Not alot of Fly fishers here?

As for fly fishing being a more intellectual activity, well I have to agree. I'm not saying you need to be a rocket surgeon in order to be a fly fisherman. Nor am I saying that only dolts use bait or conventional gear. But, in general while fly fishing, I think you really do need to be a bit more focused/attentive/thoughtful. More of your head is in the game so to speak.

Why?

I think if you applied the same amount of focus/attention/thought while gear fishing, you'd be a lot better gear fisherman!   

Or maybe you're saying that it requires a lot more focus/attention/thought while fly fishing to be equivalent to a gear fisherman?   

-Allen

As for fly fishing being a more intellectual activity, well I have to agree. I'm not saying you need to be a rocket surgeon in order to be a fly fisherman. Nor am I saying that only dolts use bait or conventional gear. But, in general while fly fishing, I think you really do need to be a bit more focused/attentive/thoughtful. More of your head is in the game so to speak.

Why?

I think if you applied the same amount of focus/attention/thought while gear fishing, you'd be a lot better gear fisherman!   

Or maybe you're saying that it requires a lot more focus/attention/thought while fly fishing to be equivalent to a gear fisherman?   

-Allen

I think they are simply two different methods to catch fish.  Both require knowledge of fish behavior and seasonal forage patterns (if you want to be any good).

As to fly vs conventional, it's an age old debate with lots of sensitivities around the subject.    I would only say that with fly fishing there are so many more variables to consider to do it successfully.   

As to Scott's 'highly opinionated commentary' before i get to the Yuba river matter, I would say there have been plenty of times when fish have been all over flies at depth while conventional action was slow.    We don't need conventional gear around us to bring the fish up.    But again, to each their own.   I respect all manners of legal fishing.    But for me personally I really enjoy the way a fish slams the fly and the fight on a fly rod.   I wold guess my heaviest fly rod is lighter than the lightest conventional rod used in the ocean and my fight with the fish is direct Mano a Mano with no gearing standing between me and the fish.   I get such a rush catching fish by fly I would rather forego potentially catching more fish via bait so I can fish my flies.    It's just a matter of personal preference.

As to your Yuba offer, Scott, I would gladly take you up on that.   Lets schedule something up.    I have my own gear so don't need to borrow yours.   But if we ever fish the salt together I would be happy to let you use my fly gear so you can experience first hand the rush of battling some brute fish 70 feet down that buries your 9 wt rod straight down into the deep blue.

Somedays flies out fishes gear other days gear outfishes flies.  I always have more fun catching then  fishing. Lol

I don't care who's more focused or what kinda gear they use I WANNA FLY FISH THE YUBA FROM MY YAK. So, Scott Thornley, you seem to have the local knowledge and the willingness to share it. Let's do this. I think since you are the "expert" here you should pick some dates and those who can make it will chime in. I prefer Tuesdays but sometimes I can be flexible. I have my own gear and a BIG truck so shuttling is not an issue if I can make your chosen date.

Looking forward to fishing with all of you at some point.

Let's take this to "hookups"!
 
ruben

Can you give me towns as to the stretch of yuba and feather you're talking about?  Ive got to get outside of Vegas 10/19-20, could tack on a couple days to fish, especially the feather. Beautifull river. Might be difficult for me to bring the yak, but maybe.

I would definately make a trip down the coast to get some salt fly pointers. 

Who's using fly gear to go 100' deep?  We wait til the fish are up much higher. Deepest I've ever had to go was maybe 25' to 30'.


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Now as to bobicators and nymphing being just as easy as bait fishing - hogwash.

Totally agree with that statement, the swing vs. bobber debate comes up all the time with my metalhead friends. I like to swing now but caught more fish when I bobber fished. Being a good bobber fisherman takes alot of concentration, when you're in the zone you're setting the hook without thinking about, total reaction. It's hard to explain, but when guides start telling you they didn't see the bobber move when you set on a fish, you know you're getting good. For me now it's about the grab on a swung fly, a side benefit is I can relax, look at the scenery and not focus on some little plastic ball with "trapped air technology"...I do still put on the bobber when I get desperate for a chromer, fishing trout or small coastals or tribs...it's a deadly technique once you become proficient.

Can you give me towns as to the stretch of yuba and feather you're talking about?

When talking lower yuba fly fishing it's usually the Parks Bar Bridge (Hwy 20) down to Daguerre Dam, Sycamore Campground is a common take out. Marysville is the closest town I guess. Feather river, the fly guys are usually talking about the low flow area in the Oroville Wildlife Refuge and above.

Who's using fly gear to go 100' deep?  We wait til the fish are up much higher. Deepest I've ever had to go was maybe 25' to 30'.


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Flyaker, here. A handful of members of the AK Flyishers, up off of Kodiak.  No one else that I'm aware of, but while I may be a know-it-all, I'm not really omniscient.

I've fished with Flyaker and Pindo124 quite a few times and while I don't think we've fished in 100' we've fished pretty deep before. Bill's throwing 28' of T14 with a section of T28 (T14 doubled over)at the end. That turbo sinker at the end must really sink the head fast.

I fish conventional gear out there because throwing 28' of T14 sitting low in kayak doesn't sound like fun to me. The times I do wish I had a fly rod is when the big rockies are busting the surface. I've seen them get into a school of big rockies right outside the kelp on the surface and start catching 20+fish/hour. Meanwhile I'm fishing 50' and getting shit. Do whatever floats your yak. 

There's now an official hookup posted.

Take advantage of the egg bite, while it's on.

Just so everyone is clear though, I'm no expert on the Yuba. In fact, I find that river to be humbling. I have fished it a fair amount, starting in November of last year. I'll be learning the best fishing spots from the "washout" on New Truck road down to Sycamore, as 80% of my experience in the past 12 months was in the water that's under seasonal closure, above Hwy 20.

Scott

What weight rod are yall using? I have a 5wt for trout and such and an 8 wt for steelhead. I was thinking of adding a 9 or10wt for salmon (8wt a little undersized?) Will the 9/10wt be a better allround ocean rod as well? Are yall using 7 or 8wt for your 2handers? Do you use the 2handers for both Salmon and steelhead?

Ive been half-assin it for a while but now Im committed to the learning how to do this right.

In the ocean I use mostly a 7 weight with t14, but I also have a 9 weight with an intermediate line.  The only reason I have a 9 weight is for throwing really big heavy striper flies in the surf.

For trout and freshwater bass I use a 5 weight.  For steelhead, stripers, and salmon I use a 7 weight, most feel I am under gunned with my 7, but it works perfectly fine for me.

I have a BRAND NEW 9wt, reel, case that I set-up when I lived in Florida ... with good intentions of using for Grouper & Snapper.  Never seen water.  Been in the padded case, in the safe since I moved back here.  Might have to break it out & post for sale.  I can't see myself ever using it anytime soon.