Some may have seen on my other posts, I have returned to fly fishing, after a long absence. I stopped fly fishing when I went to University, and have just started again some 18 years later.


I thought it might be interesting for me to comment on how things have changed, and how I see things differently. Those who have been fishing for these 18 years will have seen the changes,,,,, although maybe not realised without thinking just how much things have changed.

Equipment.
The rod, reel, line, leader, net I used at the weekend. I am convinced they combined to make the job massively easier. I paid around £200 for my basic set up. Not cheap, but to get this quality 18 years ago you would have needed a 2nd mortgage.
I dont remember any kind of drag system on my last reel,,,,,, mind you I didnt use it Sunday,,,, even when playing a 4-5lber on a #5,,,,,, feeding line by hand is a hard habit to break,, even after 18 years.
As for the line (Snowbee WF5F), it seemed effortless, even with my bad timing and technique

But the main thing, and the reason for the post, is the style of flies I am seeing. Flies seem to have gone 1 of 2 ways. Either they are bright (ugly?) things that in no way resemble anything alive,,,,, or they are incredibly life-like,,,, sufficiently realistic to fool more than a fish!!!

I wonder if the style of flies is making fishing easier,,,,, or (as I suspect) they are attracting fishermen more than fish.


Finally,, is it just me,,, or are the fish bigger than they used to be??!?!!!!!

First of all welcome back to fishing. fishing tackle has changed alot over the years some good, the drag system on the reels is great as i use it alot when fighting a fish i let the reel do the work. Have to let it do some work apart from holding the line. When it comes to flies alot of them are good to look at. Was talking to a Fly Dresser recently and comment on the nice shiny flies on sale that attract the fisherman but not the fish his quote "there are flies for fishermen and there are flies for trout"

Things have changed, tackle and fish
I remember when rainbows were an American fish,and flies were flies,outboards were filthy Seagulls, a Barbour/Belstaff jacket was your "waterproof" and cheap tackle was a hand made fiberglass rod.
I still use the same style of flies as i did in the 70's for brownies.I played about with lures in the 80'/90's but as i dont stockie bash now the trads. do fine for me.
Fishing has changed immensely, for the better is open to debate.Interestingly in my opinion salmon fishing has become less elitist and what was once considered a sport for the "nobs" has become affordable for many which in my opinion is fantastic.
What has changed for the poorer is the attitude towards fishing....I often hear "this place is ****"
and never "my technique was ****"

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BROWN TROUT:THE RED SPOTS HAND PAINTED BY GOD

When I came back to the fly after many years of a break, I was still using my old rod but had to buy a new reel and line. I now have all new gear and my catch rate hasn't gone up a single bit.

Regarding flies, I look at some of the new creations because they're nice to look at but don't feel compelled to buy them even though theyr'es no doubt most of them will catch fish.

I have several boxes of flies but this season am trying to cut my selection down to a box of eighteen different patterns in three different sizes so should have 54 flies at my disposal at any one time, give or take a few " specials " that is.

Experience shows that fish will take one pattern just as soon as they will take another as long as you know which triggers to include.

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Tight Lines. :)

I was away from any sort of fishing for 27 years and when I came back I was amazed at the array of materials now available to fly tiers-tinsels that don't tarnish, fritz, spandex and genetic hackles bred just for fly tying. Despite all this I still think the simple "buggy" patterns are the most effective and it's more the way you present your fly than the fly you're using -and if you have CONFIDENCE in that fly. I recall back in the early 1970s in a lake in Surrey,an angler a way down the bank from me was using a box full of pretty fancy flies and catching nothing while I was having a lovely time using a simple gold-ribbed hare's ear nymph and nothing else. Also in 1972 I bought a large assortment of fly tying materials in a shop in north London(Dons of Edmonton) for less than £3. I hate to think what those same things would cost now.

What you say really confirms what my feeling has been.

What I am certain about, is that fishing is easier than last time. I dont mean it is easier to catch fish (I havent done enough to really form that view), but the lightness of the rod I used, the lighter reel, and what seemed like a smoother line,,,, I am sure it is more comfortable.


The flies,,,, well I fished mostly with a Cats Whisker Sunday,,,,, certainly nothing different to 20 years ago.

I was on a water that everyone had reported buzzers and blobs working well, but I was more comfortable with a more familiar method to me.


Looking forward to getting out on a river in April, as I expect that hasnt changed as much!

Hi Richard,

Good to hear you've returned to the Brotherhood of the Angle!

Just like you, so many of us have had time away from fly angling for one reason or another; and then deciding on an attempt to recapture the pleasure that fly fishing once brought us! But time changes all things.

Returning to fly fishing after many years of abstinence; and without realising the advancements made in tackle and methods used, not to mention the flies that you'd never heard of!
Because we're veterans of years gone by, we soon learn to adapt to the new toys (tackle) and combine the old methods of fly angling with the innovations and advancements made during our absence; from this beautiful art of fly angling.

Welcome home.

Mostyn

its refreshing to hear someone comment on the positive differences, in some way back then it was fun to fish all day with a cracked line on a floppy rod and catch just one, but its true, we should be more aware of the things we have now, or just being able to afford them.

I think you're right about rods. There have never been as many truely good rods on the market as there are now, and I, too, have observed before that IMO many lower to middle priced rods both cast and fish better than the vast majority of rods of 20 years ago. And I suspect they come at a lower price when adjusted for inflation.

In fact, another member has very rightly asked if there are any truely bad rods out there anymore. There were very few responses and that, in itself, is telling.

Commenting from the USA side of the pond, I'll also tell you that I think attitudes have shifted to a better place as well. 20 years ago, there was an entitlemet mentalitiy in many places. Put-and-take stocked fishing was the norm and meat fishermen became very demanding, always for more, bigger, and easier fish. C&R was just starting to take hold, but those with the entitlment mentality were digging in their heels demanding their "right" to fill their freezer with fat stockies.

Today, the emphasis has shifted to wild, naturally reproducing fish and to enhancing water quality and habitat while letting the fish grow to whatever size can be supported.

Conk-em-all meat fishermen have been largely pushed out of the game by large-scale implementation of slot sizes and mandatory C&R. I still hear or read about a few holdouts, mainly when they get caught and slapped with a nice fine.

Grouse

My experience is very similar to Richard's. The main fly differences I noticed were the superglue/varnished buzzers, the prevalence of CDC, and I'd never heard of a dabbler till a joined this forum!

The other influence of the forum is that I have my first ever fly casting lesson coming up on Saturday...

What really got me back into it with a passion was that I'd run out of the old flies I'd tied as a teenager and couldn't find any to buy. Realised I'd have to get hold of my old fly tying kit and do it myself. If anything, I find the tying as much (more?) fun than the fishing.

It's good to be back!

Neil