Mika Lappalainen | Friday, 12 July 2024
Last week was long days as we were building new fence around field. Field has been renewed this summer and grass is just 2 inches or so.. and we have 100 reindeer around. If reindeer hit that 2,5 hectare field... byebye. And as having long days last Friday came suddenly.. And I had appointment with doctor, important one as my driving licence was getting old in one week. When you have driving license for truck, it means that when you turn 50yrs you need doctor's check that you are able to drive. And then it will 5 more years. With regular license you can drive without check until 60 yrs.
So I had my check and I'm good to go, not sure if I need my truck license but you never know. Earlier last week I had some guys from US in our lake, and we caught some good rainbows in short time. Also I had tvshooting and that was truly nailed. First fish in 5 minutes, second after some work and then I did few casts with fly. Camera man said that it would be great if he could have take on camera as I was using dry fly.
Might sound cocky, but I said that it will be done. He filmed few casts as background and asked if I could land fly in same spot again. I made cast and they said that it is like hitting ash tray from 45 feet. Camera man was thrilled and I didn't mentioned that it was 2 inches left where it supposed to land.. close enough.
Rainbow trout rising about 36 feet from us. Camera man saw that also and turned camera. Another rise and I made cast, rise, fish hooked and nice fight with some insane jumps... that's how you make tv.
Sunday I was fishing with Satu in one of our favourite areas. Really high water still which keeps fishing good until August I would say and then best season starts. While fishing there, two other fishermen was coming to same area. They only had nymphing gears and that made me think a lot of things. Today my friend called and our talks always turns to fly fishing.
We talk about nymphing and how it requires some spefic skills in certain waters and fishes and yet in normal circumstances nothing special about nymphing. He used to compete so he has knowledge. We had nice chat about different fishing tecniques and what each requires.
Shortly... we agreed that if in some point dry flyfishing was only "right" way to fish or how you should use only certain old fashioned wet flies and then you are fishing like it meant to be... Nymphing style is getting similar atmosphere some how now. People are so into one style that they have problems to vary and if circumstances changes you don't know how to come on top again.
This all brought me to one inclusion which worries me little bit. This year I have found huge excitement from casting practise. It is kind of drugs, yet I haven't been practising for month now as much I should. Our trip to Malaysia, river fishing for mahseer and lake with snakehead and even pacu fishing, was launch for something. Is it dark side which is calling or just force which has to be taken under control.
Tropical fish are so turbo charged that just to hook them is something. Casting has to be excatly not just close enough. I have found myself watching saltwater flyfishing and dreaming about that. As total beginner on that it wouldn't be easy. And at the same time my casting practise, my fishing style... it all are taking me on that direction. I mostly fish on dries nowadays, just to beat fish in more difficult way. My casting has to be better, presentation has no room for errors. When I catch +40 cm grayling with dry.. I value that much more than same fish with nymphing.
Am I getting as purist? No I don't think so, fly fishing is fly fishing, doesn't matter if it is nymphing, dries or wets. I just want to improve my fishing, I want to be better caster, I want challenge my skills. For me it means that even circumstances are not best possible for dries.. I will go with that, I know I could catch fish with nymphs, yet I want to challenge my cast, my presentation. Am I great with those? On my best moment yes, but that is not all the time... and that is my goal, to be really good even in my worst day.
That's my road and I have choose that. Is it worthy... only time will tell, probably yes as I find huge satisfaction from fishing. There is no stress about hay making or any other things.
Just me, rod, water and fish.
Have a nice weekend and go fishing
Mika from Finland