If you haven’t read the original Q&A post, check it out before you read this post:  http://www.flyfisherman.com/2011/12/21/fly-fishing-qa/

The next two anglers from the Expert Panel are Mickey Anderson and Spencer Higa.  Both anglers are at home on the water or at the vise.  Mickey and Spencer are great anglers and great guys to fish, tie or talk shop with.  These two have made careers out of their favorite activity, fly fishing.

Check out the difference of opinion in knot tying skills and fly selection, variances in fly rod, fly line and leader/tippet importance.  Like the previous posts, we have a discrepancy between nymphs and dries and which technique needs thin tippet.  Also of interest is the difference tying your own flies has on maximizing success.  Check out their results below:

Mickey Anderson’s comments:

On a scale of 1 to 10 please rate each line’s importance in maximizing fly fishing success for Trout.

Casting ability = 8

Knot tying skills = 10

Ability to read water = 9

Fly selection (available options in an anglers fly box) = 7

Fly pattern selection (Royal Wulff, hares ear, Prince etc…) = 7

Wading ability/technique = 8

Quality of the fly rod = 9

Quality of the fly reel = 3

Quality of the fly line = 9

Quality of leader and tippet = 10

Quality of hooks = 10

Ultra fast action rods are best for Trout fishing = 1

Fast action rods are best for Trout fishing = 2

Medium-fast action rods are best for Trout fishing = 4

Slow action rods are best for Trout fishing = 3

Fly pattern trumps presentation = 1

Presentation trumps fly pattern = 5

Thin tippet is more important for dry flies than it is for nymphs = 4

Thin tippet is more important for nymphs than it is for dry flies = 2

Tying your own flies is crucial to maximizing success = 2

Fluorocarbon tippet is best for nymphing = 5

Fluorocarbon tippet is best for dry flies = 2

Fluorocarbon tippet is best for streamers = 5

Nylon tippet is best for dry flies = 4

Fish eat a variety of insects all day.  Understanding where fish are and the ability to present the fly and fly line in the right position to get the best drift is the most important part of fly fishing.  A good rod makes casting accuracy easier.  A good line makes mending easier.

Mickey has been a fly fishing instructor for 30 years, he’s taught fly casting in Utah, Idaho and Montana for the Sage rod company and is a F.F.F. certified casting instructor.  Mickey has taught fly tying to hundreds of students over the last 33 years.  He has 32 years of Fly shop retail experience and 16 years as co-owner of a fly shop.  Mick is a gear bag designer for William Joseph and is currently designing chest packs for Rising. Recently his flask pack won “Best Of Show” award for vests and chest packs at the New Orleans International Fly tackle dealer show.

When not on the water Mickey can often be found at his store:  Fish Tech,  6153 so. Highland Dr. Salt Lake City Utah. 84121.  801 272-8808

Mickey with a nice Brown

Spencer Higa’s comments:

On a scale of 1 to 10 please rate each line’s importance in maximizing fly fishing success for Trout.

1 = not important, 10 = very important

How important are the following:  (1-10)

Casting ability = 7

Knot tying skills = 5

Ability to read water = 10

Fly selection (available options in an anglers fly box) = 8

Fly pattern selection (Royal Wulff, hares ear, Prince etc…) = 4

Wading ability/technique = 7

Quality of the fly rod = 5

Quality of the fly reel = 2

Quality of the fly line = 5

Quality of leader and tippet = 6

Quality of hooks = 8

 

For the statements below please use 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 for your answers.

1 = strongly disagree, 2 = disagree, 3 = indifferent, 4 = agree, 5 = strongly agree.

Ultra fast action rods are best for Trout fishing = 2

Fast action rods are best for Trout fishing = 2

Medium-fast action rods are best for Trout fishing = 5

Slow action rods are best for Trout fishing = 4

Fly pattern trumps presentation = 2

Presentation trumps fly pattern = 5

Thin tippet is more important for dry flies than it is for nymphs = 2

Thin tippet is more important for nymphs than it is for dry flies = 4

Tying your own flies is crucial to maximizing success = 4

Fluorocarbon tippet is best for nymphing = 4

Fluorocarbon tippet is best for dry flies = 3

Fluorocarbon tippet is best for streamers = 4

Nylon tippet is best for dry flies = 3

 

Spencer Higa with a Utah Brown

The two important keys to success on the water are: Reading water and fly presentation.