Stand up, watch my balance and pull out some line.
Roll cast the line in front of me, to make the line straight.
Pick the line up in the air and cast back.
False cast forward, using my hand to pull out more line.
Back cast one more time.
Wait for the line to load.
(Wait, wait. Not yet. Okay now!)
Forward cast, let the fly drop on the water, just below the bank.
Perfect.
Mend the line to keep a natural-looking drift.
Where is my fly?
There.
End of the drift.
Pick up the line, back cast.
Forward cast too soon.
Thwack!
Hook the fly in the back of my hat (I love my hat).
Remove the fly, check it and throw it in the water.
Roll cast the line to make it straight.
Pick up the line, false cast and let out more line.
Wait on the back cast - patience, patience, then forward.
Lay the line on the water, softly, softly.
Mend.
Perfect.
End of drift.
Pick up the line to cast again.
False cast and remove the line that is wrapped around my bag - with the line still moving through the air. Give myself two points for not blowing the cast.
Put the fly down on the far side of the riffle.
Mend, drift, watch as the fly goes underwater.
A dry fly under water is bad.
Pick up the line, try to cast again. Notice I am stepping on the line. Remove my foot and discover more line wrapped around the anchor. The fly line falls limp in the water behind me as I unravel the mess.
Roll cast to straighten the line. Cast falls abruptly short - the fly is stuck on the back of the boat.
Lean over the side, careful not to trip and fall in, careful not to drop my rod, careful not to throw the boat off-balance and knock my beloved fishing partner (and/or guide) into the water. It is not cool to dump people into the water. It is especially uncool to knock your husband in the water. It is expensive to break your rod.
The fly is stuck on a piece of boat liner. Remove it, check the hook and drop it in the water.
Roll cast to straighten the line.
False cast to let some line out and dry my fly.
Target a spot under the far bank, near the tree but not IN the tree. Fly lands in the tree. NO! Yank the rod back hard and rip the fly out of the tree. The line whizzes straight back at me and miraculously does not hit me in the face. The fly plops awkwardly into the water. Pause and thank my lucky stars.
Pick up the line to cast again. Notice - too late - that the line is tangled in my laces. Line drops and falls limp in the water.
Untangle the line. Notice it is also wrapped around my fishing bag (again). Untangle that.
Roll cast.
False cast.
Target the submerged log - try to land just to the side of it. Good! Mend the line and let it drift.
Notice I am stepping on the line and remove my foot in time. The boat crosses a riffle and I almost but not quite lose my balance.
FISH ON!
Lift up my rod to set the hook. We want him nice and secure in the mouth.
Strip in some line to tighten it, too much line out will enable the fish to get off the hook.
Strip.
Strip.
The fish jumps once, twice and flashes in the sunlight.
Back in the water, he makes a run for it. Keep the line tight to keep him from escaping into the reeds, around the tree, under the boat. Keep his head up and strip in more line. Be quick about it, don't exhaust the fish. Bring him to the boat. Where is he? I can't see him. Oh my god. Oh my god! There! Quick! Into the net!
Wet my hands before touching the fish, quickly remove the hook and admire the fish.
Maybe take a picture.
Put him back in the water.
One more flash and he's gone.
Notice my fly line is wrapped around the anchor line. And my bag. And the guide's bag. And my shoe.
Untangle it all and reel in some of the extra line.
Check my fly, check the hook.
Roll cast to straighten out the line.
False cast to dry the fly and let out some line for distance.
Let the line settle quietly on the water.
Mend.
Drift.
Comments