Your opinion of revolutions in saltwater fishing

[okratpack]

I am researching for a project I am producing for ESPN. If you could name one thing, one invention, one breakthrough that has revolutionized saltwater fly fishing in the last 30 years what would it be and why. I really appreciate any input you may have.

[okratpack]

I am researching for a project I am producing for ESPN. If you could name one thing, one invention, one breakthrough that has revolutionized saltwater fly fishing in the last 30 years what would it be and why. I really appreciate any input you may have.

[Pauper Piscator]

Fishing or FLY fishing?

Fishing:

Braid

Soft Plastics.

Circle hooks

Fly Fishing:

The rebound of Striped Bass Stocks.

[Ray]

The extensive selection of synthetic fly tying materials

[maineguideman]

Thats a Hard question to anser because I didnt really start flyfishing until 1992 so I never used fiberglass rods and the old style lines. I Thought about what I have in my gear bag and my boat and the one item that I kept coming back to was my integrated shooting and full sink lines. Back in the day fly fishing was relegated to shallow water or surface feeds but the modern teeny type grain line and the full sink class lines really allow fly fisherman to effectivly fish deep structure and deep rivers. Its the one thing I couldnt do without for fresh or salt water flyfishing

[Mark Cahill]

It's brought SWFFermen together and increased the visibility of the sport...

[tinkerbell]

When it comes to gear I think of fiberglass to graphite, monofilament to braid, polarized glasses, affordable boats, etc but those have been evolutionary, not revolutionary. I still use a fiberglass stick in some applications. One item I think that has helped tremondously in gear but never receives mentioning is the one-way roller bearing. This has transformed spinning reels to an almost trouble free tool, however, still evolutionary. I work in a tackle shop and although there have been improvements in gear and tackle, they are incremental advances on an old theme. Have you noticed all the "new" hand-made wooden plugs available at $20 each. Even reels have gone from metal frames to plastic frames back to metal frames.

The item that jumps out as the "one thing" that has revolutionized saltwater (fly) fishing, and fishing in general, is cable TV and channels like ESPN and ESPN 2 airing fishing shows. I'm sure many of us RT'ers watch Flip Pallot and tried to emulate what he has done. How many of you heard of someone travelling to go bonefishing or tarpon fishing before these shows exposed us to other fishing experiences? Before these shows, travelling was a Rhode Islander going to Block Island.

To me, Mark Sosin, of Mark Sosin's Saltwater Journal in the 80's had a much bigger influence on me as I was an impressionable teenager. I remember he would fish for barracuda which are now considered a nuissance in comparison to the high society bonefish. Much like the bluefish which is highly regarded only when stripers are almost non-existent.

If it has to be a fishing gear related item then I have two:
1) Nothing has improved'changed saltwater fishing, in general, like soft plastic baits. Soft plastic has had the same impact on saltwater in the past 10 years as it did for freshwater 20 years before. No more bag full of plugs. It is now a popper and a handful of plastics.

2) For flyfishing, it has to be modern graphites as this material allowed for the pursuit of virtually all saltwater gamefish with a fly. Just look at the BFT on this board. That could not have been done with fiberglass? Was there such a thing as a fiberglass 14 wt?

Thanks, great topic.

[Todd Benedict]

ok,

The drag systems on todays sw fly reels.

Todd

[dudley]

"The Movie"

When the movie "A river runs through it" came out in the fall of 1993 fly fishing suddenly became very hip.
This attracted a whole new generation of young urban professional types who wanted to get back to nature all while using the finest equipment money can buy.
Detroit saw it first and started to use fly fishing to sell S.U.V.s
The major rod companys had needed an excuse to push the price of high end rods over the dreaded 500$ mark. The new rubes had money and were willing part with it.
New reel companys did the same.
New fly shops popped up.
Professional guides came out of nowhere.

Now all that was needed was a place to use this expensive gear. Gear that was far more than was needed to catch a puny little trout.......


Most people would say the graphite rod.
I think that if fiberglass rods had been developed the way graphites were,they may well be as good as rods today.

It was the movie,and the money it pulled into the industry,that changed fly fishing the most in the last 30 years.

[Avidflyfish]

rods are still getting ligther and casting amazing distances, Moreover, some of them land huge fish in minutes.
no doubt graphite was a big step.
regards
Avidflyfish

[detra]

the internet... has really fostered the sport and brought together lots of people to share ideas.

catch and release fishing...

[backwater]

Graphite rods certainly have changed things, especially the quality of "big game" saltwater fly tackle, but if you're going back 30 years, then I'd have to say the quality of fly lines would also have to be up there pretty high on the list. They shoot better, hold up better in the heat, last longer, and just plain do more than fly lines of years past. Leaders have also come a very long way....fluorocarbon should be considerd a "major" improvement. You could still enjoy using a great old/new bamboo rod, you could still use a reel designed 30+ years ago (even older in many cases), you could still use flies that were available 30+ years ago, but I doubt that anyone would want to use "vintage" lines or leaders today, the new stuff just blows it away.

You could also add breathable waders to the list and "technical" clothing for the flats. People today are more knowledgable about the harmful affects of the sun and skin cancer in general. Flats clothing was created to address these issues, none of that existed 30 years ago.

Regards,
Thomas Smith

[lemaymiami]

The biggest innovation in saltwater fly fishing has not been the steady improvement in gear or the greatly expanded interest in the sport as far as I'm concerned. The first tackle shop that I worked for (1972) didn't even have fly fishing on its menu then. Down here in South Florida, at that time, this area was on the cutting edge of the sport. Finnor was creating some of the finest reels available (machining each one from start to finish by highly skilled craftsmen on heavy lathes and mills). J. Lee Cuddy Associates had state of the art rod building components along with a sales staff that included John Emery ( if you can find an Emery reel now it's a collector's item). Capt Bob McChristian was making Seamaster reels and providing the highest quality fly tying materials out of his small shop in Coral Gables. Even then there was a long waiting list if you wanted one of Capt Mac's reels. With all of the knowledge, innovation, and skill down here then (although I haven't mentioned the Keys, they're an essential part of the story) the actual amount of information about the sport was still fairly local. A really small fraternity of anglers around the world were making the pilgrimage here but you couldn't go to a local shop in the midwest, for instance, and find anyone that knew much about it. An angler from any other part of the country had to come here to get equipped and find a guide to teach him (or her) the sport. All that is changed now...

The big change in saltwater fly fishing that I've seen over the years has been about information. From really good magazines, books, and videos anyone can learn all about our sport. The proliferation of really top quality television shows brought anglers everywhere right on scene and allowed them to learn directly from the best in the business. As the flow of information stimulated interest, companies large and small began to provide the gear from the right flies all the way to rods and reels capable of handling any fish from large to small. The first fly rod that I ever built in 1976 was fiberglass, the second graphite. At that time there was little information for a beginning rod builder or someone wanting to tie flies for the salt. Authors Lefty Kreh (who was the outdoor columnist for the Miami Herald when I first met him in 1972), Charles Waterman, and Kenneth Bay were my first teachers on the subject... Now they've been joined by many others. Today an angler can come from a state that's in the center of the country (or any place in the world) and have with him top quality gear and the knowledge (at least theoretical) about how to use it. That's a far cry from when I started. I've been lucky to be a small part of that world as a mate on charter boats, commercial fly-tyer, rodbuilder, and guide. The big change in the sport has to be the amount of information and how it's been made available to anyone interested. I hope that trend continues.

[uncle4]

I dunno about the graphite argument...I still cast a cane
rod now-and-then. And while fly lines have gotten
stronger, slicker, and longer-lasting, you could still
roll a silk line out 20 feet out from a marsh bog and
hook (and land) a striper.... And the flies have been
mostly evolutionary improvements (some are truly re-
volutionary like decievers, clousers, gurglers, etc).

But the most revolutionary thing about salt water fly
fishing has been beer.

Like LeMay said, in the early days you'd strike out, mebbe
see a surf fisherman (spinning gear or conventional), or take
a ride on a deep-sea charter (usually a head boat bouncing
bait on the bottom) and you'd get laughed at for your
"girlee gear". These days, there're a ton more tackle shops
that have (even mebbe just a corner of) fly gear... you'll
find fly fishing and light tackle guides in almost every port
and shoreline town in the US (and abroad, too). And you'll
cross paths, in the damnedest places, with some one who'll
understand you when you say "my trailing loop caused a wind
knot that......" or "I had a tarpon to the boat that hadda go
upmteen pounds and..."

Yup.... the beer (or soda, or fruity drink with rhum) that you share
after your expedition -- or are on the receiving side of someone
else's stroy -- that has really changed things.

Go read Grey's "Tales of Swordfish and Tuna" --- there's not
been much revolutionary since then (or even before, I'd say)....
but the development of the community (and perhaps its atten-
dant communication) that embraces the sport.

Its kinda like the characters in "Gotham Fish Tales"... or "Fishing with
John (Lourie)"

Barkeep..... another cold one pleeeze......

Uncle 4

[seatrout]

I agree with a number of you that no one thing is what revolutionized fly fishing. I started with bamboo rods and Pfleuger reels, graduated to glass, and celebrated the arrival of graphite which I considered revolutionary. But, the new fly lines are much better, and reels are amazing. The one thing I find revolutionary is the reduction of weight in modern tackle coupled with the increase in power. If you don't remember what the old stuff was like, you can borrow one of my old rods and reels, but you have to fish it for a whole day! The real revolution is in media, and the communication afforded in books, magazines, and sites like this that allows the sharing of ideas among us.

[Quicksilver]

The way I see it the revolution was the shift in focus by fly fisherman towards saltwater species. Perhaps this was due to media exposure? Graphite rods make fly fishing much more enjoyable, but I think the rods and all the other gear are evolutionary. If you want to look at some stuff that looks revolutionary maybe you should compare the early saltwater fly patterns to those of today.

[John Wade]

Graphite was the first thought in my head until I began reading the posts. Graphite has given us an affordable rod that performs well for the vast majority of casters (I do include myself in this category), so if I had to pick one that would be it.
Funny though, nobody has mentioned Reel-Time.com!

[Mark Cahill]

Having two threads on the same topic was confusing so I merged them and moved the whole thing to the Tackle forum.

Great discussion...

[teflon_jones]

i saw one answer for the internet and another for the amount of information out there. i'd have to definitely agree with both and say the explosion of information available on the internet, along with the GREATLY expanded access to tackle we now have over the internet. i buy most of my equipment on the web, and get most of my fishing information here now too. whether it's gear reviews or the latest tips and tricks, there's simply nowhere you can find it faster than on the internet!!! :cool:

[Nauti Buoy]

I was also going to say the Internet, so I think Mark is right on. If I were to advance this another notch, it would be the abundance of “locals”, and some guides, willing to provide the helpful assistance and “tutorials” on the Internet. These are an immense help to those having the desire to get started, as well as to those that have been around awhile, both in terms of tackle and technique.

[CharlieP]

what a great thread, everyone. there are many salient points posted. i agree that the wealth of information available to us on the internet and the advancements of graphite rod production are both significant. one other advancement, i think, lies in the overall attitude of the outdoorsman(woman). today, there is a healthy emphasis placed on conservation, replenishment of stocks and respect for nature that has been bred out of necessity. please don't misinterpret this statement as i am not meaning to imply that 30 years ago, people were selfish or cared little about our environment. rather, as the situation worsened, people made an effort to do their part to help.

[oldsocks]

In my opinion, there has not been a 'revolution' in saltwater fly fishing. The sport has slowly evolved to what it is today.

I think that is what I love about fly fishing. I started fly fishing when I was 12, and decades later, I still use my old vise, reel, and rod at times. I've upgraded some of my equipment, but my old stuff works just fine. Fly fishing is consistent.... it doesn't change much over time. Whether I fish with top of line gear, stuff from wal-mart, or more vintage items, the amount of fish I catch will not vary much.

Fly fishing is about the angler working with his/her environment and not who has the bigger boat, the better rod, or the latest reel.

[Armando]

I think the revolutionary aspect is the appearance of fly tackle of great quality at very affordable prices. Now you can choose between a $700 fancy rod or $150 - $200 also very fancy rod.
This increases flyfishermen which has to be directly proportional to educational programs and water protection.
Oh large arbor reels are really something too. (evolutionary anyway)

[David Churbuck]

lifetime guarantees on rods. Think about it. It's like an insurance policy on the most expensive component in the sport. Break it, no questions asked, you get another one, pretty much for free.

This keeps people in the game, which, after an initial investment of say $1,000, insures that they won't be discouraged and turn away due to an equipment failure.

The materials -- from lines, to synthetic tying materials, to graphite -- are all revolutions unto themselves, but the practice of replacing broken equipment is nearly unheard of in any other pastime.

[dudley]

I've given this a lot of thought over the last week plus. And I have to agree with Capt. LeMay. It's all about information.
I started getting Fly Fisherman magazine back in 77/78. What a quantum leap that was from the Outdoor Lifes and Field and Streams of my youth. It was exciting to read about bear attacks and such but it didn't help my fly fishing.
Over the years I've subscribed to most of major ff mags. And now it's the internet.
If it wasn't for all the published information,things I picked up from others, and what I learned at club meetings,I'd probably still be fishing wet flys on the swing for trout.
Oh yeah.... I still fish like that. ;)