Why do we fly fish?

[DavidEdens]

I am curious. With so many effective ways to catch fish, why do we fly fish? Why do we spend hundreds of dollars on rods, reels and all the accouterments of the sport?

For me it is the challenge. Except in a few instances, I believe the fly fisher handicaps himself. Much like the bow hunter handicaps himself when hunting for deer. Catching fish with a fly rod is being successful while you are intentionally handicapping yourself. Accomplishing a task under these conditions is simply rewarding.

Additionally, I believe it is the Joy of the Cast. A good fly cast just feels good. As a bonus, it enables you to catch more fish.

So why do I fly fish? I was re-reading Joan Wulff's Fly Casting Techniques tonight, and I came upon this phrase where she describes the fly cast, "Your arm and body can move with grace, the muscles contracting and relaxing in the lovely cadence of the casts. A little power here, the feeling of floating there...an unleashing of the rod's power; an inanimate tool coming to life, the sweet satisfaction of knowing your are in control. The nuances of beautiful fly casting enrich the soul as well as they enrich the art. Once you have felt them,you'll be satisfied with nothing less and, 'Yes, mon, that's dancin.'!"

That really sums up why I fly fish. How about you?

[groundpounder]

The challenge! Like you already said we try and make things harder and harder on ourselves. If it wasn't a challenge it wouldn't be quite as fun now would it?
Now I am getting more and more happy with tying my own flies. And the satisfaction you get with catching fish on something you created. I know when I started fly fishing every fly in my box was bought. Now I still have a few bought ones but they are getting fewer and fewer.
Maybe one day it will move to rod building and catching on my own rod, just not there yet.

[Gator1679]

I do it for the challenge but I don't think its a handicap.

[Trailblazer]

Almost every time I catch a fish by another method, I find myself thinking "that would have been more fun and more satisfying on a fly rod!" There's something mystical about it.
Trailblazer.

[Troutguy]

There's nothing better than floating a trout river in late October... cool temperatures, fall foliage, good food, fine fellowship. Can't wait...

[fishinbub]

I've always felt like a skilled fly fisherman can catch ALOT more fish with a fly rod than a spinning rod. I feel like I'm at the point where I can break even, but when you throw in tying flies, building rods, repairing rods, collection antique rods, etc. it makes it that much more enjoyable.

[Windknot]

I know the cast drew me to fly fishing. As an eight year old boy with cane pole in hand, I saw fly line looping in the air above a creek bank near the town reservoir. Had to take a closer look. It was a guy with a steel fly rod, wearing out the red breasts in the creek. About seven years later, a fly rod wound up in our garage, and it accompanied me and my father on many a farm pond adventure. If the bass had lockjaw, I'd use the fly rod to drop small poppers along the shoreline lily pads and play with bluegills.

About 35 years later, I got back into it with a vengance. A post this week reminded me of how different it is to fly fish as opposed to spinning. I am much more aware of positioning myself before making the first cast now than I ever was when spinning.

The challenge of fly fishing suits me, and any successes I encounter are magnified by the challenge. I think I'll keep working at it simply because I enjoy it.

[fishace]

John Gierach once said, "the day we start questioning why we fish is the day we might as well trade in all of our gear for a big screen tv."

[blackcatbone]

Nothing more satisfying that perfect cast, good drift, and fish on. Now the handicap would be: add boat, oars, cross wind, and few to many adult beverages.

[baldea]

Chicks dig it....say no more. We all look like Brad Pitt in River Runs Through it.