Fly Fishing

Fly Fishing

          It’s my birthday. My wife got me a present. Oh joy, what can it be? I rip off the wrapping paper and find a fly rod! My progression of fishing tackle was like this. First a cane pole cut from the bamboo thicket on the way to the fishing hole. Next was a store bought cane pole with the little line winder attached. I saw a rod and reel in the store with a funny name, Zebco. I saved up my money until I had enough to buy  a Zebco. This is what I used for years until I read about fly fishing and mentioned it might be something I would like. I didn’t really understand some of the terms, such as leader and tippet.

I have a fly rod, some cheese for bait and some time. Let’s go fly fishing. I bait the hook, such a small hook, but the prey isn’t really that big, is it?  There is a likely spot on the creek where the cows have been resting and chewing their cud. The grass is flattened so I can see the snakes before they can sneak up on me. I know a snake bite won't kill me but I'm afraid the heart attack will when I realize I have been bitten by a snake. 

I cast my line to the edge of the water. It’s harder to cast than it looks. The book instructed me to let out about a rod's length of line and swish it back and forth letting out more line until I have about twice the length of the rod. Then I am suppose to let it settle on the water softly. I think my book was missing a few chapters because no where did it mention how to get the line out of the trees. I jerk and pull until the line settles on the water with a plop. Lucky for me the limb wasn't hooked very well and hitting the water knocked it off. I got some distance though. Wait, I’m getting a bite! He took it!  I start to bring it in, oh, it got loose. That was a good spot so I cast there again. This time I bypass the extracurricular activities and attach a limb first. Wait a minute. No bite. I remember the book said to twitch it a little. Twitch. Twitch. I got a bite. It’s a big one! It’s jumping, twisting and turning, running up, now down. At this point the fly fishing gods are smiling down on me because my prey flashes the iridescent green of its body in the dappled sunlight. Oooo its a big one, the prey strips line from my reel. I retrieve the line. Strip. Retrieve. This goes on until the prey tires. 

As I am clearly the victor of our hard fought battle, the prey submits to my superiority. I put the prey in my creel, gather my equipment and to the house I go. I have trouble getting into the house because my head has swelled so much from the pride I have of my first fly rod catch.

 I have just one question.

Does anyone have a good recipe for horsefly? 

 Eddie Binning

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