The first thing my youngest son wanted me to mail him when he started college in Jacksonville, Alabama, was his fishing gear. I don’t know why he didn’t pack it in his truck when he lit out for the Bible Belt, but maybe he just thought he’d be too busy studying to do any fishing. Or possibly he didn’t think he’d have anywhere he could fish down there. Whatever the reason, he rectified his omission within days of getting to Alabama. I bundled up his fishing stuff, and I even threw in a few extra lures and some additional reels and line.
Because he spent much of his fishing time either by himself or with other Alabamans, he was primarily a spin caster. But now that he’s back in Wyoming, and planning to stay here to finish out his college career, he’s hoping to learn how to cast a fly rod. That gives me a great excuse to dust off my gear and head to the nearest body of trout-laden water to help him learn the ropes – or should I say the lines?
As an added bonus, his birthday is coming up at the end of the month, and I’d been scratching my head trying to figure out what to get him. If he gets hooked on fly-fishing, that’ll make gift ideas a whole lot easier. I could give him assortments of flies, either store-bought or ones I tie myself; he’s going to want waders, fly vests, fly boxes, nets, and other gear; and for this upcoming birthday, I can get him outfitted with a decent rod and reel.
And then he’ll need someone to teach him how to use it. I’ll gladly go with him to flail the water and help him perfect his accuracy, range and delivery. Granted, if he wants to actually catch some fish, he might need to find another teacher.
