Fly-Carpin: Tricks of the Trade #1 - Saving that $3.00 fly

The guys over at FLYCARPIN put a humorous spin on freeing flies from any "vengeful inanimate object."

The following are some tricks to prevent losing all those grudgingly purchased flies to trees, stumps, rocks and other vengeful inanimate objects:

1. If you are snagged on the bottom and can get close enough you can easily get your fly back at least 90% of the time by running your rod tip down the line and leader while stripping in the line with the other hand until it hits the fly and pushes it off.  Double check that your line is still strung through the tip. This usually makes your fly go through the top eyelet, even and especially if you fly is much too big to possibly fit.
• This does not work with two fly rigs or indicators.  This is the only definitive (and admittedly highly irrational) proof I have that both are evil. 
2. When snagged deep or too far out working out some extra line and throwing a hard roll-cast past the snag a couple of times occasionally works.
• Standing tall and screaming "f-ing snag" is encouraged during this process.  You are probably going to scare any nearby carp with this rather violent and noisy technique in order to save that $3.00 fly and might as well get your licks in while you can.
3. Hold the rod tip high and forward with as much line held off the water as possible.  Gently wiggle the rod tip side to side and fore-aft so that the line develops standing waves with pulses of LIGHT pressure followed by slack. 
• You can pretty much tell that you have progressed from gentle wiggles to violent thrashing when your rod breaks. 
4. Walking over and gently pulling the fly off of whatever ails you works really well.
• Yeah, this always surprises me as well.
5. When all else fails grab the line in your rod hand, point the rod and pull with slowly and steadily increasing pressure.
• Neither tungsten nor lead is delicious.  To avoid eating it channel your inner baseball pitcher and keep the rod butt low and outside. 
•  If your favorite fly gives you a prison tattoo or piercing somewhere on the fore-arm grit your teath and repeat after me:  "Fly-Carpin is not responsible" and " De-barbing is for wussies.". 
6. Heck with it, tie your own flies and save the money.
• If you buy that I have at least $3000 dollars in partially used bags of fly-tying material I will sell you.