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May 11th, 1998
Enough is Enough
You get all excited about learning to cast a fly rod and this is
what they give you. An old beat up 14 weight junker, 12 feet long
with a beat up raggedy fly line ('cause you're just learning). They
don't want you to 'hurt' a good fly line, rod, or reel. Some fun,
huh? Take any of the wind out of your sails? It sure would out of
mine. And yet, it is all too common a picture. What you say? Not in
actuality, no; but, in essence it happens every day to a NEW FLY
CASTER!
When youngsters start out the very often
get dads old fly rod (which seems like a 14wt. 12 footer to
them because they are not as big.) Then they are told, "Go
ahead, ya can't hurt that old thing." Great, makes a kid feel
real special. When I have a chance to help a youngster learn,
I let him know he has a very expensive
tool to work with, and to treat it with respect. It is also a good
enough fly rod to learn to cast on, not some wimpy bargain
basement job.
So, come-on dads of the world, play
fair. Give the little guys a chance to get it right the first time.
If you really don't feel comfortable teaching him to cast,
take him to a good fly shop and let them go at it. Chances
are they will use at least a respectable fly rod. If not, find
a better fly shop.
The future of our sport depends on
the youngsters becoming fly fishers, give them a good
send off. If they are one of yours you may just gain a better
fishing companion for many years to come. And, don't
ever think he, or she will ever forget the day
they LEARNED TO CAST A FLY ROD!~ JC
Till next week, remember ...
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