man-eater croc (better than 45' long and estimated to be 60 y.o.) in Burundi. They
didn't succeed.

The next program to come on was Carolina Outdoor Journal which, I believe is produced
down around Mr. Miller's way in Greenville, NC. Today's show centered on flyfishin'
in the Pisgah--though they never say exactly where--on a delayed-harvest stream. I
think that it may have been up in Wilkes Co. on Stone Mountain Creek, but I don't
really know. They did say that they were fishin' in May and as always they do a
segment on the gear they use. The fishermen used the tried and true caddis and Adams'
patterns primarily, but they also fished with droppers--beadhead pheasant tail.

A few thing that they did or suggested seemed odd to me: They netted most all of the
fish, no matter the size and then handled the fish for what seemed an eternity. Now I
realize that they are producing a TV program and need to show the fish to make the
show interesting, but handlin' the fish after netting seems to defeat the purpose of
the net?

One, of the two guides, stated that a 7 1/2' to 8' rod and 4 and 5 weight rods were
recommended for the small streams in the Pisgah. I tend to use shorter and lighter
weight rods myself, but then I'm not a guide. There are times when I fish that I wish
that I had a longer rod on the small streams that I fish; mostly, those times are when
I am tryin' to keep my line off the water when castin' over a spill, or when tryin' to
get my line across a fast current to an eddy on the other side of the stream. For the
majority of my fishin' needs, on our small streams, I like a 6' to 7 1/2' rod in the 3
wt. range. I find that I can cast to difficult to get to sections of water by
positioning myself and I can get under rhodo branches more easily with a shorter rod.
I like usin' a 3 wt., cause *I believe* it gives me a more delicate presentation and I
can feel the fish I catch. The majority of fish I catch are in the 7 to 11 inch
range, though it's not uncommon to catch wild trout up to 18 inches on some stretches
of water I fish.

Finally, I couldn't help but notice that neither the guide nor their guests took any
but the largest fish to reel? Obviously, COJ isn't produced with the elite flyfisher
in mind.

Mark

Mark Bowen wrote:

A few thing that they did or suggested seemed odd to me: They netted most all of the
fish, no matter the size and then handled the fish for what seemed an eternity. Now I
realize that they are producing a TV program and need to show the fish to make the
show interesting, but handlin' the fish after netting seems to defeat the purpose of
the net?

I net the larger fish. Smaller fish don't need to be netted, and I can
usually get the fly out out with a pair of long forceps. I don't like
handling the fish too much, but at the same time, I thnk trout can take
a lot more handling than people give them credit for.

One, of the two guides, stated that a 7 1/2' to 8' rod and 4 and 5 weight rods were
recommended for the small streams in the Pisgah. I tend to use shorter and lighter
weight rods myself

Lots of things determine choice of rod weight, I think personal
preference is the overriding factor. I tend to stay away from the really
light rods on the streams I fish. I will use a 6 wt most often, or a 5
wt in the summer when fishing dries. Around here, wind is the limiting
factor, and a 5 wt is about a light as I want to go; it is a good
compromise between rod weight nd being able to cast in the wind. On calm
days, in the summer, I like to use a 4 weight for dries, just because.
Delicate presentation doesn't enter into my choice of rod weights.

Finally, I couldn't help but notice that neither the guide nor their guests took any
but the largest fish to reel? Obviously, COJ isn't produced with the elite flyfisher
in mind.

Getting fish on the reel is only worthwhile for the larger fish. I enjoy
playing fish on the reel, but I don't think the trout care one way or
the other.

Tim Lysyk

Tim Lysyk wrote:

Getting fish on the reel is only worthwhile for the larger fish. I enjoy
playing fish on the reel, but I don't think the trout care one way or
the other.

Dishonorable. And unethical.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

rw wrote:
Tim Lysyk wrote:


Getting fish on the reel is only worthwhile for the larger fish. I
enjoy playing fish on the reel, but I don't think the trout care one
way or the other.


Dishonorable. And unethical.


Why?

Tim Lysyk

"Tim Lysyk" wrote in message
news:eeJ_c.117741$X12.99215@edtnps84...
rw wrote:
Tim Lysyk wrote:


Getting fish on the reel is only worthwhile for the larger fish. I
enjoy playing fish on the reel, but I don't think the trout care one
way or the other.


Dishonorable. And unethical.


Why?

Tim Lysyk

I believe that was a shot over Kenny's bow and intended for it's humor--even if there
wasn't a smiley face.

Mark

Tim Lysyk wrote:
rw wrote:

Tim Lysyk wrote:


Getting fish on the reel is only worthwhile for the larger fish. I
enjoy playing fish on the reel, but I don't think the trout care one
way or the other.



Dishonorable. And unethical.


Why?

Ask 40.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

rw wrote:
Tim Lysyk wrote:
rw wrote:
Tim Lysyk wrote:
Getting fish on the reel is only worthwhile for the larger fish. I
enjoy playing fish on the reel, but I don't think the trout care one
way or the other.

Dishonorable. And unethical.

Why?

Ask 40.

There is honor is doing things right, and **FOR ME** putting the
fish on the reel is doing fly fishing right. You hardly ever know
which fish is going to be good size and which is not so it's good
practice to use proper technique every time. Part of proper
technique is never having more line outside the reel than you can
retrieve when you get a fish on. There is honor in doing things
right as opposed to half-assed and slapdash.

This attitude, or more accurately this attitude of *MINE*, caused
wee Willi Loehman to have one of his squealing hissy fits. In
other words, the usual roff hyperbole and nonsense. Bottom line,
Barnard's a putz and he's just trying to stir up old **** because
he's not creative, witty or smart enough to stir up any new ****
of his own.

--
Ken Fortenberry

rw wrote:
Tim Lysyk wrote:
rw wrote:
Tim Lysyk wrote:
Getting fish on the reel is only worthwhile for the larger fish. I
enjoy playing fish on the reel, but I don't think the trout care one
way or the other.

Dishonorable. And unethical.

Why?

Ask 40.

There is honor is doing things right, and **FOR ME** putting the
fish on the reel is doing fly fishing right. You hardly ever know
which fish is going to be good size and which is not so it's good
practice to use proper technique every time. Part of proper
technique is never having more line outside the reel than you can
retrieve when you get a fish on. There is honor in doing things
right as opposed to half-assed and slapdash.

This attitude, or more accurately this attitude of *MINE*, caused
wee Willi Loehman to have one of his squealing hissy fits. In
other words, the usual roff hyperbole and nonsense. Bottom line,
Barnard's a putz and he's just trying to stir up old **** because
he's not creative, witty or smart enough to stir up any new ****
of his own.

--
Ken Fortenberry

"Tim Lysyk" wrote in message
news:eeJ_c.117741$X12.99215@edtnps84...
rw wrote:
Tim Lysyk wrote:


Getting fish on the reel is only worthwhile for the larger fish. I
enjoy playing fish on the reel, but I don't think the trout care one
way or the other.


Dishonorable. And unethical.


Why?

Tim Lysyk

I believe that was a shot over Kenny's bow and intended for it's humor--even if there
wasn't a smiley face.

Mark

Tim Lysyk wrote:
rw wrote:

Tim Lysyk wrote:


Getting fish on the reel is only worthwhile for the larger fish. I
enjoy playing fish on the reel, but I don't think the trout care one
way or the other.



Dishonorable. And unethical.


Why?

Ask 40.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.