I would like to thank Aaron...

for such a well thought out, level headed response to my questions. i didn't hijack the guys post with my questions. i didn't accuse anyone of unethical fishing or even not C&R fishing, never mentioned. i also did not say anything negative, i simply asked questions i though were valid and needed some clarification. with some folks i guess it's just a touchy question, but one would think the guy in charge could be a bit more diplomatic in his responses. the heading says fly fishing and the post was on CP. hence my valid questions.

i would also like to apologize for my delay in responding until the thread was locked. i was occupied as usual by my working on ways to catch steelhead the way I like to catch them; on a tight line swing with a two handed rod. it was cold out 20+, the water at 33 deg and off color with about a foot of vis and quite high. most folks would simply stay home or possibly switch to a different method of fishing, but imho if the going gets tough and you give up you never get anywhere better but simply remain where you were. i hooked two and landed one.

years back i would have put on a bobber, some good sized shot and two fly rig with a attractor egg pattern and a small nymph. this method worked well and so i got bored with it and a friend of mine with years more experience had always stuck with swinging flies right through the winter. he hooked as many fish as the rest of us, sometimes more. one day i just decided he wasn't any better a fisherman than i was and if he could then so could i. that was over 5 years ago and since i have stuck with the swing in the worst of conditions and had success. it was slower at first and the lure of the bobber was always there making me want to cave and loop one on, but i stuck it out.

one cold day on a famous river on the eastern end of the same lake i was fishing today, i had my epiphany; hooked up regularly all day while the guys using other methods did OK i was into my best day on that river ever. water at 1000+ and a temp of 35. i had progressed with technique (two handed rod for the big water and heavy tips) and fly patterns (big hairy and wiggly bait fish/leech patterns) to the point where i could catch these fish with my method in damn near any conditions. the reason: i stuck to my method and learned how to adapt it to the current conditions. would i have even done that if i switched to a pin rod when the conditions went south? likely no. do most of you care? likely, no again.

the point? do what you like and don't make excuses for what you do. if you like the CP rig do it when the conditions are good for fly fishing. if you like fly fishing do it when the conditions are right for the CP. if nothing else i will guarantee you will remember the day you stepped outside of your box and took a look around. i personally can't even find the box any longer and i'm as rounded as could be and haven't caught a steelhead on anything but a fly on a fly rod ever. i guess i just like a challenge more than some folks. if that makes me an elitist in your eyes, just remember they are your eyes.

sunday's fish, the tube fly hook is all that's in it's mouth and the fly is in the snow somewhere.

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/e...n/_DSC0029.jpg

next episode; smallmouths in lake erie on flies in 25' of water.

Q: wouldn't a jigging rod be easier?
A: yes it would!