Ok, but this section says 'Old flies and Stuff,' well
this is stuff. Way back in the days of the wagon-trains
and AM radio when I started fly fishing, the game was
pretty much about a different way to procure fish, namely
for me, trouts. Oh, forgive me for that. I know the plural
of 'trout' is 'trout' but I really like the 'trouts' word
and perhaps I can change the whole English language one word
at a time. I shall start with 'trouts.' So I soon bought a
net and used it. Everybody did. Well all of the 'everybodys'
I knew anyhow. And I got good with it too.
There are things to know about using a net, just like
everything else, some do's and don't's come into play.
I laugh to this day watching the idiot guides on TV (what
a wonderful world of comedy that thing has become)
slashing at a dudes fish. The sport stands rooted in place,
line fiddle tight leading straight down current and the bozo
guide clambers into the river and stabs at the poor hanging
creature. How they can miss is beyond me, perhaps it is
'Fish-Fever,' kind of like 'Buck-Fever.' There are then more
jumps, some by the fish, some not, and slashings and more
stabbings. Comic relief in an otherwise troubling world.
Anyway, I always preferred to position myself below the
intended creature and let it drift unobtrusibly back into
the net. This could cause the deadly, "Don't let the net
touch his tail!" So far on that score, as the back of the
net was low and the tip was raised upon use, the score on
the 'tail-touching' game came out 'Me'- all of them, 'Fish'
zip. So much for that, but I suppose there is merit to it
for some. Probably a three foot fish and a two foot net
comes to mind.
Anyway, I learned after a only a few years of having the
'bow and arrow' syndrom appear that one does not use the
stupid elastic cord often furnished with these small 'landing
nets.' What a diabolical devise those things are. Perhaps
invented by some 'blue-nose-do-gooder' who hates us and
lies awake nights thinking of ways to annihilate fishermen
in general.
I also learned how to land fish by hand which I have used
for the past two score and more. So here is my old net.
Reduced to nothing more than an oddity, a has-been, a 'thing
of the past.' Useless. Not to be. I shall now elevate and
venerate the tattered tool of my earlier years of piscatorial
pursuit. And so I here present it in all of it's grime and
glory for your respect and admiration.
I have been in contact with the company originally responsible
for it's birth and they inform me sadly that as they still do
offer similar products they are no longer made of the flora
found around and near the tiny berg of Flint, Michigan as
they were in the 60's when this one first appeared. The
windings on the handle are mine lest you should confuse a
quality product with the amateurish trappings of myself. At
the time I was fond of the decoration as it seemed to
customize it and I was big on things like that in those years.
Here is a picture of the net as it is these days. The
netting is original.
This shows the logo of the company and a detail of the
laminations.
I am glad I bought it years ago and have kept it safe,
kind of a 'warm and fuzzy' thing I guess. I hope you
have your own toys which bring you the same feelings. ~ JC
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