Day 298
Today I was thinking about my Dad. He was an excellent fisherman. He was a very capable fly fisherman. He could make that fly dance on the top of the water unlike anyone else I have ever witnessed. We all grew up fishing, but I never remember even trying to fly fish.
Like many sports, the tools are so important. My Dad tied a lot of his own flies. This is a craft that takes time, knowledge, creativity, a sense of color and patience. One of the things that disappeared when my father died was his leather fly book. It was about 8 inches by 5 inches with a zipper that closed all the sides. Inside were pages of felt where the hooks from the flies were secured. I can close my eyes and still see it. I remember some spots of rust where I am sure the ties were put aside still wet from the water.
Fly tying has been around for a long, long time. There are books with old patterns and an accomplished craftsman can tie flies that look very much like the insect they are modeled after. It is like any other meticulous craft – the results are spectacular whether you enjoy fishing or not.
I follow a couple of gentlemen on Instagram who tie flies. They do beautiful work and I found they have similar fond memories of their own fathers. It’s funny the bond you can form with people you don’t know just by having similar experiences or backgrounds.
Wednesday was my brother’s birthday. He is a year and a half older than me. He learned to fly fish at a very young age as evidenced by the photo that follows. That fly rod is at least three if not four times bigger than he is!
Did you know that fly fishing is good therapy for breast cancer surgery recovery? It helps rebuild strength otherwise lost in the arm and chest after surgery. Pretty cool, isn’t it? Casting for Recovery is an organization that provides such opportunities for breast cancer survivors. You can donate to help if you are called to do so.
That’s where my mind has been today. Good memories. I just wonder what happened to my Dad’s fly book?
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Fond memories to be sure. I fished many times as a kid but not fly fishing.
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I love fishing. I never set the expectation of catching anything, but sitting quietly by the water watching the line bob up and down is soothing to me.
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I have never had the patience for fishing. (Or model-making, jigsaws, etc.)
I like to watch people fly-fishing in the small river across the road though. I always make sure that Ollie keeps out of the water around where they are trying to catch fish. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Pete, fishing does take patience for sure. I find it relaxing, but I can see how it might not be for others.
Yes, steer clear of casting fishermen. A hook in the skin is never a good experience, for humans or animals. Watching is best done at a distance.
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Maybe your brother has it.
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Unfortunately not, Marge. I would have loved for him to have it.
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Love this…I was always too intimidated to do fly fishing, too. Maybe we should learn and go together and give it a try?
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Now that sounds like fun! Right after you move here. (Do I sound like anyone you know?)
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Only the greatest people say those words 🙂 ❤
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You are so sweet.
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I think good memories are healthy, too. Fly tying is an art form. I don’t fish, but I admire the results.
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You are right, Dan. You are building a few of those good memories yourself.
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My dad was a fly fisherman too. He would carefully study the bugs at our camp sites to choose an appropriate fly. I loved the quiet swish of the line going out and back.
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Yes, Elizabeth. The sound of the line moving through the air! I never through about checking for bugs at the campsite although when my dad cleaned fish, he was always interested to see what they had been eating.
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Our dads were both quite resourceful fishermen.
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Patience is a quality we lost these days, may his soul rest in peace, always great memories that never die
And happy birthday to your brother 🙂 It’s a new information that fly fishing is a good therapy for breast cancer recovery! Thank you for sharing this
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Thank you for your comments. They are always so poignant.
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I so love this, Maggie. You are sure a great writer. Every post you make is definitely worth reading and brings me a lot of good memories. Yes, I grew up and learned how to fly fish when I was an adult. I always loved it from the beginning. It seemed so much better, for I felt like the fish had a better chance with that method. I never learned how to tie flies, but I imagine that would be fun too.
I am a breast cancer survivor (left breast) and so I took no radiation or chemo, and I would love to do fly fishing to help strengthen my arms. I will say though that I am more flexible in my body overall than most people less than half my age. I can touch the floor with flat hands and knees unbent, and I can bend almost halfway back and also squat and come up with no assistance, but that is just from the things I do every day in the house – no gym, or exercise equipment in the house – just doggie gates, freezer doors and picking up after others. I feel pretty good about that as I graduated in October 2016 with a degree in Criminal Justice (I was going to be a mentor and advocate for juvenile delinquents) when I had my surgery in May the same year. So all is good and here I am going on 78 in November. I think I might just take up fly fishing. That would be wonderful. Thank you for another great read.
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