|
Last week I hit it pretty hard on what bad examples
many of the guys on TV are. That goes for how they
fish, handle the equipment, the fish, just about
everything. I guess they are supposed to look like
the average fly fisherman. News flash, I have fished
with plenty of average guys and these TV chaps do not
measure up.
Perhaps they have a gift of gab, know somebody, are
related to the right person or just fell into it. The
methods and skills they present are often wrong and if
imitated will bring poor results. As usual I risk
ridicule by writing this but I'm used to it. Someone
has to let some daylight into this subject. Those of
you who are trying to learn by watching TV and are not
improving take heart. They aren't improving either and
without some education, they won't.
This morning, I was in my Lazy-Boy chair, still in my
'jammies,' working on my first cup of coffee, the TV lit
up and on a PBS station pops a guy with a fly rod. 'Whoopie'
I think to myself, only to be disappointed (as usual) and
start my day off in the wrong wader boot. My column was fresh
on the website and there I sat wanting to add more to it.
Well, darn it, I will now.
How do I get this through to you beginners and some of you
old timers? Do not point your rod 180 degrees away from
any fish for any reason. It will bust. Fast. Easily. Guaranteed.
Let's try this. Can we call it the 180 rule? Will that help?
If you point your rod 180 degrees from a fish it will cost
you $180 bucks? Would that help? Make up something on your
end, help me out here. I don't want you busting-up your goodies.
It is inconvenient, often costly and embarrassing to send a
rod to a company claiming "It was defective," when you know
darn well you busted the thing by stupidly high-sticking a fish.
Good grief man, even a tiny fish can bust a rod under
that condition. These things are not spinning rods. They
are not made to whip all the way back, to put a hoop in
them, to touch the tip to the butt when you set the hook
on a fish. Maybe if you very carefully test one you can
see it yourself . Take a look at your rod when it is
strung up. Hold the line tight with your rod hand and
very carefully tug only an inch or so of line back toward
the reel with your other hand. Stop! That is enough to bust
it!
Imagine what happens when you have a fish flopping around.
Your attention, as it better be, is on the fish and your
rod snaps. My oh my, must have been defective. "Bull-Pucky,"
sez I. You simply forgot and pointed your rod to the sky
while looking at your fish. And you float-tube guys are
not immune either. Pretty darn easy to poke your fly rod
behind you trying to get a fish in close enough to land.
So there you have it, again. For gosh sakes, try to remember
not to high-stick. Try somehow to remember to never raise
your rod very high at any time when playing a fish. Keep it
at an angle of 90 degrees or less if possible. That keeps a
great amount of pressure on a fish and protects your rod.
Breakage is always inconvenient, and sometimes expensive. ~ JC
|
