I just had the pleasure of returning to my office here in Bozeman after a spirited lunch with several friends. Lunch was good (shrimp poor boy at our local Cajun eatery); the argument was way better. (As a matter of principle that’s not my sandwich above – I was too distracted by the proceedings to take a damned picture.)
As happens almost every spring there is a bit of a ‘feeding frenzy’ going on at Hebgen and several of the area lakes. It’s time for the ice out and fish and fisherfolk are behaving, shall we way, somewhat more akin to our ‘hunter – gatherer’ roots than genteel fishermen and women.
Not only does ice out on Hebgen draw the Simms wader clad, stiff upper lipped, Chardonnay quaffing, died in the wool catch and release fly fisherfolk, but it also draws the camo wader clad, tobacco chewing, worm tossing, meat harvesting bait fisherfolk as well.
Yellowstoner has opined and shared his perspective on the matter today as well – I agree that fishing Hebgen and other lakes in the neighborhood can make strange bedfellows of bait, lure and fly fisherfolk, and it is clearly a spectacle to that must be experienced to be fully appreciated.
Ah, now back to the lunch time argument.
I tend personally to agree with KBarton (the noted and illustrious author of Singlebarbed) that beneath the tame and cultured exterior of just about every fly fisherman lies the plaid shirted, overall wearing core of a bait fisherman, with fingernails dirty from digging worms in the compost pile.
There are those in the neighborhood (and in other locales) who turn their nose up at the mere mention of the San Juan Worm (AKA the devil worm in many circles), though obviously it can be a deadly effective fly, and does mimic (albeit simply) a very common denizen of the river world. If you could but use your x-ray vision to peer into every fly fisherman’s secret “don’t show everyone” fly box, I’d venture the vast majority would have a fleet of San Juans lined up in various sizes and colors.
Those same fly fisherfolk who turn up their noses at the San Juan Worm begin to perspire heavily, develop palpitations, and typically eventually puke at the mention of the gob-o-worms fly pictured.
The gob-o-worms has been called a variety of different names by a host of different folks; some of the more colorful descriptors I’ve ever heard used for a simple fly were in fact proffered by several of my lunch colleagues today.
Though space precludes my recounting the ‘discussion’ today blow-by-blow, suffice it to say that one member of our dining party had fished a purple and tan gob-o-worms fly in a dainty 1/0 size yesterday at Hebgen, and landed two fish over 7 lbs, with apparently a slew of ‘little ones’ in the 3 to 5 lb. range. Pictures were shared in an effort to corroborate the story, and in fact the fly (gasp) itself was shown at one point.
According to several members of our party, he could have committed no greater sin than to fish “that fly” and then later admit it in public. (At one point I even questioned if it would have been worse to knock off Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy, though my dining companions didn’t appreciate my witty comparison and weak attempt to tone down the discussion).
Content thereafter to remain a placid observer of the proceedings, personally I continued to munch through my shrimp poor boy (gosh they have a great sauce), and didn’t add much to the conversation other than an occasional call for the combatants to return to their corners between rounds.
I did have to reassure the wait staff on two different occasions that the beet red, frothing ‘gentleman’ seated to my right, who occasionally spewed mouthfuls of jambalaya and Dr. Pepper across the table well mixed with language unsuited for anyone under the age of 40, was indeed sane and not a crazed killer escaped from Deer Lodge (site of the illustrious Montana prison system), Leavenworth, or Alcatraz.
He became so invigorated by the discussion at one point he claimed he was unable to finish his jambalaya; Missouri River Steve and I offered kindly to assist him so as not to be wasteful of such a divine meal.
Suffice it to say that the argument ranged through the spectrum of the history and spirit of true fly fishing to innovation to cheating to having fun to some very entertaining name calling and insults I’ve never ever heard before.
How did the argument end? We were asked to leave the restaurant (most politely I might add) after a trio of platinum blonde and most obviously surgically enhanced women complained (again). Damned tourists.
Personally I’m unconvinced that I could tie a gob-o-worms fly to my tippet and tell myself I was truly fly fishing. On the other hand, I wonder what a 7 lb. rainbow feels like on a 5 wt? (I did happen to snap a cell phone picture of the offending fly at lunch just for record keeping…..)
Any Gob-o-worms stories out there????
Tags: Flies
{ 11 comments }
Hells bells, I can’t believe they asked us to leave. Those gals were cackling as loud as we were. Don’t tell BR but I took the fly in the midst of the fight…..
Wow, can’t believe anyone would get so worked up over fly selection. I’m guessing everyone at the table must have just been arguing for the fun of it, because no one in his right mind could possibly care that much! A gob-o-worms fly seems about as good as any other to me, and in any case, a more honest kind of fly fishing than using a strike indicator, which everyone seems to think is just fine these days.
I personally don’t get this at all. Is it not possible for a mass of aquatic worms to occur in nature? If so, then what is wrong with an imitation of this? You still do not have the advantage of the natural scent and texture of live bait. I think as long as the fly is artificial its fair game. You still have to hook a fish that is not going “gut” your hook. You also must then play and land a fish on a fly rod which is to me the reason I fly fish. You can’t just wench the fish in, its a give and take and a true sporting battle. I don’t mind the “purist” but when they criticize fellow fly guys for not being as anal as them I get a little irritated. Thats why the bait fisherman think we are all stuck up pretty boys.
You mean to tell me that you got a picture a the FLY and not the SURGICALLY ENHANCED PLATINUM BLONDES???!!!***???
At least you could have taken pictures of both…..
I will be tying up a bunch for our bi-annual run on the Madison in late. Oct. Several years back the best fly (according to my journal) was a pink SJW. We ran out and I did not have a tying kit with me. Craig Mathews tied me up a dozen and I paid retail for them. That really hurt but we used them all and I was glad to have them.
Devil-worm or not, I will fish them. If you cast it with a fly rod its fly fishing. If I could cast a 1/2 oz. Rattle Trap without killing myself I would.
I don’t understand purist hatered of those of us who are not. It is one of the many things that make fly fishing an interesting sport.
Joe in KY
Yes, these idiots argue for fun on a regular basis. I have always tried to stay out of their spirited discussions, although I did get involved on a lively one about the proper way to construct a stonefly nymph. I don’t necessarily know if they do care that much, but I can assure you that not everyone at that table was in their right mind. (sorry Steve)
I heartily agree that they should have gotten a picture of the surgically enhanced platinum blondes. However, Bozeman is full of yuppies such as this and another photo opportunity will no doubt present itself.
@ Josh – I can’t believe folks get so worked up about fly selection either, and these guys do often argue for the fun of it. The “no” opinion guy is a 30 year Yellowstone and Madison guide who tends to be a purist prick sometimes (no offense BR).
@JR – well said.
@Taku – the gals were a bit irritated and probably almost my age (50ish); there will be a better tourist hatch with the warm weather next week.
@Joe – I’ve got the devil worm in my box, and pink has been the hot color on the Missouri this spring.
In their 50′s, eh? Heck, I’m in my 50′s (how in the heck that happened is beyond me). But then, I’m not surgically enhanced, surgeries yes, but wouldn’t call it enhancement!
I’d be ashamed to admit that I thought some 50 yo surgically enhanced bimbos were sexually attractive. So I just won’t admit it.
As far as I’m concerned, anything less than dry flies is just pretending to fly fish. May as well have a spinning rod in your hands. Although I’ve enjoyed about every type of rod and reel fishing there is, and have especially enjoyed catfishing with a bucket of KFC, a bucket of mashed potatoes, and lounge chairs.
@Taku and Josh – having hit the ten lustrum mark this last birthday myself – I don’t know how that happened either, Taku – I can honestly say that I don’t feel a day over 40. And by damned there are some 50 year babes out there that are attractive – with the warm weather the Big Sky folks are back in the neighborhood…..
Hi my name is Ned and I am a river fisherman, I like to use river sod worms, and I was wondering if antone came up with an idea to make artificial river worms that you could use with stink bait, or maybe it could be a river worm on a hook with a plastic pocket to fill with stink bait?