Fly Fishing
Scott Mclean
I was watching a movie this morning about veterans using fly fishing for therapy and it reminded me of my family’s ties to the sport.
One of my all-time favorite books is A River Runs Through It. A book by Norman MacLean about MacLeans fly fishing.
Not a bad movie either.
Dad told me about his Uncle Jet taking him fly fishing in beaver ponds. Jet was able to afford an expensive fly rod. Probably more due to the income from his still than his forest service pay.
I guess my Grandfather was decidedly nervous about his young son using a fly rod that would have cost a couple of months pay!
Dad would fly fish the local streams and places like Granite Lake. He began teaching me but I wasn’t very good at first.
When we’d go to the local hardware Dad would eyeball a Fenwick fly rod they had on display. It was the exorbitant price of 37 dollars. I started saving sprinkler money and bought it for his birthday. He chewed me out for spending that kind of money but I’m pretty sure I saw moisture in his eyes.
He made good use of it that summer and continued my instruction. I actually improved!
I always wondered what happened to that rod. It had a lot of meaning to me but I haven’t seen it in years.
Later on, Steve and I would pile in my Jeep and head for the mill and beaver ponds up Reynolds creek. The cutthroat up there were small (A big one was 8 inches) but ferocious. They would jump clear out of the water and fight like crazy. I’m pretty sure they thought they were 20 inchers!
My boys dabbled in fly fishing and fly tying as well. Kyle can fly fish for some species we don’t see around here. He described flies mimicking things like mice and lizards for catching northern pike. No 4 weight rods for that!
I hope they continue and the sport gets passed down.
For now, go back and take a look at a young Brad Pitt in the movie version. I always thought they’d probably cast him as me! I’m sure you see the resemblance.
Bye now.