Chris (FCCH) is accurate that he carries a few things with him when he goes fishing. A full truck load to be exact. Aside from the things he mentioned in the article thhe also has a stove, food for 1/2 of Quebec and enough water to irigate 3/4ths of California. I must admit that I am surprised to see a bird book. When last I saw Chris he had a unique way of bird ID. There are little brown birds, big brown birds and birds that eat fish. I might be missing a bird type or two but if so only one or two.
I too travel light and the thing I like about that is the opportunity to pass it on. The other day I was fishing and met two mid-westerners who had never fished for trout. Where we use 6x or 7x to fish and #22 files they were equipped for something closer to what I use for Stripers. I took a few moments, gave them some leaders, a spool of tippet and a couple of flies to get them started. The cost was minimal but the results were awsome. All three of us gained from the interaction. I later met another fisherman on the river and he asked if I was the one who gave them the leaders and flies. I admitted it was I and he thanked me for it. It’s nice to know that the role of ambassador is appreciated and will likely be passed on. That is all I asked of those men. Pass the favor on to someone, sometime to help them out.
I fully agree, Jed. My fishing buds and I have shared lots of flies with strangers. Several years ago I was doing pretty well on the North Branch of Michigan’s AuSable River, adjacent to a small camping area. A pre-teen boy was watching and, when I walked to shore, asked me what I was using. I showed him my little black caddis pattern, then put a couple in his hand. You would have thought I had given him a hundred dollar bill, judging by his expression! What did it cost me? Zilch. Who benefited? The boy, who learned about sharing success with others; me, who just loved watching his excitement; and our sport, because that boy- perhaps now nearly a man- hopefully understands that fly fishing is about way more than just catching fish.
I have found that attitude to be very prevalent among the fly fishing community. I rarely meet a new person on the water where there is not some sort of exchange of flies, or sharing of information on good water or fish hideouts in the direction one of us is going. I think this because most fly flingers I meet are C&R fishermen. This is what keeps me in the sport…sharing and caring.
If I have something that is working and I have like two of them left them I totally give them away to any other anglers who are around. Spinner fishers I tell to use on a bubble and fly fishers know what to do with the flies I spread around.
Remember that Jesus found fishing more fun than carpentry. I’m sure he shared lots of his fishing secrets and patterns with others and I will do the same as well…heck, it’s just feathers and fuzzz…
I remember some of my earlier experiences after my brother got me out on the north platte. I went to little hole below Flaming Gorge dam on the green, and I was very, you guessed it, green.
there were a large amount of people who would stop by, and help me out. this is where I got my true roots in the sport, and the amount of people who helped was tremendous.
That was touching, Jeb. it reminded me of when I stared flyfishing, about 30 years ago. in my area, very few people flyfished or even knew what it was. but, after saving up for my first rod and reel combo from KMart, I was on my own. I taught myself to flyfish more or less. when another flyfisherman would wander by, they were quick to give me pointers. and they alwasy seemed really really old at the time.
