Of Interest: F&S’s susses out 10 underappreciated species

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he fly-fishing world spins on an axis of trout. That’s a fact, for better or worse. It is what it is.

That’s not to say that people don’t pick up fly rods to go straight to the flats or to chase bluegills on a pond. But, I would argue that if it weren’t for the heck of a lot of people who get hooked on fly fishing by casting at trout — often stocked trout — there wouldn’t be as many people as there are now chasing bonefish, tarpon, salmon in Alaska, arapaimas in the jungles of Guyana, or anything else. It all ultimately starts with trout.

But as much as I love trout, there are many reasons why fly anglers should branch out to other fish. I have to say that I get a little sad when I think of the many great species that get overlooked. And some of these fish will absolutely up your all-around game. If you want to be a better trout angler, chase carp. They’re harder to fool. If you want to build some fish-fighting skills, try pulling on a shark with a fly rod. Trust me, that learning curve is a quick one. Even skills like learning how to work certain flies for trout get better when you work them on other species. For example, pike fishing can help you dial in on the streamer game, and figure out the strip-strike.

We all like our space. So if you don’t like dealing with crowds on a trout river, by all means spread out and chase something else now and then! You’ll find more solitude and you’ll open things up for other people.

So here’s my list of 10 “classic” and “worthy” species that still get ignored by the fly-fishing nation.

10. Carp
Yep, I said it. I know some of you think carp are already overhyped, but they’re still way, way too underappreciated. I know some of you will never concede that carp are nothing more than trash fish. You’re wrong. Carp are perhaps the best species to up your fly game. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

9. Bluegills
Same deal. Many Fly Talkers get it, and they revere bluegills, not only as the perfect “starter” fish, but also as worthy quarry, no matter the skill level. Hot spring day. Standing on a dock. Throwing dries at bluegills in shallow water… Does it really get much better?

8. Jacks
For all the time we spend chasing bonefish and tarpon… what’s wrong with the “poor man’s permit”? One of the best days I ever had saltwater fishing, anywhere, was throwing white Clousers at schools of cruising jacks, right off the beach in Naples, Fla.

7. Northern Pike
Everyone says that pike are cool when they attack flies, but they are wimpy fighters. I guess they’ve never been to Lake Athabasca in Saskatchewan.

Get complete list here . . .