Month: September 2009

8 more fishing quotes and sayings – Sep 27, 2009

Just posted eight more fishing quotes and sayings, numbers 863 – 870.

When I started out collecting quotes and sayings on things fishy I had no idea that I would get even close to a few hundred, let alone fast approaching 1000. But that 1000 is now firmly in my sights.

My pick from today’s selection;

“And yet there are many times when it does not make any difference what pattern one uses. One thing is certain. The more bedraggled the fly gets the better the trout like it. I think there is a reason for this. I think the bedraggled half worn out wet fly more closely imitates a nymph than a new one does. Most commercial flies are tied too bushy and full. A little trimming of wings and thinning out of hackles will often work wonders.”

Ray Bergman “Just Fishing” 1945

I believe this quote is just so true. I always carry a small piece of Velcro glued to a popsicle stick to rough up store-bought flies, and a small piece of hacksaw blade to do the same thing on particularly over-built flies.

Posted by Tony Bishop in fishing quotes

Seven new fishing quotes and sayings – Sep 12, 2009

Once again, a new selection of 7 quotes on fishing, fishermen, rivers lakes and sea is there for your undoubted entertainment and perhaps a springboard or two for further thought.

My pick:

Fulps asserts that trout are not smarter than other species of fish, nor do they have the sharp visual acuity for which many give them credit. “Trout fishermen have invented those beliefs over the years, simply because we needed an excuse for why we couldn’t catch them as easily as we could other species. The biggest trout are not the smartest trout. They’re simply the most frightened, which is why they’re so difficult to catch. And human eyesight is actually about 14 times stronger than that of a trout.”

Walt Fulps aka ‘The Missouri Trout Hunter’

By the way – Happy Birthday Bish!

Posted by Tony Bishop in fishing quotes

How to Get Started in Saltwater Fly-Fishing

It May Be Easier To Start Than You think.

Saltwater fly-fishing gets a lot of press. An exciting branch of our sport it is too. Marlin on a fly rod -  tuna, sharks and yellowtail kingfish  too. But maybe all these stories of going toe to toe with big game fish on the specialist gear required, rather than encouraging people into this sport, has actually discouraged them?

This may be especially true when many articles talk about complicated leader set-ups and the like. Most of this stuff is about complying with the rules to register record fish. If you are not chasing records, or fishing in a contest, none of these rules apply.

A pair of average kahawai that provided great sport on a fly rod

Here is some good news – just as in all other aspects of fishing – there are horses for courses. Fact is the majority of fishermen have never, and may never, go fishing for big-game fish, whether with big-game fishing gear or on a fly rod.

In fact it is highly likely that the majority of big-game fishermen have never and will never chase big-game fish with a fly rod. Fishing for big-game fish with a fly rod is a specialised branch of a sport that is already specialised.

Salt water fly-fishing is not necessarily about catching big-game fish on fly rods: for most, it is about catching exciting fish like kahawai, trevally, snapper and  smaller  yellowtail kingfish on fly rods.

Here is some even better news – the gear for catching these exciting fish can be the same gear that you could use to catch trout as well.

Here is what you need to chase snapper, kahawai, small kingfish, trevally, and the like in salt water.

[Read full article]

Posted by Tony Bishop in salt water fly fishing