The Big Why, part 3

So far I concluded that pike fly fishermen call the things they fish with a fly not so much because it looks like one or because of the way it's made, but simply because it's tossed around with a fly rod and fly line. I think there's a fair amount of consensus about the fact that, purists aside, using a fly rod and a fly line makes you a fly fisher, period. What you do with your rod and line, and even the things the fish are supposed to bite in, seems to be of much less (if any) significance.

So we have shootingheads, 600 grains sinkers, San Juan Worms, Czech Nymphing, carp on imitation dog biscuits, and even saltwater big game fishing on the fly. But there you have it. Right there: the magic words are "On The Fly." That's what it's all about. In some fishing situations, using a fly rod and fly line can be relatively inefficient (if not pretty awkward), but what really matters is that you caught the fish on the fly.

This can take rather extreme forms. I once read an article about sailfish on the fly. This basically consists of luring the sailfish with hookless stripbaits within casting range, throwing the same fluff in the water the conventional guys use and after that just fasten your seat belts. "But hey, I caught it on the fly.....". Carp on dog biscuits, same thing. Throw a box (or two) of real dog biscuits into the water, wait until the carp come, toss your carefully made copy of the biscuit between the fish and you got yourself a carp on the fly (provided you used a fly rod and fly line to get your 'dog biscuit' to the carp).

A dog biscuit becoming a fly..........sounds like a miracle. And indeed, it is a miracle. A religious miracle. Because fly fishing is in fact a religion, albeit one without a god. I'll tell you why in part 4......