Confessions of a Crappy Flyfisherman

I love fish. LOVE fish. And I love fishing. LOVE fishing. My enthusiasm for fishing usually exceeds my ability unless I'm with a guide. By myself? Sometimes the fishing plan works out, and sometimes it doesn't.

I'm a wicked-good bait fisherman, and pretty-good lure fisherman. First pick? Squid bait. Second? Jig. Fall-back position? Throw the net. Why? I just want to experience the fish.

But when it comes to flyfishing, I stink. I'm a crappy flyfisherman. Can't cast. I squirrel up the leader and tippet, and I've lost a ton of flies on my backcast. Can't cast on tight streams -- and on wide open spaces, can't throw far enough. Wind? Forget about it.

However, I'm good at tying flies, and I love giving them away. I'm strangely drawn toward saltwater flies. (Did I just say 'strangely'? I meant, 'obviously'). I like the idea of my flies catching a fish I probably couldn't. Fishing vicariously is better than not fishing at all.

Above are some of my latest attempts which are ear-marked for a friend in Texas. Hope he catches a nice one ;)

If you'd like to see more EP-fiber fly patterns, a good site is Enrico Puglisi... CLICK HERE. Tons of natural imitations to copy. All probably tested and successful. And yet, I can't help thinking what Duffy used to say about flies: "If it ain't chartreuse, it ain't no use." Hmmm...