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A while back we did (another) public consultation on the
proposed forest management plan that I'm working on. As
the meeting had a few new faces, we did a meet 'n greet
then introductions. The General Manager introduced me;
then he and I rallied back and forth a bit of banter to
show the folks we were just normal people (instead of "the
Big Bad Company").
Dave (the GM) then said something that set me to thinking.
He mentioned he and I had about the same career experience,
but I was better with a computer than he. I quickly explained
to the group that the IT side of my brain was really a
necessary evil and I liked to consider myself as a forester
before anything else (well, fly fisher first,...but we DO
have to pay for our passion somehow).
Sure, I have lots of "gear",...but IMHO,...most of it can't
be qualified as a gadget.
Our friend Google came back with over 10,000 relevant hits
when I typed in "Gadgets + Fly + Fishing." Now I'm not about
to go slamming any of the wares that one can procure in the
pursuit of this fine sport. I do find some of the trinkets
a tad amusing though. Granted, when I was younger, I couldn't
for the life of me understand why one would need an instrument
to help you tread the tippet into a #22 Chironomid (unfortunately,
I do now).
Being a "minimalist" at heart when I fly fish, I like to think
that all the junk hanging off of the Zingers on my vest get
used every single day on the water.
Among the top five trinkets that make me sound like a horse drawn
sleigh when I walk (in order of priority):
#1: A whistle: For safety's sake, a "pea less" whistle
can be a life saver. It also serves as a neat way to communicate
while your Buddy is a distance away.
- Three Long blasts means HELP!
- 1 short toot: Look Here;
- 2 short Toots: Understood;
- 3 short Toots: Come here;
- 1 Long blast: Quick! Bring the NET!!
#2: Leader "straightener" thingy: this is usually a fold
of leather encasing two rubber pads. Pulling the coiled "memory"
out of a leader can really help lay down a nice presentation. Of
course, a 1 inch by 1 inch bit of bicycle inner tube will do
exactly the same thing.
#3: "Nippers" or nail clippers. I usually cut smaller
leader material with my teeth (much to my Dentist's chagrin),
but anything over about 8 lb test gets cut with nippers.
#4: Floattant: All my dry flies get a slathering of
flottant before the first cast. I use Muslin, but I'm just old
fashioned I guess.
#5: Forceps: Handy little things, I clamp mine directly
to a pocket flap so they are always ready. A real helping hand to
release a fish without too much mucking around. Mine also have
scissor blades built in so they're handy for modifying a fly.
I try to keep my vest as light as possible. Mostly it serves to
lodge a few boxes of flies and as a work bench from which I can
hang a few essentials.
Watching for chasers – Glass Pool 2007
Have a safe week. ~ Christopher Chin, St–Séverin de Proulxville – 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,
René. "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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