What type of fly angler are you?

As a member of my local TU chapter and organizer of many club outings, I surround myself with a lot of different anglers, most of whom I genuinely enjoy being with.  And while I try not to judge or stereotype, certain anglers seem to possess characteristics that define their fly-fishing persona.  A recent article that I read had me reflecting on the different breeds of angler I have witnessed in my 30+ years of fly fishing.

Gear Guru

Of all the different types of fly anglers, this is the one I come across most often.  I am someone who does not purchase much fly-fishing gear except to replace broken or lost equipment.  I recently succumbed to purchasing the newest Orvis Helios rod only because I had my favorite Helios II rupture into multiple sections fighting a large brown trout in Iceland.  I also had unhappily replaced a long-handled Fishpond net lost on the same trip.  Otherwise, my gear has to be in dire condition before I will invest in new equipment.

when a four piece rod becomes a six piece rod it is time to get new gear (photo courtesy of Barry Hughes)

But you know a Gear Guru when you come across one, because they are usually patrolling the parking lot showing off the newest version of some sort of gadget or apparel.  It is not that I am put off by this angler’s enthusiasm for their new acquisition, but I am more in awe of the ease with which this angler type is so willing to invest heavily and regularly in decidedly pricey stuff.  Especially if there is nothing wrong with the stuff they already have! 

Scoresheet Angler

In the interest of full disclosure, I keep a log of all my fishing excursions.  And I do have a record of how many fish were caught on each outing, as well as weather and water conditions, which flies were the most productive, and at which spots on the water the fish were caught.  This for me is a record keeping exercise to reference on future excursions to the same waters.

keeping score

But there are those for which the outings represent a competition.  They are the first to ask how you did at the end of the day in the hopes that their day was more productive, whether in number or in size of the fish.  They always have photos as proof and seem doubtful if your catch record is not documented.

Nymph-o-matic

I had at first a different terminology for this type of angler, but as the Trout Bandit endeavors to take the high road and not offend, I thought better of the first label and settled with this one. I am an infrequent nymphing angler.  Even if I know a particular water is best fished while tight line nymphing, I will capitulate only after first drifting a tandem of nymphs under a wool indicator.  I just find the discipline to be tiring and require an inordinate level of focus.  It is also more effective with a longer rod than I generally fish with, and a specific sighting leader.

a rare moment of nymph fishing in British Columbia

So, I have a high regard and respect for the committed nymphing angler.  And I do realize that it is an immensely effective technique.  I really must work at improving my nymphing skills.

Scientific Angler

Another angling persona that I am in awe of and should emulate is the Scientific Angler.  This is the angler that spends the first hour of the excursion turning over rocks to identify aquatic insects and visually prospecting the water before contemplating a fly selection.  They will know what the conditions are in terms of flow and temperature before arriving to the water.  They will also be expert on etymology and can know a size 14 versus 16 just by looking at the fly.

this angler has already prospected the water and is about to make a fly selection

I need to surround myself more often with this type of angler, especially the ones that impart this information in an amiable and affable manner.

Mad as Hell(boy)

After 30 years of fly-fishing experiences, I have learned to keep my expectations low for a day on trout water.  That is not to say that that there are no longer moments of exasperation associated with utter ineptitude on the water, but these are the exception rather than the rule. And I also regard a day out on the water as something to relish as opposed to an exercise in scorekeeping.

moments of ineptitude are inevitable

But there are still those anglers that are prone to grumbling after a challenging day on the water.  Or worse, a moment of incompetence that will make your angling companion Mad as Hell.  But while I have witnessed tantrums and stomping around, never have I seen an angler break a rod over their knee or toss their equipment in the water in exasperation, at least not in person.

Silent type

I am always incredibly grateful when I come across a fellow angler who is willing to impart guidance on a water that I am either fishing for the first time or challenged to crack the code.  I remember a trip to fish a water in New Jersey and having several anglers that were familiar with the water take precious time with me and even contribute one of their own flies to my effort.  There have also been times where I have greeted an angler on the water and been at best ignored or at worst been told to move on.

I personally cannot imagine being anything but my most gracious self in helping another angler have their best day on any water.

Tight lines!