Measuring Success in Fly Fishing

It snowed this weekend in New York City, in what I hope will be the end of our short by cold winter. No matter how brisk the weather remains in these next two weeks of March, I know that April, and the start of my fly fishing season, is but a few precious days away. I am already getting prepared. This week, I pulled out my vest and waders from the closet, packed away since the fall, and smelled the scent of the stream once again. I took inventory of my gear, and spent a few moments day-dreaming of the hundreds of dollars I want to spend on fly fishing stuff that I cannot afford. And most importantly, I spent some time thinking about where I want to go for my first fly fishing trip of 2007.

When April comes around, I will probably first fish on the Connectquot River on Long Island because I always seem to do well there. The stream is fully stocked and the fish rise to the surface readily. Often I will catch a dozen trout in three hours, releasing all but perhaps a few rainbows or browns that make a fine dinner.

After six months of winter, I want my first trip to be a success. Perhaps that is why I will head to the river that is so fully stocked, because I know that if I get “snunked” on my first fly fishing trip of the year, not catching a single trout, I might be disappointed.

In thinking about my desire to do well on the stream, I asked myself: What makes a fly fishing trip a success? When do we come out of the river, pack the waders in the car and say to ourselves: “That was amazing”? For some, catching fish is the only measure of success of a fly fishing trip. Maybe that is why Orvis sells scales and rulers to calculate the length and weight of the trout we land.

If the measure of your fish is the only measure of your success, then what happens if you do not get a bite? Did you waste your time on the river if you did not land a single trout? When I first taught myself to fly fish in the trout parks of Missouri, I would go hours, and days without catching a trout. It was frustrating. Yet even on the hardest day, when there were no fish to be seen, I still relished the time spent in the stream.

Fly fishing is not only about catching fish. As I have written in other articles, fly fishing is about feeling connected to nature, about searching within ourselves in the solitude of the stream, about escaping from the relentless pace of our 21st Century lives. And at its highest moments, fly fishing can bring us closer to the Divine, as we sense the awe and beauty of our world and wonder how such an amazing place came to be.

Defining success in fly fishing by the number of fish you catch is kind of like defining success in life by how much money you have, or by the number of cars you own or by the size of your home. I am not at all opposed to material success. It is good to work hard and enjoy the fruits of your labor. But if our lives are only the sum total of our bank accounts, have we truly accomplished all we can in this world?

Judaism teaches that the measure of a successful life includes the ways we repair our broken world, the love we share with family and friends, and our striving to become better people. Even in the realm of the material, success does not only come from what we acquire, but also what we give away to others. Giving tzedakah, charity, is an obligation for every Jew, no matter how rich or poor. The most destitute must give something, even a penny, because the act of charity makes one a better person.

What then is the measure of success in fly fishing, and in all of life? I would tell you that doing well goes beyond the fish we catch or the sum of our material possessions. Success comes from all that we have seen and done that is beautiful and elevating and makes this world just a little bit better.

When April finally does arrive, I will probably still go to that well-stocked stream for my first fly fishing trip, because I do want to catch some trout. But I will also do my best to take a moment to breathe, to look around, and to appreciate those precious moments of connection and solitude on the stream.

Name: Rabbi Eric Eisenkramer, The Fly Fishing Rabbi

Email: theflyfishingrabbi@yahoo.com

Website: http://www.theflyfishingrabbi.blogspot.com/

The Best Time Of Day For Fishing

Since the dawn of time it seems like the answer to the question posed in this article is the morning or evening, right? It's widely known that early in the morning is good for fishing, but is this the answer to the question; what's the best time of day for fishing? Or is evening better? The point is that both morning and evening are good for fishing, this is true, but there are ways to narrow it down even more.
In this article, we're going to discuss some of the most important ways to determine when the best time to fish is. We as anglers, get a finite amount of time to spend fishing, so in my estimation we want to maximize the time we get to spend on the water as much as we can. This means fishing when the fish are the most active.
So, how do we figure out when the fish are the most active, other than just fishing in the morning and evening? It much easier than you might think, and it has to do with two specific forces of Mother Nature. The weather and the moon have as much to do with fishing as any two factors, and understanding how is the key to knowing when the best time of day is for fishing.
You can go onto the internet and do a search or two on these two subjects, and if you do that you'll end up with enough information to choke a horse. The bottom line is that you need to know about moon phases and frontal systems. These two factors are the main determinates of how fishing is affected, and knowing exactly how is the key to unlocking the mystery. Don't worry, becoming a scholar or spending a bunch of money isn't necessary.
As a matter of fact, the information that you need can be learned quite quickly, and then implemented just as quickly. For example, if the moon is in the waxing or waning crescent phase, I know fishing will be "average" at best, so I don't usually go fishing during these times. Don't worry the words shouldn't scare you. Learning the information you need about the weather and moon is simple.
My point is that determining the best time of day for fishing has to do with these two factors, and can be learned by anyone. Anyone who wants to be a more successful angler that is. If you've ever had one of those days fishing when you caught a ton of fish, and it seemed like no matter what you threw in the water resulted in a bite, you were probably fishing when the weather and moon were both in your favor, and you didn't know it. Learn this information and you can recreate these scenarios.

Article Source: Free-Articles-Zone.com

Walleye Fishing

In the northern half of the United States, fishing for walleye is a very popular activity. This is true, I believe, because the walleye can be a very challenging fish to catch, and is also delicious. Walleye is one of the most popular fresh water species for eating. A shore lunch featuring walleye is a very difficult meal to beat, no matter what type of food it may be compared to. When many people think of the term 'walleye' they immediately think of Canada, but the truth is that walleye are found all throughout the northern half of the United States as well.So where do walleye get their name? Simple. The name 'walleye' comes from the fact that their eyes reflect light, much the way a cats eyes do. This is the result of a light gathering layer within the eye that allows the walleye to see well in low light conditions. Obviously, because Mother Nature gave the walleye this equipment, they are more apt to feed at night. As a matter of fact many anglers attempt to catch walleyes at night, although the cover of darkness is by no means a must for catching walleye. Being able to see well in low light conditions means that on many instances, walleye can be found in deep water, where there is less light.Seeing as how they are literally designed to see well in low light conditions, these are the best condition to catch these fish. Fishing is generally better on overcast days and when the water is choppy. When the water is very choppy the walleye can see quite well, due the design of their eyes. Here's an interesting little trivia fact for you. Did you know that the walleye is the state fish of Minnesota? If you're lucky that might get you a pie piece in trivial pursuit some day…Walleye are fished for in a variety of ways. Casting or trolling with spinners or minnow-imitating plugs is always a good bet. Special harness rigs of spinners and beads, with a worm attached are often trolled. Jigs, either traditional bucktails, are a favorite tactic of many anglers, and some even tiop their jig with a live minnow. Another wonderful technique is to find a tributary stream that feeds a lake or river that contains walleye. In the spring and fall, walleye will enter these streams to feed and spawn. Using a gang hook rig baited with a live worm is a great technique for walleye at these times of year. The angler simply bounces the live worm rigged on a set of gang hooks along the bottom as it floats down the stream. The techniques can be deadly.However a person chooses to fish for walleye the point is that the walleye is an incredbly popular fish to try to catch. Whether it be sport or the dinner table seems to make little difference to the seasoned walleye angler. They simply love the challnge of catching them. The people of Minnestota would obviously agree, seeing as how they made the walleye the staate fish.

Article Source: Free-Articles-Zone.com