Well this is a subject more vast than just the fish to me. It is about fishing as well. What I mean is that there are those fisherman who feel or possibly think that a woman should not be out enjoying the sport of waving the wand. For example, On Sunday I went to practice my casting out at Alton Baker Canal. The rivers are too high and I knew I could stand on a bank and cast into the water with ease. I forgot it was free fishing day, so when I arrived around 5 I noticed quite a few people but I was still able to find a quiet place to cast with no people and no trees. After a bit, I decided to move to the other side of the bridge and I had just cast off another fly when two big burley men in their wife beater shirts come walking up to me with all these fish hanging on a string of sorts. “HAVE YOU HAD ANY LUCK YET?” One asks, and I reply honestly that I had just started…. well as he was dragging his fish on the pavement, so I obviously didn’t need to ask if he had any luck.” YOU ARE DOING IT ALL WRONG, YOU HAVE TO KEEP THE FLY MOVING ALL THE TIME” I replied with “geeze thanks for the tip, I didn’t know that?” They both laughed with fish and gear in hand and walked off. A few seconds later I see something out of the corner of my eye, and low and behold it is a fish flopping on the pavement. One he dropped off his strand as he was giving me fly fishing lessons. I quickly went and picked up the fish, and decided to see if I could revive it and release it. It took me about five minutes but I had success….he swam back off for some other person to catch him or maybe get to the freedom of the Willamette river.
I have also walked into different fly fishing shops and I can feel the rolling of the eyes. Or asked if I was looking for something to give that someone special in my life. Okay, okay, I am a beginner still but I do know a lil bit about fishing. I know a lil bit about fly tying. I had a great teacher….and took some great classes. I continue to learn day-to-day. I don’t roll my eyes at gear fishers…. I wish them success even if it isn’t my type of fishing. I think we are all out there for the same reason, to enjoy the surroundings, enjoy the sacred water and all it holds inside. Maybe I’m wrong. But that is my fishing philosophy. Don’t judge or jump to assumptions about anyone. And show respect to your fellow fisher, the water, the surroundings and the fish around you.
HOW IS THAT FOR PREACHING. I know many wonderful fisher friends who are not this way, but it only takes one of the above to set your day off….
WE DID IT! Every day in May!!! Sort of feels like crossing a marathon line. I have done several marathon’s and it takes a lot of endurance, brain power, will power but in the end it is like the huge euphoria of accomplishing something huge. And the Euphoria stays with you for a few days along with the soreness. Happily there is no soreness in this, just a sense of accomplishment. 
