I met an interesting person on the trout stream last week. I was
in the process of getting a drubbing from the senior Heenan (Tim),
when a Korean gentleman appeared and asked how we were doing.
Tim said, "get your rod and join us," which he did.
I watched him cast and after a few throws I gave him a 18 ft.
hand-tied leader I use on the river. With a little help he was
running drag free floats as good as anyone. Then some Albolene
floatant, a few size 16 parachutes and EHC's he was set.
We spent some time showing him how to cast slow rods, medium
rods, and even a Gatti 3 piece 4 wt. He got the point right away.
He really liked the Gatti.
He picked up the fact that a person had to adjust the casting
stroke for each rod. No one had ever taken the time to teach
him basic techniques. Some shop had sold him a decent rod
and a set of real nice neoprenes but had failed to provide him
with a decent leader and a fly selection that would enable him
to be successful.
Tim proceeded to give him some nymphs and an indicator and
put him on a nice section of river where he left him to fish solo
after a few lessons and three browns for the student. It seems he
was a doctoral candidate at Ohio State University in fish farming.
No wonder we thought he was sharp. He was. Too bad they were
not hitting on top, I would have liked to see him really see trout
fishing with a dry.
I taught him the long leader and drag-free float small-fly act
and Tim showed him the indicator and double pick (two nymphs
one attached to the other at the hook bend with 12 inches of 5x).
He was such a nice guy that just dealing with him left a nice taste
in our mouths.
We were back fishing where we first met him, waiting on the
evening hatch, when there he came, parking on the main highway
where he shouldn't. We heard him explain to the sheriff that he
was just stopping for a moment to thank the gentlemen for showing
him how to fly fish, which he proceeded to do. I gave him the
flyanglers online address and mine and Tim's e-mail and personal
addresses.
Later on the way home Tim and I discussed why we had spent
2-3 hours of our time on a stranger we might never see again.
We decided when we felt in the future that helping a serious
beginner was a waste of time we would give up fly fishing and
buy power bait.
Don't invest in power bait. With students like K.J. out there fly
fishing is secure. Anyone that drives five miles out of his way to
thank someone for his time and effort is already a member of the
fraternity.
Tim and I considered that day the best day we had on the stream in
some time. If you see him here on the site treat him nice. His
thoughtful thanks has already paid his dues and we could all
learn from him.
The sport needs more gentlemen. ~ Old Rupe
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