It was the night of the Tyson vs Holyfield fight. (ear biting). I was in California with some friends fishing the Sierra Nevadas. The 10 of us had plans on leaving early in the morning and hiking miles into the mountains for some good native fishing. Judd reccomended a small stream in the foothills that is loaded with bows. Everyone said he was crazy because there were too many rattlesnakes. I asked how good the fishing was. Judd said it was phenomenal. "Hell, let's go" was my response. Everyone thought I was nuts. Of course Judd was a rodeo cowboy so we all knew he was already nuts.

It was just the two of us. We had to climb straight down a 30 foot cliff loaded with nooks and crannies. It was the longest climb of my life. Every rock and every hole I thought held a rattle snake. Once we got to the water I spent the entire time watching carefully each step. To be honest, I never enjoyed it. I was catching fish but the fear of rattle snakes was ever present. We were 6 hours from the closest hospital.

The good news is we caught plenty of fish and never saw a snake.

My friends and I used to haul all our gear, rafts etc. down Chukar Trail into the Black Canyon. It was fish, fish, fish, paddle, paddle, paddle all day and depending on the river stage could get downright exhilarating in the rapids but I wouldn't compare it to rodeo.
I have definitely been to "dicey" in alpine river environments trying to get to that one hole you were pretty sure no one had fished (for good reason).
I'm with you, "extreme fishing" is oxymoronic.

What about fly fishing with your mouth? I do it all the time! I get way stranger looks doing that than anything else.

Amen. No matter how heavy the soundtrack you put behind it, calling fly fishing extreme doesn't compute.

How much of this "extreme" is either publicity or plain macho posturing?

Putting yourself in a dangerous situation for any sport is just plain dumb.

Those of us who have been in dangerous places before don't need the "thrill" of that.

kd

I agree. fly fishing is not extreme. it's kinda' like calling Curling and extreme sport... i hate it when people try to define what others are doing.
as for dave and me...well some say it's just crazy! in fact i think i am crazy...just ask my wife.
I'm headed back out to the loony bin 6 miles offshore tomorrow to chase those big ass makos we have around at the moment...i"ll report back upon my return

best

conman