Fly Fishing Elitism?

Dustin Chromers said:
People act like being elite is bad. I'm my opinion there are too many common folks. Time to thin the herd. I personally don't like to share the same air as many of the anglers I'm forced to be around. It would be great if they were just preoccupied with NASCAR and not bother coming out.
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That's why I think people should spend more time golfing.
 
_WW_ said:
Excuse me, perhaps you could describe the entire life history and reproductive cycle, (please cite references) of the Green Butt Skunk.
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I would move that example toward the art side, much like many of the old Spey patterns.
 
wanderingrichard said:
@cascadian ,
I consider what you've proposed as self handicapping in favor of the fish.

And, yeah this is a game, in a way. It just shouldn't be twisted economically to exclude people.
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old guy I fish with occasionally is still in a doughnut float tube with white Shakespeare Rod and Medalist reel, and basically just stays within 50 yards of the channel launch ramp, His legs are always finning, fishes nothing but the same soft hackle pattern, and often outfishes all of us.
kmudgn said:
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

www.themainewire.com

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 www.themainewire.com
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The core issue is giving access of what have been fly fishing waters, especially catch and re;ease fisheries, pretty much guarantees a rapidly diminishing fishery as the bait and hardware slingers take their limits.
I cannot remember the last time I saw a fly fisherman dragging a trout by a stringer.
 
fishbadger said:
My favorite elitists are the steelhead fly fishers who clog up runs and don't move your feet. It didn't eat it on the first or the twentieth shitty cast to that exact spot, and it's not gonna eat it on the fiftieth cast either. Move your feet and let somebody else follow you through you dipshits!!
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Hmm...I don't think I know anyone like that. But I only fish the elite swinging water.
 
SurfnFish said:
The core issue is giving access of what have been fly fishing waters, especially catch and re;ease fisheries, pretty much guarantees a rapidly diminishing fishery as the bait and hardware slingers take their limits.
I cannot remember the last time I saw a fly fisherman dragging a trout by a stringer.
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Oh yeah? Well try Gold Lake some time! /sarcasmfont

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RichS said:
I think that the only reason for flyfishing only vs. selective fishery is elitist nonsense. A single hook barbless spinner is no more damaging than flies.
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To me that would invite more gear rods with bait…..thinking nobody would notice. Some people just suck! I figure that if they can read signs to find a lake, the should be able to read the regs….my .02
 
Bambooflyguy said:
To me that would invite more gear rods with bait…..thinking nobody would notice. Some people just suck! I figure that if they can read signs to find a lake, the should be able to read the regs….my .02
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I remember watching two guys FLY fishing Lake Lenore (selective rules, no bait) scenting their flies. Too me that's a pretty clear step into the "bait" fishing category. Damned elitist fly guys! ;-)

I used to fish Lake Roosevelt trolling flies for Kokanee. I tied up a bunch of K-flies with a barbed trailing treble hook. Night crawler, maggot and white corn with each point of the trebling having a piece of ....bait. Damned elitist hypocritical scum sucking dirt bag!;)
 
Zak said:
An early, extensive list of “angling virtues” is provided by Gervase Markham:


. . . a skilful angler ought to be a general scoller, and seen in all the Liberal Sciences, as a Grammarian to know how either to write or discourse of his art in true and fitting terms, either without affectation or rudeness. He should have sweetness of speech, to perswade and entice others to delight in an exercise so much laudable. He should have strength of arguments to defend and maintain his profession, against envy or slander.

He should have knowledge in the Sun, Moon, and Stars, that by their aspects he may guess the seasonableness or unseasonableness of the weather, the breeding of storms, and from what coast the winds are delivered. He should be a good knower of countries, and well used to High-wayes, that by taking the readiest paths to every Lake, Brook and River, his Journies may be more certain and less wearisome. He should have knowledge in proportions of all sorts, whether Circular, Square, or Diametrical, that when he shall be questioned of his diurnal progresses, he may give a Geographical description of the angles and channels of Rivers, how they fall from their heads, and what compasses they fetch in their several windings. He must also have the perfect art of numbering. . . .​



Gervase Markham, Country Contentments (1615), reprinted in The Open Road: A Little Book for Wayfarers (Lucas, ed., 1909) at 142-43 (idiosyncratic spelling in original).
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Goddess I'm so glad for modern English. No wonder my PhD cousin went nuts. This stuff hurts the brain.
 
cascadian said:
Just an opinion, but fly fishing is quite elitist by definition.

One of the parts of fly fishing is entomology; one doesn't have to be an entomologist, but one certainly needs to know the various life stages, if not the very species. This may be even more true regarding fly tying. One doesn't need to know the taxonomy of PowerBait.

Another part of fly fishing is ecology. To reach a consistent level of success, one needs to know where, why, and how, certain species both live and feed. While it's true in a smaller way of say, bait trolling, it isn't the same.
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My 5th grade science teacher was John Murray of Montandon, PA. Besides teaching school he also owned and ran a nursery specializing in landscaping shrubs and trees. In class he was a cut up, specializing in what we now call "Dad Jokes".

The man was also a very avid fly fisherman and could quote entire taxonomies of insects. He could swing from one of his dad jokes or whatever subject matter we were covering straight into a full speech on damselflies for instance. Being kids we thought he was nuts. What we didn't know was that his off time was full of guest appearances at colleges and universities specializing in stream side conservation and a host of other related subjects.

I don't think I would have ever called him elitist. Brainiac? Yeah, maybe.
 
The reason we are elitists:

We help others with all phases of fly fishing for free.

We give back to others. Checkout 'Pay it Forward' thread. Free stuff...

We tie up flies and give them away. Do bait and spinner fisherman give their stuff away for free?

Sharing knowledge without giving up hotspots is our mantra.

We 'walk and talk quietly and carry a big stick'. Others have loud music, loud boats and get into drunken brawls.while fishing.

We take out more garbage than we leave behind.

I rather like being an elitist.
 
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Zak said:
That's why I think people should spend more time golfing.
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"Don't take up golf. Any researcher who does... becomes a 'thank-God-it's Friday scientist, always fighting not to fall too embarrassingly behind those peers who have sensibly chosen the less Zen but more aerobic thrill of hitting tennis balls"

James Watson, 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of DNA, known elitist... as he grew older became more of an insufferable bore and yet authored "Avoid Boring People"
 
Zak said:
That's why I think people should spend more time golfing.
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“Golfing” is not elitist.

However, meeting at the club to dine before playing an afternoon round to assure your handicap is still in single digits while having your clubs cleaned by one of the clubhouse boys might be. Just sayin…..

But I do agree more people should take up the pastime.

Oh ghillie, pass me my 7 weight, the blue one please, when you have a moment, eh?
 
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