Why fly fish ? / Canoe fishing / Learning opportunity

Gordy,

While doing a presentation on fly casting at a local outdoor show I was asked the following questions.

?Why do you fly fish?? and ?What are the advantages in fly fishing??

I thought the questions were trying to draw a comparison between fly fishing and the ?other? types of fishing.

If you find time I would be curious to see how the group would answer the questions.

Regards,

Lou

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Lou : I've been asked the same questions when teaching at the IGFA. Never at an FFF event, because there, we are all fly fishers.

This question speaks to the very sport we all love. Not always easy to put the answer in words ...... comes from the heart !

Gordy

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CANOE FISHING

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Some of you didn't get the attachnment sent by Bob Tabbert on casting out of a canoe from yesterday's message. I've attached it to this one.

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From Doug Swift :

Gordy

Here are just a couple of quick thoughts over morning coffee on fly fishing from a canoe.

--Of utmost importance---Wear a lifejacket!!

--A longer rod can make casting more effecient and easier from your sitting position in a canoe

--If it's a little breezy, anchor the canoe at both end to keep it from swinging in the wind. Makes fly presentation much easier from a fixed point.

--Keep all your gear within arms reach without having to move around too much or stand up to get it.

--Check weather forecasts closely before going out on any bigger water

--Use a net with a long handle for landing fish. Helps to cut down on too much unplanned movement at an exciting moment.

Doug

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Doug.. Good. Ally Gowans says its also a good idea to carry a spare paddle ..

Gordy

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From Tom Scheer :

Gordy and group;

When fishing the Bois Brule, I saw the pilot of a canoe put his paddle aside, and control the downstream path and speed of the canoe with a pole (the method of control used for the famous AuSable boats of northern Michigan). Use of the pole directed the canoe to do exactly what he wanted to do.

Tom

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Tom....

Years ago I fished Atlantic salmon in Canada from 22' canoes. One guide in the bow; another in the stern. The angler was amidships. The guides would pole the canoe from each end at the same time. When casting, the guides would hunker so far down on the floor of the canoe that it minimized the likelihood of their getting injured when they had poor casters.

Gordy

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From Nial Logan :

A few thoughts on fishing from a kayak.

I fish a lot from a kayak for the reason you mentioned ??can get a lot closer to fish without spooking them and you can get to places inaccessible to boats.

The main areas fished are estuaries and water supply impoundments that have been stocked with Australian Bass(grow to about 50cm), Saratoga (grow to 1metre) and Barramundi (grow to well over a metre)

I use a roto-moulded sit on top type kayak as these have better stability allowing more freedom of movement. It is one of the pedal varieties as opposed to paddle which leaves both hands free for casting and fishing. However, it is still a bit unstable to stand up on unless outriggers are used.

Some of the changes made for this type of fishing:

a. Like most of the many other saltwater fishermen, I prefer to wind with my dominant right hand, however, because the rudder control is located on the left hand side of the kayak, I have changed the reel over to left hand wind so that I don?t have to change hands on the rod to steer while fighting a fish.

b. Because you are sitting close to the water, the casting style has to change to an elbow up type to clear the deck hardware and keep the fly out to the side so you can see to steer the backcast between obstacles.

c. Using a standard 9ft rod offered some problems. When the rod is stored for travelling, two feet protrudes past the bow making it difficult to push through growth for fear of breaking the tip. It was awkward to cast in tight timbered waters and landing a fish is more difficult.

d. No suitable commercially available rods could be located so the option was to build a 7ft 6wt for the smaller fish and an 8wt for the larger ones utilizing spin rod blanks. These turned out to be are surprisingly good to cast and have sufficient butt strength to handle the fish in the snag strewn country they inhabit.

e. The clear area in estuaries and the standing dead timber in the impoundments is restricted so carrying a lot of line in the air is not an option. The solution is to use a short (20ft) headed line either made up from an old damaged one or one of the commercially available lines (230gr on 6wt and 290gr on 8wt).

The added advantages of this type of line are that they good for turning over bulky surface flies and, as the majority of casts are under 50 ft, these lines allow for quick one cast presentations.

The technique is to peddle slowly along the about 30 to 40 feet out from the bank making casts at likely holding places. When the fish strikes, set the hook and move away into clear water in an endeavour to keep the fish out of the standing and submerged obstacles.

Fishing in the wind has particular problems. Not only do you have to contend with the normal problems associated with fly casting in the wind but also maintaining the position of the kayak as it tends to get blown across the water. The easiest option is to fish up into the wind or with wind from directly behind and have a small sea anchor to slow the rate of travel.

Unless it is a dead calm day, fishing depths up to 12 metres with sinking lines has problems as any wind will move the kayak out of position before the line reaches the required depth. The technique used in this case is to locate the school of fish or likely holding position on the sounder and anchor down wind.

On an unrelated topic ???I now use a Sage Smallmouth Bass 290gr line strung on a 7wt TCX rod for teaching hauling instead of a shooting head??. the students find it easier as they have less problems with judging the overhang.

Regards

Nial Logan

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Nial ..... Well said. I remember fishing those Saratoga in the Billibongs.... they would leap out of the water to take dragon flies ! I got lucky and caught one by hovering a fly over the lilly pads. A HOOT !

I hooked a large tarpon, one day, while fishing from my kayak. Found it difficult to tire the critter because he could so easily tow the craft. Finally success came as I fought the fish from athwartships (sideways).... but had to be careful to avoid capsizing.

Some fly fishermen off Montauk, take these craft out into big water ! Ocean waves and all. I think part of the "sport" is trying to remain alive.

Speaking of that, there is a way of fly fishing called, "extreme fishing". The angler dons a wetsuit and fins and swims out into the Ocean with his fly rod. He paddles about while lying supine and casts to schools of striped bass. Once in a while, one of the skiff guides brings one of these chaps in when he gets so far out in the currents that he can't get back.

I added your attachment. Good picture .

Gordy

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LEARNING OPPORTUNITY

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