Post By: VolcanoSteve Posted: 11/11/2019 12:19:39 PMPoints: 6
I've learned to fly fish at a VERY early age, and have also been an unapologetic spin fisherman for just as long. I know there are many who think fly fishing is the holy grail of fishing, but I honestly have always slightly preferred spin fishing to fly fishing, but could never put my finger on why. Until yesterday, on the Yampa, with a fly rod in my hand.
This winter, I decided to concentrate on streamer fishing. I've never really streamer fished very much, even though I've been fly fishing well over 50 years. Yesterday, in 15 degree temps and dam cold water I figured out why I prefer spin fishing. As I was working a streamer, I had a very large brown almost yank the fly rod out of my hand as it hit a big orange ugly fly. That's when I realized that what I really enjoy most about fishing is the HIT. Typically with dries or nymphs or wets it's all about sight but not the feel of the hit. With streamers or spin gear it's about that slam. Sorry, but a subtle take of a nymph just doesn't get my blood churning like a good bone jarring hit. Just my 2 pennies.
The pic is a stringer of hard-hitting and fighting sockeyes I caught fly fishing with my daughter and son-in-law this summer. Sockeyes hit!
Interesting perspective I like it. I love that hit too. Sort of like trolling with your rod in a holder, maybe a downrigger, or casting/jigging. I love trolling, but nothing beats the hit you get with a rod in your hands and a fish yanking on the other end. Nice fish there btw looks like fun
Swinging streamers or bugs for reaction takes or casting and stripping are two techniques that provides that tug. The Colorado, Roaring Fork or Eagle rivers provide some opportunities for swinging. Stillwater’s such as Spinney, Antero, Delaney Buttes or Lake John provides great opportunities for casting and stripping techniques.
I like all styles of fly fishing for the same reason. The hit the take and the strike! Streamer fishing the hit can be powerful and violent. Bobber nymphing is reactionary and you need to set the hook as soon as you get a strike. But that’s just as exciting to me. Dry flies are the coolest due to the visual take. Plus I think fish are hotter on dries. However anyway you like it, the tug is the drug. I just want the rod to bend... but part of the allure with the fly rod is to solve the puzzle and get bent. Especially because the flies are my creations!
