Our Man In Canada
January 29th, 2007

The Perfect Cast
By Chris Chin, Bay Comeau, Quebec, Canada

Cabin fever hit 102 degrees this morning as I have the Flu. Trying to hammer out a recommendation for the Brass has me cooped up in the office, so my little sanctuary is an occasional day dream back to days on the river.

When I rewind through past seasons, I realize that those "perfect" mental pictures of casts and presentations are all of other folks I have had the pleasure of fishing with. Actually, those few times that I've seen videos of myself fishing or casting, the experience was thoroughly disheartening.

A few standout images that are burned into my brain are those close-in casts. Like technical casts. Out and up, then curved under the overhanging branches to that lurking bruiser. Also:

    Boris roll casting an unimaginable length of line out past the boulders on the #9 to a pod of sea run brookies.

    Jed, lofting an overhead cast into a blown out salmon river on an overcast day.

    André J shooting two thirds of his line on one double hauled cast to a deep holding trout at dusk on the #23.

    Joe M. dropping a #6 dry on MY side of the river from 85 feet away. I ask him to drop it about 6 inches farther downstream next time...and he does.

There are countless other images whirling about somewhere in my memory, but the flu meds are sort of blurring them for now. The last image I can really come up with is of a dear friend.

On a quick stop-over for water this past fall, I ran into Serge Vincent and Paul B. on the #23. As Serge was diagnosed with ALS a year ago, his health and mobility has declined rapidly. I knew they were there, so I scooted down the bank to say hi. Serge was sitting on a folding stool and casting ten feet out to a school of trout.

His casts were methodical and controlled. They were perfect. In the fading light Paul mentioned that they should get a move on soon. Serge wished for a few more casts.

I had to run, but as I looked back down to the pool, Serge was still there getting in "one last cast." A perfect cast.

If you would like to know more about Serge J. Vincent, he has set up a small web site at: www.sjv-sla.qc.ca/home.php ~ Christopher Chin - Bay Comeau, Quebec

About Chris:

Chris Chin is originally from Kamloops, British Columbia. He has been fly fishing on and off ever since he was 10 years old. Chris became serious about the sport within the last 10 years.

"I'm a forest engineer by day and part time guide on the Ste-Marguerite River here in central Quebec. I've been fishing this river for about 10 years now and started guiding about 5 years ago when the local guide's association sort of stopped functioning."

Chris guides mostly for sea run brook trout and about 30% of the time for Atlantic Salmon. "I often don't even charge service fees, as I'm more interested in promoting the river than making cash. I like to get new comers to realize that salmon fishing is REALLY for anyone who cares to try it. Tradition around here makes some of the old clan see Salmon fishing as a sport for the rich. Today our shore lunches are less on the cucumber sandwich side and more toward chicken pot pie and Jack Daniel's."

Chris is 42 years old as of this writing. He is of Chinese origin although his parents were born and raised in Jamaica. He has a girlfriend, Renée. "She and her 12 year old son Vincent started fly fishing with me in October 2002."

To learn more about the Ste-Marguerite River, visit Christopher's website https://pages.videotron.com/fcch/.

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