"REDHIPYUP"
by
Boot Pierce
June, 1998
Over the last year or so I
have found that, while
there are three different
types of fly fishermen in
society, the "YUPPIE",
the "REDNECK", and
the "HIPPIE", what it
really boils down to is
one fly fishermen on the
river helping another.
Stereotypes can be
drawn for each of the
three groups, but nature
doesn't have pigeon
holes like humans do
and in the end we are all
part of only one large
group, fly fishermen.
However, after some
soul searching I have
decided to create a new
group of fly fisherman,
the "REDHIPYUP". A
bastardization of all
three groups which I feel
most of world will fall
into. Let me explain.
We have all heard of the
"YUPPIE" group of fly
fisherman. You know the
rich Doctor or Lawyer
type. More money is
spent on trying to
impress the others
fishing around them than
catching fish. Every
stitch of clothing they
wear has a real
expensive price tag and
a brand name on it
somewhere for the world
to see. This group uses
only the best equipment
and has the most
impressive fly boxes on
the river. Others groups
would cringe at the
thought of using such
expensive stuff just to
impress colleagues. The
fishermen in this group
will likely be surrounded
by three or four other
similarly dressed guys
and maybe even a
guide. To these guys fly
fishing is a social event
where business mixes
with pleasure. Cigar
smoke and brandy wine
are almost a dead give-away for this group.
Gentlemen only catch
and release.
Next we have the
"REDNECK" group of fly
fishermen. If not for the
fly rod and occasional
vest you would think
these guys just came
out of the woods from a
day of hunting. They
tend to fish in
camouflage and have
made it their mission to
defeat the fish by any
means possible. Unlike
the brandy snipping
yuppies these guys are
more likely to have a 12
pack of Budweiser
floating beside them and
a pack of Malboro's in
their pocket as they fish.
Rednecks often fish in
pairs so that one can
watch the others back
and have been known to
carry a sidearm to
defend themselves
against snakes and the
like. "FISH-ON" is not in
the rednecks
vocabulary. It is more of
a "YEA HAW" when the
fish bite. Catch yes,
Release hell! We'll have
a fish fry with this mess
of fish.
Finally, we have the
"HIPPIE" group of fly
fisherman. Most of the
time they spent their
early lives trying to
decide what is more
important fishing or
yelling at the
government. This group
is quite the pleasant
bunch and more often
than not will have caught
the most fish when the
day is done. When you
see these guys on the
river their clothes are
usually well worn and
what is sometimes
called "just getting broke
in". The flies in their
boxes are normally hand
tied and quite
impressive. The hippie is
usually a solitaire
fisherman and his tracks
are the ones that
continue beyond where
the trail stops. His drink
of choice varies, but
often times Evian water
or a small coffee pot can
be found in the back of
his vest. Their a quite
bunch and your not real
sure if their there to fish
or commune with nature.
Catch and release
mostly, but keep one or
two every now and then.
It is amazing what
happens when members
of these three groups
meet. All of a sudden
the stereotypes are
broken down and the
conversations actually
occur. Tying techniques,
last years trip out west,
and fly presentation
become a common bond
between all. One thing
that I have found quite
refreshing about all
three groups is their
willingness to help a
novice fly fisherman.
Like I said I am new to
the sport, but in this brief
time I have had total
strangers walk up to me
and hand me a fly
saying "I see your not
catching much, try
fishing this wet and
downstream". I still didn't
catch a fish with his fly,
but it was the brief
conversation that was so
interesting. Here was a
definite "YUPPIE", who
would never talk to me
in the real world unless I
was paying for his
medical or legal
services, and between
us there was a common
thread. Then there was
that Ice cold beer from
another gentleman
which sure did taste
good on the hot July
afternoon.
Now You may be asking
yourself where do you
fall in these groups.
Sometimes it is hard to
really say and you really
have to think about it. I
tried once to figure it out
and guess what? My
conclusion came out to
be somewhat confusing.
When it comes to looks I
am really a mess.
Cowboy boots with blue
jeans, long hair covered
with a floppy old fishing
hat and Eddie Bauer
turtle neck make up the
daily ensemble. See
what I mean, what an
identity crisis. In the end
I concluded that I've
taken some
characteristics from
each group and now
picture myself as a new
group all together. What
I call a "REDHIPYUP".
Much to my wives
dismay, I've been known
to stop at a fresh road-kill to scavenge the
usable hair or feathers
for tying. I guess thats
kind of the "Redneck"
side of me, The "Hippie"
side comes out when I
catch myself sitting
alone on a logs and
listening to the stream
as it slowly passes by.
A fine cigar and good
whiskey is sure nice to
have from time to time,
so I guess I too am part
"Yuppie"
The greatest thing about the sport of fly fishing is it breaks down barriers that are set up by society. I have made lots of friends that I normally would not have simple due to differing social status in the community. Nature has a way of evening the odds so that in the end it is a matter of fishermen helping fishermen.