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So Much Water.... So Little! Time!
It was some years later before I purchased an Eagle Claw 2 pc. Bright yellow Spinning rod. I can’t recall the reel at all but man was I proud of that rod. It served me for years and of all the fish I caught, not a single one ever complained about my lack of high tech gadgetry. Fishing was a pastime not a sport! So it didn’t require the best of the best whatever to keep you a viable contender in the contest because it wasn’t a contest. It was just something we did when we could take the time to goof off some.
It was in my teen age years when I got my first fly rod. I was fishing for trout at Roaring River State Park a lot. Black and yellow 1/16 oz. jig was the presentation of choice. I still carry black and yellow marabou flys today and yes they still catch fish. That is where I first saw people using a fly rod. I was instantly mesmerized by the line as it unrolled to drop a fly on the water. I soon adopted the fly rod by purchasing a Fenwick fiber glass 9 ft fly rod (no line wt. specified) and Hedon reel with a clacker so loud it spooked not only the fish but any wildlife within miles bolted in the opposite direction. I still have it.
These days I hear a lot of negative comments from fly fishers. A lot of us, I think, have forgotten the simple rule that, it’s just fishing! While casting a fly rod is my preferred choice of presentation, it’s still just fishing! It’s only a competition if you make it one. While having the best of the best gear may be something that you can afford, it certainly doesn’t make up for not knowing the basics or give you permission to look down on others or a free pass to be even a little bit of an ass to someone who doesn’t sport the latest and greatest. If you need competition, take up Curling and get the hell off my river, cause I’m just here for the fun of it! Me and my bright ass yellow Eagle Claw fly rod, the second rod I purchased and I still have and use it too.
Fair Winds and Following Seas!
The Editor