Fly Fishing Elitism?

[kmudgn]

This is a link to a story about an organization that I have never heard of (International Assoc. of Theo. Roosevelt) promoting the idea that there should be no restricted fishing areas (i.e. fly fishing only). The group’s argument is that most fly fishermen are wealthy, ergo, regular people are denied access to some of the best fishing spots in the state. This is a Maine suit, but it could be used as a cudgel in any state

Regular Mainers Go To Court To Prevent Rich People From Stealing All The Good Fishing Spots

If fly fishing is a sport of the well-heeled (and out-of-staters), then a group of Maine working stiffs is out to change the narrative. The International Order of Theodore Roosevelt, whose goal is to gain access to every fishing hole for every American, claims Maine is unfairly restricting some...

www.themainewire.com

 

[Evan B]

I really do think the "selective gear" regulations should be the appropriate approach. "Fly only" really is making it more cultural in my opinion. Even if not intentionally, that's what is perceived as.

 

[Salmo_g]

Like with so many things, it sure doesn't hurt to be filthy rich. However I resent the notion that fly fishing denies opportunity for the less affluent. I began fly fishing with a $9 Eagle Claw Denco fly rod I originally bought for its sensitivity for fishing single salmon eggs in lakes close enough to home that I could ride my bike there. Add to that the Pflueger Sal-Trout reel for $6, and my first level floating fly line at $0.99, later "upgraded" to a Scientific Anglers Air Cell that cost $13. The rod and reel prices were no more than what spinning rods and reels sold for at the time; in fact decent spinning reels cost quite a bit more. That cheap rod and reel caught me a lot of trout and more than a few steelhead, which may have caused the demise of the Sal-Trout fly reel - hah!

 

[Evan B]

Like with so many things, it sure doesn't hurt to be filthy rich. However I resent the notion that fly fishing denies opportunity for the less affluent. I began fly fishing with a $9 Eagle Claw Denco fly rod I originally bought for its sensitivity for fishing single salmon eggs in lakes close enough to home that I could ride my bike there. Add to that the Pflueger Sal-Trout reel for $6, and my first level floating fly line at $0.99, later "upgraded" to a Scientific Anglers Air Cell that cost $13. The rod and reel prices were no more than what spinning rods and reels sold for at the time; in fact decent spinning reels cost quite a bit more. That cheap rod and reel caught me a lot of trout and more than a few steelhead, which may have caused the demise of the Sal-Trout fly reel - hah!

Things have changed a bit though. You could easily get to the water spending like $30 at Wal Mart for some kind of spinning combo. Gonna have a tough time getting a fly rod, reel and line for 3-4x that price.

 

[Salmo_g]

Often the reason that fly fishing only lakes are better quality fishing than other lakes is because they are fly fishing only. Opening those lakes to general regulation fishing would far more likely than not result in mediocre quality fishing. The plaintiffs (cretins) in the Maine lawsuit are probably unaware that if they are successful, then the fly fishing only waters that they want to fish with bait and whatever, won't be worth the drive to go fish there after the first season of general regulation fishing.

 

[_WW_]

I kinda like being considered elite!

 

[Evan B]

Things have changed a bit though. You could easily get to the water spending like $30 at Wal Mart for some kind of spinning combo. Gonna have a tough time getting a fly rod, reel and line for 3-4x that price.

Maybe not quite the gap I anticipated, but still. It's definitely cheaper and easier to get into conventional.

 

[Bambooflyguy]

If we count the “fly fishing only” lakes, it’s such a small percentage compared to open fishing. It’s where we non snobs can get away from the powerbaiters to sport fish. Sure there’s a lot of fly snobs, look at Classicflyrodforum, but since they consider me a robot….one less from Washington! In the fly only lakes or selective, there’s always assclowns using bait…..I’ve politely tried to educate some, telling them I’m not the game warden but my brother in law is!! There should also be a cheaper freshwater license for C&R…..

 

[_WW_]

I kinda like being considered elite!

As soon as our power comes back on I'm changing my description.

 

[Pink Nighty]

Maybe not quite the gap I anticipated, but still. It's definitely cheaper and easier to get into conventional.

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I was just talking about this with a friend wanting to get into fishing. I suggested spinning gear, because it has a low skill barrier to entry and is financially easier as well, to start.

After the start though? Fly fishing is a bargain. If I'm throwing spinners for coho all day I'm gonna lose 30-40$ worth of lures to wood and rocks. I bought a dozen vibraxes this year for nearly 100$. I spent 100$ at spawn and can fish those feathers and fluffa for the rest of my life if I so choose. I won't, because I'm mentally unwell, but I could.

As lures keep cracking 8, 9, 15$, that shit adds up in a hurry. I routinely fish hard for 6 months between stops at a tackle shop, and I don't know any gear guys that can say the same.

Not to mention how fly fishing demands improvement from the angler to achieve certain presentations, while gear usually comes up with a new must have gear to buy.

If you're gonna fish more than a couple times a year, I think fly fishing is a bargain comparatively.

 

[Salmo_g]

I'm with WW. I wanna' be elite too.

 

[Brute]

I'm with WW. I wanna' be elite too.

You have to eat kale to be elite...ask any elitist...

 

[kerrys]

I kinda like being considered elite!

I’m considered an elitist in everything I do.

As far as the article goes those in it are a bunch of old cows complaining that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence.

I’ve got gear rod and reel setups that cost two or three times what some of my fly setups cost.

 

[Brute]

I’m considered an elitist in everything I do.

As far as the article goes those in it are a bunch of old cows complaining that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence.

I’ve got gear rod and reel setups that cost two or three times what some of my fly setups cost.

Like putting together a custom 5'6" Kona stand up rod with a Penn 80 Wide & 900 yds of Momoi mono...or even more for braid with a mono top shot...times 5...or seven, depending on the boat

 

[kerrys]

Like putting together a custom 5'6" Kona stand up rod with a Penn 80 Wide & 900 yds of Momoi mono...or even more for braid with a mono top shot...times 5...or seven, depending on the boat

Let’s not even mention the 30 to 40 thousand or more spent on the boat.

 

[Bambooflyguy]

And to think I’ve been fly fishing/tying for only 60 years so far….but am completely happy/satisfied using Burien brush pile garden variety bamboo ugly sticks that cast as well as any of my other bamboo Hotrodz…..priceless….literally!

 

[charles sullivan]

Given the way the salmon fisheries to their north are regulated, I can see where they get their perspective. I can understand where they are coming from in some ways. They want access to the resource in the manner that they prefer to access it. I don't begrudge for that.
I doubt that hey have too much of a case if they are basing a suit on "elitism".

 

[Evan B]

Given the way the salmon fisheries to their north are regulated, I can see where they get their perspective. I can understand where they are coming from in some ways. They want access to the resource in the manner that they prefer to access it. I don't begrudge for that.
I doubt that hey have too much of a case if they are basing a suit on "elitism".

I think the case might be more like "I'm old and have fished the way I do and know nothing else. I'm broke and can't afford to re-outfit my gear in order to access a public resource we all pay for."

 

[kerrys]

I think the case might be more like "I'm old and have fished the way I do and know nothing else. I'm broke and can't afford to re-outfit my gear in order to access a public resource we all pay for."

I guess the same could be said of hunting regs. Up by where I live you can hunt elk and deer using only a bow. No firearms. This could be for safety reasons also but still I can’t hunt with a bow so I am denied the opportunity to hunt a state managed elk herd.

 

[Evan B]

I guess the same could be said of hunting regs. Up by where I live you can hunt elk and deer using only a bow. No firearms. This could be for safety reasons also but still I can’t hunt with a bow so I am denied the opportunity to hunt a state managed elk herd.

Though I can see more argument for bow-only in some cases. Safety (crowds, residences nearby, limiting harvest on a herd, etc etc). I see that closer to something like selective gear regulations in fishing. But, it is a different skill much like fly fishing is.