Hello all,
Matbe it's me, but I seem to notice some major differences between those that pursue warmwater fish, and those that chase coldwater fish. These don't apply to everyone, but are very common :
Cost of gear. Many of us who pursue bluegills and the like are using Pflueger Medalist reels, cast aluminum reels, and the like. Many of the trout fans are toting the more expensive reels. Many trout fans are armed with expensive bamboo rods and high end graphite rods too. Many trout fans are wearing name brand clothes, waders, wading boots, and other apparel as well. Many trout anglers will turn their noses at a Bass Pro flyrod, Cabela's flyreel, or Wal-Wart waders.
Places to purchase gear. From what I've learned, many (but not all) trout fans need to be seen with the expensive name brand gear and apparel...flyshops are some of the places where the expensive stuff is exclusively sold. Sure, BPS and Cabela's sell $425 Simms waders, but more customers that enter the stores are buying the $100 ones instead.
I don't understand the motives of using expensive gear to catch trout. Like I've said, I've caught trout before, and they are simply another fish to catch.
Handling fish. Many (not all) trout anglers are ever so careful while handling fish. I believe in careful handling of any fish you intend on releasing, but some trout anglers believe that removing a fish from the water (to remove a hook) will permanently damage the fish and shorten the life expectancy of the fish. I saw one trout angler try to remove the hook from a trout swimming freely in a net...he spent more efffort and time trying to grab the hook then actually unhooking and releasing the fish. I've handled trout, and they are tougher than one would think...they escape predators, get banged around rocks, and get dropped by eagles too. Any animal that lives in nature has to be durable and able to survive. How many trout anglers wet their hands prior to handling a fish they intend to release? I wet my hands for any fish I intend to handle and release...the slime stays on the fish, and my hands stay cleaner.
Catch and release. Many who pursue trout adhere strictly to catch and release, and frown upon other trout anglers who don't. I understand there are some streams that are "catch and release only", and you have to release the fish. If catch and release was so important to the trout crowd, then why are there creel limits and size limits for trout, native and hatchery trout? Trout lay eggs and reproduce...if trout are sterile, I can see releasing all of them. I'm not letting the bass crowd off the hook either....many bass anglers refuse to keep any bass, even if they are legal.
Bloodsport. Many trout anglers feel guilty if they gut hook or hook the gills of the fish. I'm sorry, but as long as anglers are impaling the mouths of fish with sharpened pieces of steel, we will continue to injure the occasional fish. Some fish will die as a direct result of being hooked, and we need to acknowledge that we actually kill some fish in the process of angling. I've killed bass and bluegills by hooking them in the gills, and accepted the consequences of my actions.
I tend to believe the appearance, attitude, gear, and apparel of the trout flyfisher is perpetuated by the flyfishing magazines that advertise the gear and the writers who produce the articles. I understand that not all trout flyfishers are conforming the image, but many have.
This post was not intended to divide us from those who pursue coldwater fish, but to examine the differences between the 2 different groups of anglers.
Tight lines,
Bluegillbob
Matbe it's me, but I seem to notice some major differences between those that pursue warmwater fish, and those that chase coldwater fish. These don't apply to everyone, but are very common :
Cost of gear. Many of us who pursue bluegills and the like are using Pflueger Medalist reels, cast aluminum reels, and the like. Many of the trout fans are toting the more expensive reels. Many trout fans are armed with expensive bamboo rods and high end graphite rods too. Many trout fans are wearing name brand clothes, waders, wading boots, and other apparel as well. Many trout anglers will turn their noses at a Bass Pro flyrod, Cabela's flyreel, or Wal-Wart waders.
Places to purchase gear. From what I've learned, many (but not all) trout fans need to be seen with the expensive name brand gear and apparel...flyshops are some of the places where the expensive stuff is exclusively sold. Sure, BPS and Cabela's sell $425 Simms waders, but more customers that enter the stores are buying the $100 ones instead.
I don't understand the motives of using expensive gear to catch trout. Like I've said, I've caught trout before, and they are simply another fish to catch.
Handling fish. Many (not all) trout anglers are ever so careful while handling fish. I believe in careful handling of any fish you intend on releasing, but some trout anglers believe that removing a fish from the water (to remove a hook) will permanently damage the fish and shorten the life expectancy of the fish. I saw one trout angler try to remove the hook from a trout swimming freely in a net...he spent more efffort and time trying to grab the hook then actually unhooking and releasing the fish. I've handled trout, and they are tougher than one would think...they escape predators, get banged around rocks, and get dropped by eagles too. Any animal that lives in nature has to be durable and able to survive. How many trout anglers wet their hands prior to handling a fish they intend to release? I wet my hands for any fish I intend to handle and release...the slime stays on the fish, and my hands stay cleaner.
Catch and release. Many who pursue trout adhere strictly to catch and release, and frown upon other trout anglers who don't. I understand there are some streams that are "catch and release only", and you have to release the fish. If catch and release was so important to the trout crowd, then why are there creel limits and size limits for trout, native and hatchery trout? Trout lay eggs and reproduce...if trout are sterile, I can see releasing all of them. I'm not letting the bass crowd off the hook either....many bass anglers refuse to keep any bass, even if they are legal.
Bloodsport. Many trout anglers feel guilty if they gut hook or hook the gills of the fish. I'm sorry, but as long as anglers are impaling the mouths of fish with sharpened pieces of steel, we will continue to injure the occasional fish. Some fish will die as a direct result of being hooked, and we need to acknowledge that we actually kill some fish in the process of angling. I've killed bass and bluegills by hooking them in the gills, and accepted the consequences of my actions.
I tend to believe the appearance, attitude, gear, and apparel of the trout flyfisher is perpetuated by the flyfishing magazines that advertise the gear and the writers who produce the articles. I understand that not all trout flyfishers are conforming the image, but many have.
This post was not intended to divide us from those who pursue coldwater fish, but to examine the differences between the 2 different groups of anglers.
Tight lines,
Bluegillbob
