Since the cat is out of the bag

[Evan B]

Ok everyone vote on @Chadk making a new NFR thread to explain his freaking pet MONITOR LIZARD

 

[Russell]

I think mine was an abu cardinal 3. They sell for pretty good money now

 

[veilside180sx]

That's how I learned to fish, and for most things that's what I prefer. Fly fishing wise I have to have the rod in my right hand and line in my left. It wasn't till I started working charters that I got comfortable with reeling gear rods with my right hand. Now I can use either no problem, with the exception of a spinning reel. I just have to reel left handed there.

With Tuna I have come to prefer reeling right handed, mainly because the reel hand gets the bulk of the work when playing albacore. The rod is basically tucked into my waist and I use my legs and whole body more for lifting with the rod, so having the rod in my dominant hand isn't as important. I can swap around if needed, but that's how I prefer.

This is one reason that I keep both left reeling spinning and right reeling bait casters in my jig arsenal. So I can switch back and forth for which hand is reeling or pulling on the rod to give both a break.

You need a balanced work out lol

 

[Saltycutt]

Bass fishing has passed fly fishing in where my time goes now, it's awesome. Packing for the annual California trip, leave on Sunday.

 

[Jerry Daschofsky]

You guys need to get with the baitcaster program!

I think I have 75-100 baitcasters (ranging from 1930s era to newer) and have been using them over 45 years. I think I'm with the program.

 

[JesseC]

I think I have 75-100 baitcasters (ranging from 1930s era to newer) and have been using them over 45 years. I think I'm with the program.

Id never doubt ya Jerry. You’re the OG fly fisherman who knows the gear game.

I honestly wish I would have started with gear first, I think it would have really sped up the learning curve.

I enjoy both the same - they’re all tools in the box. Depends on my mood, the conditions, and the quarry. I just love fishing, and catching

 

[Zak]

Bass fishing has passed fly fishing

You say that like they are two different things.

 

[Saltycutt]

You say that like they are two different things.

May not be for you, but for me it sure is

 

[Big K1]

Bass fishing has passed fly fishing in where my time goes now, it's awesome. Packing for the annual California trip, leave on Sunday.

Same here.

 

[Sam Roffe]

I honestly wish I would have started with gear first, I think it would have really sped up the learning curve.

I have to agree with you on that. (Although I have no idea how to catch trout on gear.) Learning where the fish live and building your confidence up using gear kind of speeds up the learning process on some waters. Talking with Dave (former owner of waters west) he said he spent a couple years fishing gear in the rivers to learn where the fish were. Then went over to fly fishing.

Then on the other hand, its just fun chucking rubber worms into lilly pads for bass.

 

[SurfnFish]

A young Savannah Monitor lizard on a log.

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surfed a place in Java called G-Land...deep in the jungle, get to it by boat.....the local crew kept a 10' adult Komodo on a chain behind the kitchen, would throw all the meat scraps to it...scary as hell watching that MF'er lunge for snacks...

love Fenwicks...a PT809 my go to deep water ling cod rod for bouncing chrome bars...line it with 60#, soft bronze treble hooks..snag, straighten the rod with a few wraps around the reel and hold on as the boat drifts...get the bar back with a straightened prong..

 

[Pink Nighty]

I have to agree with you on that. (Although I have no idea how to catch trout on gear.) Learning where the fish live and building your confidence up using gear kind of speeds up the learning process on some waters. Talking with Dave (former owner of waters west) he said he spent a couple years fishing gear in the rivers to learn where the fish were. Then went over to fly fishing.

Then on the other hand, its just fun chucking rubber worms into lilly pads for bass.

So I also gear fish. I've definitely spent more hours with a spinning rod in hand than a fly rod. Am I the only one that finds fly fishing to generally more effective than gear? If a piece of water can be fished with gear or fly I almost always find the fly to be more effective. Especially in moving water.

I feel like the ability to work a fly fast or slow or pause it and let it flutter is way beyond the capabilities of most gear selections. So many bass gear techniques are one trick ponies, to be worked fast or slow but not both or in between. Flies arent that limited.

Just spitballing because I spent a lot of time with the spinning rod because I thought it was the easier path to a tug. And I think I've cost myself a lot of tugs.

 

[Chadk]

So I also gear fish. I've definitely spent more hours with a spinning rod in hand than a fly rod. Am I the only one that finds fly fishing to generally more effective than gear? If a piece of water can be fished with gear or fly I almost always find the fly to be more effective. Especially in moving water.

I feel like the ability to work a fly fast or slow or pause it and let it flutter is way beyond the capabilities of most gear selections. So many bass gear techniques are one trick ponies, to be worked fast or slow but not both or in between. Flies arent that limited.

Just spitballing because I spent a lot of time with the spinning rod because I thought it was the easier path to a tug. And I think I've cost myself a lot of tugs.

I grew fishing skinny water with a spinning rod. I can slice and dice a creek or small river with precision with my spinning rod. But I find I enjoy the fly rod more. especially when it comes to dry fly fishing.

 

[John Svahn]

So I also gear fish. I've definitely spent more hours with a spinning rod in hand than a fly rod. Am I the only one that finds fly fishing to generally more effective than gear? If a piece of water can be fished with gear or fly I almost always find the fly to be more effective. Especially in moving water.

I feel like the ability to work a fly fast or slow or pause it and let it flutter is way beyond the capabilities of most gear selections. So many bass gear techniques are one trick ponies, to be worked fast or slow but not both or in between. Flies arent that limited.

Just spitballing because I spent a lot of time with the spinning rod because I thought it was the easier path to a tug. And I think I've cost myself a lot of tugs.

I think the best part about fly fishing is not reeling in all the way to cast again. Otherwise i use it all including spoons etc on the fly rod if that is the best way to keep in front of the fish. Going more gearward these days, fly rods come out here and there. Although maybe this summer drift fishing with wet flies on the local res might get me back to fly fishing mostly.

 

[Grandpa Jim]

So I also gear fish. I've definitely spent more hours with a spinning rod in hand than a fly rod. Am I the only one that finds fly fishing to generally more effective than gear? If a piece of water can be fished with gear or fly I almost always find the fly to be more effective. Especially in moving water.

I feel like the ability to work a fly fast or slow or pause it and let it flutter is way beyond the capabilities of most gear selections. So many bass gear techniques are one trick ponies, to be worked fast or slow but not both or in between. Flies arent that limited.

Just spitballing because I spent a lot of time with the spinning rod because I thought it was the easier path to a tug. And I think I've cost myself a lot of tugs.

I've had a similar experience. I started gear fishing steelhead on OP in 2010 primarily fishing jigs under a float with spinning rod. I added swinging wet flies on sink tip with Spey rod in 2016. From 2016 - 2019 I was more effective swinging flies than float fishing jigs for hours fished. I'm selective in what type of water and time I fish with each technique...earlier in day or season with gear and primarily targeting fish on fly when water is warmer. I don't c/r big numbers of steelhead but I caught more steelhead on the fly than I did the jig during those years. The gear caught fish were larger than the fly caught fish, however. I enjoy both techniques but my preference is steelhead on the fly.

Unfortunately, I have not swung flies much since 2019. I was planning on doing a lot of that this month...

 

[SurfnFish]

a fave coastal river has zero bank fly casting space...spinning outfit, floating line, bobber and a Berkley pink worm cut back a bit = hatchery steelhead tugs that would never happen otherwise...and few things eat better then chrome bright coastal steelies

 

[Brute]

Back in the day…

 

[Coach Potter]

So I also gear fish. I've definitely spent more hours with a spinning rod in hand than a fly rod. Am I the only one that finds fly fishing to generally more effective than gear? If a piece of water can be fished with gear or fly I almost always find the fly to be more effective. Especially in moving water.

I feel like the ability to work a fly fast or slow or pause it and let it flutter is way beyond the capabilities of most gear selections. So many bass gear techniques are one trick ponies, to be worked fast or slow but not both or in between. Flies arent that limited.

Just spitballing because I spent a lot of time with the spinning rod because I thought it was the easier path to a tug. And I think I've cost myself a lot of tugs.

I agree when it comes to trout...not so much for bass. Almost 2/3 of a bass’s habitat is not accessible with fly rods and flies. When you eliminate being able to skip docks, flip heavy cover and fish frogs over pads or mats, you are pretty limited.

 

[Capt Insano Emeritis]

Used Michell 300’s and Dam Quick’s. Maybe 330’s?
I still liked these better. Thinking back I probably had a Cardinal 3 as well. Just personal preference.
SF

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I agree with your assessment owned cardinal 3 , 4 and dunno maybe a 7 ? Favorite reals still have a 4 somwhere.

 

[Dr. Magill]

Used Michell 300’s and Dam Quick’s. Maybe 330’s?
I still liked these better. Thinking back I probably had a Cardinal 3 as well. Just personal preference.
SF

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I have one