Greetings, NCFFBers!
Last Friday, as I landed face first in the mud and brush along the Ohlone Trail at Waterdog Park, two things hit me. The first was my bike. The second was a realization that being the father of an 11-year-old boy pushes you to do things you might not do otherwise, like taking up mountain biking in you mid-forties, despite having been happily sedentary most of your life. But even with the scraped shins, sore muscles, and bruised ego, it's not all that bad. In fact, it's all good; I'm quite enjoying our rides together.
And now, Christiaan is providing the impetus for me to return to another beloved activity--flyfishing. I had taken a hiatus from ffing the past several years in order to focus on raising the kids and supporting the family, and transitioning into a new career. Most years I had gone without fishing at all. The past three years I've been able to spend a few days wetting the line in my friend's stocked pond on his vacation property in Manton. It was during our last trip there in August that my wife (!) made the rash suggestion that I take Christiaan on a fishing trip to somewhere like, say... Montana.
MONTANA?!?!?
Well, once you say something like that in front of an 11-year-old, you're committed. So later this year, probably in the summer, Christiaan and I are goin' a-fishin'. We're not sure if it'll really be in Montana, but we're pretty much set on making it an out-of-state trip. Of course, there will be a few one- or two-day in-state jaunts, plus casting sessions at the local park to hone our skills.
Of course, Christiaan couldn't leave it at that. This morning, while I was still in bed, he came into my room declaring that he
had to get this fly fishing combo he found on the Bass Pro Shops web site. In my half-slumber I mumbled, "What? No, no no... we'll build you a rod from a blank..." Again, 11-year-old boy, committed, yadda yadda yadda.
So, here I am, jumping back into the sport with both feet, and without waders. It's gonna be a fun ride. This week, for the first time in years, I'll be buying a California fishing license.
I'll be coming to the campfire seeking advice, and in return I'll be posting my usual inanity and ignorance. Hey, no one ever said life was fair.
Cheers!
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