To Delve a Little Deeeeper..............

[steve]

When I go striper fishing I like to make the most out of my time on the water which like most everyone out there includes catching a fish or two. That's why I use something that works most of the time. For me live eels, rigged eels and 9" black sluggos work night in and nnight out. All else , particularly artificals, don't work well all the time. It's as simple as that!

[Slipknot]

Jack of all trades, master of none.
That might be me fishing wise, I fish for the thrill of the hunt, the anticipation that on each and every cast I make there could be a cow biting at the end on my line. If I catch fish, it makes it even better. Getting fish from shore is rewarding, getting them on plugs,jigs, or flies is challenging also, even if it's from a boat with live bait or dead, it is still fun trying and better when you find fish and catch them. Different spots, different conditions, time of year, weather all have to do with which method may work to your advantage to give you a better chance at success. I like variety, that is why I don't just fish one way over all others.
The better anglers are the guys who can catch consistently, even when others are not catching, they somehow are able to pull fish out, even if the others are using the same plug or bait. Some guys just have it, if you want to be like that, you'd have to work a lot harder.

[Grapenuts]

One who can and has done it all..I like calling them a "handyman"one who can switch from one method to another and not lose a beat.when one type of fishing gets turned off by zipper lipped fish they turn to another style of fishing...I know a few of these guys and they never ever thought of it as a big deal...learn the trade inside out or get stuck going home skunked more times then catching....what stikes me odd is how many can't read the water...like little dips in beach...one gull at nite alone standing in the wash..a skunk or red fox at the edge of the water...which end of a bar to stand at when the tide is outgoing..a suttle trough in a flat on the incoming....it goes on an on.. gps map on a boat pick a place anywhere..find the underwater bars.points.channels.in any bay.sound or offshore...and you'll find the fish once you learn where they like to hang .. it doesn't change when you change locations....I will agree it won't happen overnite..it'll take countless nites which turns into countless years of hunting to be a good all round fisher... it comes to some naturally..don't dwell on these folks cause it'll drive you hen chitt.

[spence]

Why no option for the fly?

Clearly saltwater fly fishing is much more refined than the techniques mentioned above. In contrast, methods like eels and live pogies are simply gross and plastic and wood lures quite, well, artificial.

I'd say the fly fisherman has this one down for sure. I'm dreaming of the day when we get a Tiverton Orvis.

-spence

[fishaholic18]

Originally Posted by spence

Why no option for the fly?

Clearly saltwater fly fishing is much more refined than the techniques mentioned above. In contrast, methods like eels and live pogies are simply gross and plastic and wood lures quite, well, artificial.

I'd say the fly fisherman has this one down for sure. I'm dreaming of the day when we get a Tiverton Orvis.

-spence

Oh now just stop it you...

[BassDawg]

Originally Posted by spence

Why no option for the fly?

Clearly saltwater fly fishing is much more refined than the techniques mentioned above.

-spence

because most of us are under 80yrs old and hetero??


i knew that you would be able to see the technical side, spence,
and offer a valuable point. mostly i left out saltwater fly fishing because IT IS so much more technically advanced that it would have negated all of the others. also, i consider fly fishermen in a leauge of their own, whether salt or sweet water officianados. them cats are the "creme de la creme", imho.

when i'm MUCH, MUCH older i'll have the fly-tying bench; tons of feathers, hackles, and hooks; and all the time in the world to make clousers dance.....................

THANKS everyone, for taking the time to respond and vote.
Verrrrrry interesting takes on this piece of what we do.
Good Stuff, gentlemen! Sea ya in the surf,,,,,,,,,,,

[chris L]

the only thing hard about fly fishing is setting the hook on the fly in midair flight . everything else is just fishing . some catch better than others but its still just fishing .

best fisherman , no such creature . some catch better than others .

[The Dad Fisherman]

Originally Posted by BassDawg

mostly i left out saltwater fly fishing because IT IS so much more technically advanced that it would have negated all of the others. also, i consider fly fishermen in a leauge of their own, whether salt or sweet water officianados. them cats are the "creme de la creme", imho.

OK, I'll bite....but what makes a fly fisherman so much more technically advanced than the plug fisherman.

A plug guy is taking a chunk of wood, shaping it, weighting it, testing it, adjusting it, making it dance, and then finally taking large on it.

Not trying to slam fly-guys but I don't see why the perception is that their craft is always considered the creme-de-la creme when it comes to fishing and everything else is "Just throwing something out there"

Its a different method....thats all.

A great fisherman is one that works the hardest at it, knows where to find the fish, and knows what to give them......no matter what the method used is.....and catches consistently