Recently I met a fellow, Todd, who is beginning his journey as a sport fishing writer.
In discussing the craft with him, he expressed that there seemed a plethora of fly fishing literature on the market, with a marked shortage of material on other methods.
Later, as I thought about what he had said, it occurred to me that we of the fly fishing community have done a great job of selling the joys of fly fishing. In fact we have done such a great job that our own efforts have come full circle to bite us in our own behinds.
Case in point: Can anyone tell me what honestly justifies a 230% increase in the price of performance rods over the last 17 years?
We are not talking greater Vancouver real estate here, and even those price increases are not honestly justified.
As an old school fly fisherman, introduced to the way of yarn and feathers 43 years ago, I have decided over the next few columns to lift the vale on some of the pompousness I have found skulking in my chosen sport.
Let me start by stating I do not hold with much of the present elitist conventions of fly fishing.
In short I hold with the adages, "What works, works period," and "Fishing is about catching fish, not about how much you spent on your equipment," and "Anyone can talk a good game, at the end of the day the fish are the true judge."
THE REPORT
Fishing on our Lower Mainland lakes has slowed due to the return of winter.
Expect things to improve when warmer weather returns. Try fishing close to shore along the north to north east sections of your favorite lake.
The Fraser River back waters are fishing to good for cutthroat.
The Stave River is good for steelhead and cutthroat.
The Harrison River is good for cutthroat.
The Chehalis River is good for steelhead and cutthroat.
