First cast with a bunch of hang-ups: annoying. Two birds nests on my reel: irritating. The first cast when I finally got it: exhilarating!
I hit the local lock system for my first live water test of fly fishing. My friend Gary met me on the shore and he began immediately to show me how to cast with my new fly rod. He quickly instilled in me the importance of ’10′ and ’2′. After teaching me a few casts (that I have already forgotten the names to) we crossed the dam and let ‘loose’ on the current.
A couple of rainbow (possibly a couple of lakers) jumped out of the current in front of us. Despite their aerials, they would not take our presentations.
The fly I had on looked like an minnow struggling on the surface. I thought it would be perfect.
It was difficult to continue learning in the fast current. I hooked several trees (on land) and I swore the guys using spinning rods across the river were snickering at my rookie display.
Gary outclassed me as he handled the fast water with ease.
We moved further downstream to a calmer pool off the main current to continue practicing my casting. It was at that point that something ‘clicked’ in what I was doing. After some patient coaching things came together and one cast felt almost fluid. Then another. It was AWESOME. I am sure my form is far from perfect, but I can not wait until tomorrow night. Hang-ups and snags included!
In the midst of a few more good casts a fish surfaced and missed my fly. I tried a few more times to tempt it, but nothing was working. Destiny had other plans in that moment because I got a tangle in my line. Gary chuckled and said that there will be more of those to come.
By the time I fixed the mess of line on my reel, the sun was beginning to set on the Muskoka River.
If you are looking for me tomorrow, search the little pool behind that mess of logs on the Muskoka River. Maybe tomorrow the trout will take flies.
Bill Anderson
Muskoka Outdoors.
As an aside:
The spinning reel guys were catching trout on smelt. Are there any flies that I could use that could like like smelt? Maybe something white? If anyone has any suggestions please comment below.
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