The First Time Out
My latest obsession is fly-fishing. I have been spending a lot of time and money reading, researching and accumulating the necessary gear. There was a good ebb tide this morning so I got an early start and decided to give it a go at a local Puget Sound beach. It is a classic fall day here in Seattle, about 50, overcast skies and a light drizzle. Today was the 1st time that I have fly-fished in a very long time as well as the first time ever in salt water. I spent about a half-hour in a park area practicing my cast and then decided it was time to gear up and wade out there. There were about five other people out and I have to say it was a bit intimating to be the "new guy" on the scene. Anyway, I went for it and wadded out. I fished for about an hour in three different spots. My gear kept me really dry but I got pretty cold, to the point that I needed to get out of the water and stand up on the beach. In fact I am still trying to warm up as write this and sip a mug of hot coffee. Lesson learned there, I noticed that the other guys were all dressed with a lot of gear, there is a good reason for this. Needless to say that I did not catch any fish. Nor did I see anyone else catch any, so I did not feel so bad. I only saw two jump- but they were pretty far offshore, much longer than I could cast. My casting was mediocre at best, not bad for the first time. I could get it out in front of me without creating a mess and tangle of line so that was good. I just could not get the distance on the fly. Practice will help. Nonetheless, it was nice to be out there on a quiet Sunday morning in a beautiful spot. I know that there are a lot of great spots to fish out in the areas that I work so I am looking forward to trying it out in those spots in the near future, hopefully at somepoint I will even catch a fish. A guy on the beach told me that it is like learning to drive a "stick-shift" he said " you keep trying and trying and getting frustrated and then all of sudden you are fishing." Good advice. It is humbling to try and teach yourself a new and intricate activity, I live for challenges such as this.
On another note- Today is Canadian Thanksgiving. So here is too all my in-laws up in Ontario. Maybe someday we will all get to celebrate it together. Happy Canuck Turkey Day!
My latest obsession is fly-fishing. I have been spending a lot of time and money reading, researching and accumulating the necessary gear. There was a good ebb tide this morning so I got an early start and decided to give it a go at a local Puget Sound beach. It is a classic fall day here in Seattle, about 50, overcast skies and a light drizzle. Today was the 1st time that I have fly-fished in a very long time as well as the first time ever in salt water. I spent about a half-hour in a park area practicing my cast and then decided it was time to gear up and wade out there. There were about five other people out and I have to say it was a bit intimating to be the "new guy" on the scene. Anyway, I went for it and wadded out. I fished for about an hour in three different spots. My gear kept me really dry but I got pretty cold, to the point that I needed to get out of the water and stand up on the beach. In fact I am still trying to warm up as write this and sip a mug of hot coffee. Lesson learned there, I noticed that the other guys were all dressed with a lot of gear, there is a good reason for this. Needless to say that I did not catch any fish. Nor did I see anyone else catch any, so I did not feel so bad. I only saw two jump- but they were pretty far offshore, much longer than I could cast. My casting was mediocre at best, not bad for the first time. I could get it out in front of me without creating a mess and tangle of line so that was good. I just could not get the distance on the fly. Practice will help. Nonetheless, it was nice to be out there on a quiet Sunday morning in a beautiful spot. I know that there are a lot of great spots to fish out in the areas that I work so I am looking forward to trying it out in those spots in the near future, hopefully at somepoint I will even catch a fish. A guy on the beach told me that it is like learning to drive a "stick-shift" he said " you keep trying and trying and getting frustrated and then all of sudden you are fishing." Good advice. It is humbling to try and teach yourself a new and intricate activity, I live for challenges such as this.
On another note- Today is Canadian Thanksgiving. So here is too all my in-laws up in Ontario. Maybe someday we will all get to celebrate it together. Happy Canuck Turkey Day!
posted by John Vonk at 11:46 AM
1 Comments:
Did you know Canadians celebrate thanksgiving to give thanks to Mr. Frobisher who tried to find the north west passage, didn't, but at least survived . . . . and gave thanks.
This according to wiki.
No Canuk pilgrims?
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