The next winter, I fished the rod on my local river, hard. During that time, I came to appreciate more and more the qualities that make cane seem like magic.
It wasn’t until that fall that I gained the full measure of James, however, when we agreed to fish the Bulkley together. I am always filled with apprehension when I agree to fish with someone new. It's more important to me to find the right fit with a new fishing partner than with a new job. I fished the ten years previously with only one fishing partner, "Paul, the fish cooler", and had intended to go this year on my own.