Philosomophizing about fishing

Matt B · Jul 18, 2023

I had several days of trout fishing recently, and I stuck with the dry all throughout and did well. Had to cover a lot of water to find the “big fish” that wanted to eat, though. It got me thinking that fishing like that, maybe fishing in general, is like gambling. I’m not a gambler, but sure love to fish and each time I put that dry over a new lie was like a little bet. Seemingly random positive reinforcement (nothing, nothing, dink, nothing, nothing, nothing, BINGO) keeps me wanting more, wanting to try more and more until I hit it big.

I don’t know, what do you think of my theory?

Busy week but I’ll get a report up soon I hope.

Tom Butler · Jul 18, 2023

I spent a lot of time fishing dries in the past, and just never got the number of eats I thought I should be getting. There are days I have success with them, but not a large percentage. Eats on top are awesome, especially when you see them coming, but I also like the tug out of the depths. I'm not much of a gambler either, so when I discovered that wets catch me more fish, and nymphs even more, well, I basically went all in. I hedge my bet by running 2-3 flies at a time, and often a dry, or at least film sitting fly, will still be on top when I think conditions are good for it, but most often a sunk fly will get the pay out. Personally I need that positive feedback more often than my ability to fish dries gives it to me.

kmudgn · Jul 18, 2023

I am a dry fly snob and proud of it. I am ok with streamers, but nymph fishing under a bobber is fishing with flies, but not fly fishing.

FishyJere · Jul 18, 2023

On the other hand, I like to see the bobber go down. There are a lot of fish down there.

mcswny · Jul 18, 2023

I literally just got off the phone with a friend back east and he was comparing fishing to gambling. I’ve never heard that before and now I hear it twice in 10 minutes.

Jake Watrous · Jul 18, 2023

When training dogs, random positive reinforcement is more effective than constant reward.

That said, personally I’d rather catch fish more than not, so I tend to throw what they want to eat more than what I want them to eat.

Stonedfish · Jul 18, 2023

I think the type of water you are fishing also dictates what would be most enjoyable for the angler.
At least to me, if I'm fishing small pocket water with lots of overhanging brush, it is dry fly all the way.
I'll gamble that I'll catch fish on dries versus trying to lob a bobber and nymph in that fishing scenario.
Again, just my opinion and everyone should fish the way they like and enjoy.
SF

DFG · Jul 18, 2023

I agree that the urge to throw 'just one more' cast seems quite similar to whatever compels one to sit all night in a smoke-filled casino pulling a lever.

I've never gotten off on that type of gambling, but I sure do love the expectation of a strike. I prefer top water fishing, but I'm OK with nymphing as well.

Fly fishing is an aesthetic pursuit for me, and that's my only litmus test.

Kfish · Jul 18, 2023

It's like gambling for sure, each cast is like pulling a slot machine, just one more... OK one more, maybe this cast... Last one for sure now...
It's an addiction, but a healthy one!

Hoofer · Jul 18, 2023

I’ve heard that some of the fiercest gambling addiction is from games with a strong visual component, like video slot machines. Our brains are wired to find patterns in chaos, whether patterns exist or not, and we naturally think we can outsmart the One-Armed Bandit. Down deep we don’t really believe in luck, or probability, but rather in our own skill. So we get a big shot of the sweet juice when we figure it out — and a big splashy rise sure stimulates a lot of senses. We also go a little crazy when we’re denied the juice. At one point during a big hatch on my last trip I realized I’d changed flies more times than I’d cast. Not crazy at all; cunning like Coyote!

DFG · Jul 18, 2023

If only the river smelled like a day-old ash tray, we could make a direct comparison!

Zak · Jul 18, 2023

I put this quote in another thread, it a favorite of mine:

"The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope." John Buchan

I think it fits right in with the gambling theme.

VMP · Jul 18, 2023

“The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope.”
John Buchan

Regarding dries versus deep flies, some days ago we were having some interesting coho fly fishing action in the salt near a charter boat fishing conventional gear. The charter captain was clearly amused when he asked if we were getting them on chironomids, to which I replied they were hiting parachute Adams...laughter ensued from both boats, he said he was a friend of @Nick Clayton, so he clearly knew about flies.
Sometimes fishing is just fishing. The tug is the drug either way!

krusty · Jul 18, 2023

Similar addiction to gambling, except you generally don't lose your house, spouse, and job because you like to flyfish a lot. I said GENERALLY.

Have know plenty of avid gamblers who've totally fucked up their lives, but not one flyfish addict living under a bridge or, even worse, succumbing to spincasting.

Nick Clayton · Jul 18, 2023

VMP said:
“The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope.”
John Buchan

Regarding dries versus deep flies, some days ago we were having some interesting coho fly fishing action in the salt near a charter boat fishing conventional gear. The charter captain was clearly amused when he asked if we were getting them on chironomids, to which I replied they were hiting parachute Adams...laughter ensued from both boats, he said he was a friend of @Nick Clayton, so he clearly knew about flies.
Sometimes fishing is just fishing. The tug is the drug either way!

Haha That's funny stuff. He didn't happen to be in a center console Grady with a T top did he?

cole_p · Jul 18, 2023

mcswny said:
I literally just got off the phone with a friend back east and he was comparing fishing to gambling. I’ve never heard that before and now I hear it twice in 10 minutes.

Got back from our Montana trip and my brother and I also came to the same conclusion independently and now I’m seeing it here… spooky

Chucker · Jul 18, 2023

Nick Clayton said:
Haha That's funny stuff. He didn't happen to be in a center console Grady with a T top did he?

That’s the one. I don’t actually know his name, I just know that whenever we find the fish he seems to be there too!

Salmo_g · Jul 18, 2023

I don't gamble, so the comparison doesn't work for me. I'm no purist, but some times I just want to catch a fish a certain way - such as a topwater eat of a salmon fly pattern - or just as soon not catch a fish if I can't get it the way I want. Other times I'm perfectly happy to connect a Thingamabobber and a double nymph rig and bobber water, even if it's a pain in the ass to cast. Just the other day we fished floating lines all day for steelhead in the bright sun even if sink tips might have been more productive. Rather do it my way. I've caught a fish before; they all look somewhat the same, not catching one is also an OK result. I might be getting old.

GAT · Jul 18, 2023

I'm in the game to catch fish. I'm not in it "just to get out" or marvel at my gear as works of art. Nope. I love the fight of the fish. I cast only as much as is required. Seldom am I using a dry fly because a subsurface pattern normally works much better.

Now... I do need to change my expectations depending on the species of fish I'm trying to catch. Steelhead fishing does require a hell of a lot of casting and usually with no hook ups. For LMB I prefer surface offerings and will put up with the constant casting. Smallies are more like trout and I can get away with fewer casts and subsurface patterns.

No matter the variables, my primary mission is to catch the fish I'm trying to catch. I'm not a gambler so I will use whatever techniques I can to change the odds in my favor. If I don't catch fish I'm not happy about it. No, it was not great just to get out. I'll go for a trail walk if I want to do that.

Nick Clayton · Jul 18, 2023

Chucker said:
That’s the one. I don’t actually know his name, I just know that whenever we find the fish he seems to be there too!

That would be Justin. He's currently running one of the boats for Cut Plug Charters.

Justin is one of my very best friends and quite possibly the most unique human being I've ever come across. There is but one Justin on this planet that's for sure.

He's also one of the fishiest individuals I've ever had the pleasure of knowing so that doesn't surprise me at all. The guy can just flat out catch fish. It's pretty incredible really. He's also a damn good fly fisherman. He has come out and fly fished the sound with me an awful lot and even though he's typically a gear fisherman when he picks up a fly rod he's as good as anyone I know as well.