Earlier, I was tying some particularly nasty
small flies and during much needed breaks between these horrors
I found myself thinking about favorite things, which these were
obviously not.
I have more elk hair caddis flies than Al Troth, I tie them
with deer hair, mostly in 16,18 and 20's on Diachi 1310's. I have
more than I'll ever use, but I just enjoy tying them. Sure I use
them but I'll only use one or two flies a day on the stream.
They are a favorite thing. I just enjoy tying and using them.
I have more rods than some shops but I continue to use
my Sage ll2, even when I shouldn't. I would rather throw that
rod and catch no fish than fish a lesser rod. I have several better
performing rods, five or six Gatti's in fact, but I find that I start
and seem to end with my Sage. Probably the result of shaken
baby syndrome.
I have owned over the years more fly boxes than most
fly fishers. My most prized boxes are a multi compartment
Bonnard and the felt lined Cortland. I would rather carry my
flies in them than in the high dollar, flip lid, aluminum, English
ones that I tried earlier in life. Maybe I just like the way my flies
look in these boxes.
The water above the 36 bridge on my river draws me even
from better streams. Some days I just sit there waiting for a rise,
and if it doesn't happen I don't feel cheated.
I gave away two really nice vises after I realized that I hadn't
tied a fly on either in over a year. I guess I love my Renzetti.
My Uni Thread 8/0, French tinsel, Pearsols silk thread, Dr. Slik
scissors, and Griffin hair stacker round out my tying act.
Opps - I forgot Sally Hansons Hard as Nails. Who could tie without it?
Each of us has his favorite things. This is a glimpse into some
of the things that makes my life pleasant. I guess they help define
me as a person. Sometimes they sound like a collection of toys or
a catalog. This was not the intention. Each of us has his small
collection of tools and toys that insulate the individual from the
rest of the world.When I was younger I tried all. Now I try to revisit those favorite
things that I really enjoy.
I guess my viewpoint can be summarized in a conversation I
had with the kid I was teaching to fly fish.
I was describing the enjoyment of fishing to naive brookies in
an isolated setting that I had almost exclusive access to. He said
" how can you enjoy fishing to easy brookies when browns are
more challenging?"
My comment was "I can see you never had the opportunity to
take a willing girl to the dance." ~ Old Rupe
PS - I guess there are some things that you just can't teach.
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