Why do you fly fish?

For the scenery and nature, relaxation and time to think and clear my head. I really enjoy seeing and checking out the beautiful fish if lucky enough to catch one. I find the connection between you and the fish when on your line while fly fishing is unparalleled in comparison to any other method of fishing.
 
A strange turn of events led me to fly fishing…

I have been in love with fishing since I was 5…could almost tie a clinch knot just after learning to tie my own shoes. Spinning rig with 4lb test, local ponds for bluegills & crappie, then brook trout, followed by bass and pickerel…

Moved to Hawaii when I was 18, fell in love with spear fishing and big game trolling, then bottom fishing, kayak fishing, beach fishing etc… but spear fishing was my passion, both free diving and on scuba…

One day, a day after some deep diving spearing fish, I was driving my truck when I started experiencing loud buzzing in both my ears, then my hearing blinked off. I was 10 minutes from a hospital, so went to the ER and had a ENT doctor examine my ears…I couldn’t hear out of my left ear, and barely out of my right ear. We surmised that I was experiencing a barotrauma incident from diving the day before…long story short, I spent two weeks in hyperbaric chamber treatments with pure oxygen and a massive steroid regimen…with no effect. I had 100% hearing loss in my left ear, 50% loss in the right one. After dealing with it for a month, out of the blue my hearing just “turned back on”. After consulting with my hearing specialist, he said I should consider stop diving. I did…reluctantly.

This was 2012…and we had purchased a place in Seattle, but still living part time in HI until our girls graduated from High school. I decided to do a camping/fishing trip in the OP with a spinning rod and was watching a guy fly fish…it was graceful and mesmerizing…I decided I wanted to learn to do that. I went to Creekside Angling and bought a 9’ 5wt, fly line, tippet, flies, hemostat, nippers, waders & boots. I learned to cast on YouTube. It was hard, which is part of the appeal for me…since I used to build my own trolling lures and jigs, it only seemed natural to learn to tie flies…it is now my main focus of entertainment and enjoyment…
 
Fishing speaks to something deep inside me that is difficult to explain. For one thing, it brings me presence. Life concerns melt away, if only temporarily. For another it is a way to be in and of nature. I have fished where I knew the water was too fast to be fishy, just because I felt that by standing in the river I got to be part of the scenery.

I'm convinced that fishing tickles the same metal itch as playing slot machine (not that slot machines have any lure for me). I can spend a full day scrambling up and down the steep rocky (poison oak covered) banks if the Deschutes, defying what I often think someone my age should be doing, or floating for hours on one of the local lakes waiting for the calibaetis hatch to kick off... It's a guaranteed mood elevator and always feels like time well sent, regardless of whether I catch fish.

I enjoy tying many of my own flies and using them with success. I have my preferences and tend to stick to those methods that most satisfy, although I don't consider myself a purist. If nothing is available on top of the water I'm OK with an indicator rig or a streamer (although streamers are generally my last resort). That said, nothing beats the kick from seeing, hearing and feeling a strike on a dry fly.

I find nothing quite so satisfying, albeit in a very quiet way, as fly fishing. To paraphrase the country song, it's my church.
 
New thought: Having spent the past 9+ hours getting to Islamorada to try to catch a shoulder season tarpon, I realize that fly fishing is the only thing that makes me behave this way, and yes, that gets us back to my initial answer about why I do this: I'm completely insane.
 
Because it engages my brain more than casting a spoon or bait, and fishing in general is about the only thing besides photography or teaching that I can “sit still” for.

After my TBI it’s become even more important and healing to get lost in it—to the point where I start to go buggy if I haven’t been fishing in a few days.
 
J Watrous said:
Because it engages my brain more than casting a spoon or bait, and fishing in general is about the only thing besides photography or teaching that I can “sit still” for.

After my TBI it’s become even more important and healing to get lost in it—to the point where I start to go buggy if I haven’t been fishing in a few days.
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Whoah, glad that you are with us.
 
I always tell wifey, "it's cheaper than therapy"


probably not true.....

Like Matt B, it's often to free myself of the noise. Probably a reason I fish alone quite often. Some of my best friends have been made through fly fishing, however.
 
I always come back from a fishing trip, physically tired, but mentally refreshed! And yes, it is cheaper than therapy!

As fly fishers, we never have to worry about social distancing.. most of us love the peace of being out in nature! I say that I go to the Church of Moving Water! Let's make it a 503C charity and fund our trips! LOL!
 
Shad said:
New thought: Having spent the past 9+ hours getting to Islamorada to try to catch a shoulder season tarpon, I realize that fly fishing is the only thing that makes me behave this way, and yes, that gets us back to my initial answer about why I do this: I'm completely insane.
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I'm betting on Charlie.
 
clarkman said:
I always tell wifey, "it's cheaper than therapy"


probably not true.....

Like Matt B, it's often to free myself of the noise. Probably a reason I fish alone quite often. Some of my best friends have been made through fly fishing, however.
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As someone who ties, drives 2 hours to fish all winter, breaks rods... 25$ a week to yell at Darryl instead of my loved ones is a bargain
 
JimTravers¤£a!!Travers said:
Mostly so that I can ASSERT my skill OVER lessers. I am so much better than most lessers. My SKILL RANGE is unbeknownst!!!!!
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Time to change your 'handle'. Couple of months since 1/13. Get with the program!
 
I'll also add, it's more than what I listed above....much was covered for me in @RCF 's original post.

In addition, I really love figuring things out. Probably why I love tinkering with little things out on the river, on the vise, etc. From obvious things like knowing (or learning) your forage & when it matters, to tweaking the construction of a fly to get it to do something just a little bit different that may provide an additional trigger. I can say that everything that goes into it ultimately kinda goes back to the first thing I wrote....cheaper than therapy
 
Flyfishing is an activity that requires complete 'be here in the moment' concentration, clearing the mind of usual b.s.
Breathe, cast, focus...a calm refuge in a world that is increasing like living within a Maytag on spin cycle.
 
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