The Girls Club
By Chris Chin
I'm getting ready for the 2009 season. Sure, winter here
is still in full swing. There is over 4 feet of snow on the
ground and the wind chill tonight will make the air feel like
it's -40 (Celsius or Fahrenheit, it's the same at -40).
Getting ready for the season means lots of things. A 15
year old reel is going to the shop for a new bushing (which
a nice 18 lb salmon managed to finally burn out last year -
but the folks at Cortland are going to refit for free). An XP
is going back to get fixed. Dave Scadden is sending a
pontoon boat that I ordered; my new rod has arrived and
I'll get up to the Saguenay to pick it up in February. Here
are also fly boxes to fill, leaders to tie, lines to clean and
reels to spool up.
A big part of the off season is also getting groups, friends
and clients lined up and booked. The usual questions come
up: gear, lodging, flies, dates etc. One question that's a bit
startling is always "Is there something that my wife can do
in the area while I'm fishing?"
Huh, … your wife is coming to the area and she isn't
going to fish?
Now, don't get me wrong, if you and your significant other
have some sort of arrangement that you fish without them,
… well that's all fine and dandy. Then again, in today's
busy schedule, time together, real quality time is a rare thing.
I would think that fishing would be an excellent opportunity
to spend time with your spouse/girlfriend/companion.
Actually, I believe that on my home waters, there is a good
proportion of women who fish here. After speaking with
anglers from other areas, some of them remarked that they
had never seen a woman fly fishing at home!
On my home waters, the Girls will often organise a day
of fishing together. Nicole, from the river association's
office will meet up with a dozen or so of the regulars for
a day on the water. I believe that more than half of the
groups who come are couples fishing together.
So what's keeping you from bringing your significant other
along for a day on the water. If you don't have extra gear
for a second person, you can simply rent gear or book a
Guide for them. That way, you are free to enjoy your day
along side them while someone else takes care of the logistics.
If you want to get your wife/girlfriend interested in fly
fishing BEFORE your first outing together, why not sign
them up for a course with a group specifically designed
for women? Many schools and Guides cater specifically
for women. Just have a look at Ann Smith's web site and
you'll see the Girl's in action!
Back here at home, the fly boxes are starting to fill up.
Some of the special flies that are getting done this year
include some #8 bombers. They're smaller than the usual
#2's and #4's, but they are easier to cast into the evening
breeze. Better for some of the smaller women who fish
with me.
Nadege and her brother Boris - August 2008
~ 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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