|
What does a flyfisherman do when there is no
chance to go fishing? What I mean is, how
would you cope with things if every day you
had off was devoted to things other than fishing?
I mean, would you just give up, or still try to
fish? That is my question for this summer.
OK, I know I did get to fish a few days this
summer; most specifically the trip to the Bighorn
River, but most of the summer has been devoted to
making sure the house I live in is fit to live in.
I have painted trim (still have some left to do
this weekend). I will be replacing the large
picture window the next weekend I have off. And,
I still have a deck to seal, and firewood to cut.
Summers are just too short, especially when you
only get about half the weekends off.
This has truly been one heck of a summer. If we
start in April, I haven't had a weekend or day off
completely free except for that trip to the Bighorn.
And, I won't have a weekend off until sometime in
September or maybe October, except the Idaho Fish-In.
And, the fish-in is still in doubt, but looking
better than it was several weeks ago. I suppose
someone will have to teach me how to cast when I
get there.
I haven't tied a single fly since June and few then.
Anything I have done with a fly rod has been in the
open lot behind my house, and little of that. My
product reviews are few, and far between. I have
a new fly line that hasn't seen water yet, but it
does cast well in the lot. In fact, except for a
few minor health issues, I would worry that I wasn't
alive at all, except for the pain I feel while
working on the house.
Now, don't get me wrong. I haven't been sitting
on my duff watching TV or anything like that.
While I admit to taking frequent breaks from the
sun while working on the house in the heat on my
days off, I was still working while everyone else
in my neighborhood was inside enjoying air
conditioning. I'm not even a painter and was out
in the sun painting the trim and other stuff. It
just isn't my summer I guess.
On a good note, it has been too dry here for much
fishing. I did get to go for a day in May with a
pair of pastors, fathers, or whatever you call a
pair of Catholic priests. They were great company,
and we did catch some fish. It wasn't great fishing
like last time we fished together, but it was OK,
and we had fun. That was my only trip to Castle
Creek all summer long. I think I need to go again,
but have no time.
So, here is my problem; how do you make time for
summer stuff? I'm not asking you to create time
for me; just asking you to suggest ways I can make
time without missing the other stuff I have to do.
It isn't the heat that bothers me either. I can
deal with that for sure, but I need time to deal
with it. I need three or four hours to fish without
other concerns. So, how do you get that time?
Oh well, maybe I'm asking too much. I know some
of you are hiding from the summer heat anyway,
and others are trying to find a suitable place
to fish. Some may be able to fish because they
have few if any home obligations. And some may
have all their stuff done already, so they can
fish without remorse. I won't mention those
who are fishing without worrying about the home.
I can't or at least won't do that. I just want
to add maybe 3 or 4 more days to the summer to
fish in.
If I get to the fish-in (and I plan to do just that),
I will need some help. Maybe Z or DG will have the
time to teach me which end of the fly rod to hold.
I'll probably need some casting instructions from
JC, and maybe some fly tying stuff from the other
guys there. And, if all goes well, I might even
get to fish a bit. If you are there and see a guy
looking at his fly rod with a puzzled look, give me
a hand. I'm sure I'll need it. Well, at least I
think I will. ~ AC
|
