Fly Fishing BS thread

In all honesty if you are a comfortable caster, I wouldnt worry about the fly line. New fly line casts a lot easier than aged line. You shouldnt need the backing in "mountain streams", but I would still check it for brittleness and if it checks out re-tie the two. I switched to Dacron backing, and it works great and ages even better.

 

I don't ever expect to replace the backing on fresh water reels. It just is so seldom exposed to water or sunlight.

The fly line might have to be replaced if I've cut a lot of the weighted forward section off when tiying new leader on. Really depends on the fishing environment.

One of the places I fish regular has a lot of zebra muscle presence. Those things are razor sharp and cut the shit out of leader and the first section of the fly line.

Floating line is not effected too bad, the first part of sinking line gets beat up pretty good.

With that said, I bet you will have a whole new rig before the old set up is wore out.

On a different topic, I'm looking to replace a 5 weight unit I gave to my handy cap friend.

He kept asking what would be a good rig for fishing the Au Sable river in northern lower Michigan. After thinking about it, I figured I would be ahead by just giving him one of my rigs that was already set up for that stream.

He won't need to stress over what is a proper set up and he will be all set to go when I show up. Realistically, I'll be the only one that will take the time to hit the water with him...unfortunately.

Who am I kidding? There is nothing that fisherman love more than catching fish, is to buy new fishing gear.

In all honesty, the rod and reel I gave up, was a very nice rig. I liked it better than my Orvis Clearwater fly rod. I just couldn't bring myself to give that one up.

Karma.

 

20 years? Where was it stored? If it were me, I'd replace it all. Small investment.

 

In the garage in a rod /reel case.

 

It might be fine. I always worry. What if I got the fish of a lifetime but left old line on and it broke. But, as has been stated, you might love it and buy all new gear.

 

It might be a good idea to use some line cleaner/conditioner on it it if you decide to keep it.

 

I'd love to lose the strike indicator (let's call it what it is...a bobber ) so I've been very tempted to try to get into euro/tight line nymphing. Anyone do this on a regular basis?

 

I do a bit of high sticking. A lot less to re-rig after the inevitable loss of rig on the bottom.

 

303 Aerospace makes for a really good line cleaner and conditioner. I use it on all my lines.

I hate nymphing but I wanna get better at it too. My next rods gonna be a 10' 3w or 4w and I'm gonna force myself to start fishing bigger water.

Most of the stuff I typically fish I can high stick with 7'6".

 

That's just what I'm leaning towards.

 

Where I fish, if you wanna hook fish, you'll be nymphing 90% of the time. However, if I'm not catching fish, I refer to my friend John, who says, "If I'm not catching fish, I'd rather not catch them on a dry fly than not catch them on a nymph."

 

Hahah. My sentiments exactly. Id rather get skunked on a Royal Wulff than skunked on a hears ear.

Most of the water I fish gets very little pressure and is full of eager to feed brook trout. I've caught fish on dries in the middle of winter.

I want to start exploring the famous spring creek in the middle of Pa - Penns, Little J, ect - but those get so much pressure you have to nymph them. I need practice.

 

Lose the indicator and tie on a stimulator or a chubby. Works the same, and you can catch fish on it.

 

That's no fun as it rules out buying a 10' nymphing rod!

 

I love having a trout rise to a fly! But, I've got to where I like nymph fishing better. Seems on a whole I catch better trout under than on top of water. Love feeling that "peck" then breaking their jaw! I've even got to where I pretty much use lager nymphs #6 and 4's. Yellow stonefly and green inch worms are my go to.

 

My fly box is full of chubbies and big stone flies and big rubber legs. I rarely ever fish the little stuff

 

I was tempted by Czech nymphing this past winter but didn't have a great rod for it. I did grab a tenkara a few months ago, may take a stab using that this year. It's a 10'6" I believe, the TFO/Patagonia collab

 

Not sure why anyone thinks they need a special rod to nymph whether it czech, hopper dropper, etc. Just use what you have, the fish don't care.

 

Fly fish with a side arm? Yay? Nay? Bears, rabid otters, meth heads etc.

 

Yea I just don't have a ton of trout rods. Started out saltwater fly fishing in Florida before getting into trout fishing and moving closer to better fishing areas for it. Love using my 4 wt but it feels inadequate for nymphing (and only 7'6")