Chance Encounters II
By Chris Chin
My home waters offer some wonderful opportunities.
There are Atlantic salmon in the Spring, adult sea trout
in the summer along with Grilses. Then in the Fall, a second
batch of sea run Brook Trout arrive. There is also the
pictureque landscape, the colours of Automne, the peace
and quiet.
I can add to this list of opportunities, the chance encounters
one can have while exploring a run or when you settle in at
a picnic table to have a snack.
A few years ago I had one such opportunity.
I had come down to fish for the second batch of sea trout
in late October. The season for these juvenile Brookies had
been fabulous up until then. I signed in and pulled in at the
#8 pool. I walked out onto the beach just as two elderly
gentlemen were coming back along the beach.
As we met, I asked how the fishing had been that morning (it
was now about 10h00). One of the two replied:
"We're been coming here for the past three years and we've
never caught a trout."
Wow! This won't do. I asked if I could have a look at their fly.
Sure enough, they were using some sort of streamer, almost
00 long shank. I said they must be from Quebec City. With
a surpised look, they said yes. I quickly explained that the
fellow who sold them their flies has never fished here and always
sends folks here with that rig. (the shop there closed several years
later).
I explained that there were some trout on this side of the river,
but the real action can be found on the other side in the eddy.
I offered to ferry them across. Introductions were made. They
were both named Fernand.
The younger of the two accepted, so I pulled the canoe down to
the beach and we were shortly on the other side. I re-rigged his
leader and put on one of my flies.
Fernand (#1) asked me to cast first so that he could see how to
fish the pool. I stripped out thirty feet of line and layed down the
#14 Red Tag (dry) on the pool. In a heart beat a nice little trout
took the fly. When I went to release the trout, Fernand said he'd
keep it if he could. I said, there would be no need.
Fernand set out too and promptly brought to hand a half a dozen trout.
Of which he kept 4. As he was fishing, I called across to Fernand #2
and asked if he was sure he didn't want to give it a try. Still no, …
he prefered just to take in the show.
An hour later, Fernand #1 was back on the dry side with his partner.
We exchanged numbers and adresses, promising to meet up again
some time.
For nearly a decade we'd cross paths on the river during the September
or October. It would always be a friendly and cherished moment.
About six weeks after our first encounter that late September morning,
I got a package in the mail. Unwrapping it, I was just dumbfounded.
Fernand #2 had done a watercolour of the scene. While we had been
on the far side fishing, he had been sizing up angles, colours and textures.
Burning the memory into his brain.
A few years ago, I met Fernand #1 again. He was accompagnied by
a young fellow, but Fernand #2 wasn't there. Apparently, he had passed
away that year.
In memory of Fernand Auger
I hope all of you have the opportunity to meet need friends
while pursuing your passion. I know my chance encounters
are all cherished moments, and I'm grateful for them. ~ Christopher Chin, Three Rivers 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 44 years old as of this writing. He
is of Chinese origin although his parents were
born and raised in Jamaica.
To learn more about the Ste-Marguerite River,
visit Christopher's
website. You can email Chis at: Flyfishing.christopher@gmail.com.
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