Fly Fishing: Life Interruptus

I imagine every insidious (well not insidious, but invasive) hobby, or past time, has that pull; that pervasive pull on your mind, your equilibrium. I use to feel it about working out. Injuries have lessened it, but not wiped it out yet. Gardening is there as my connection to the soil, beginnings, nurturing and tending to endings.

Penny studies with me on how to catch fish. She seems equally fascinated with this passion. She likes the pictures a lot. SwittersB

But fly fishing and all the associated trappings is so a part of me that when I can’t fish or even tie, I do feel a withdrawal or craving that is so strong I can get testy. Wanderlust, skills performance, moving and planning, connection to the flows, observing for signs, tying to create to seduce. Take it away from me and I range from longing to severe withdrawal. Once there, getting ready, doing it…I am almost immediately at ease.

Life Interruptus: poor health, loved one’s needs, work, hard times or even other hobbies. You will know the worth of fly fishing et al, to you, doing it and once you are cut off. For me, fly fishing has deeply inserted itself into my sanity equation. It is a good thing….but, sometimes life does intrude. Have faith.

Women’s Fly Fishing Clubs: Unspoken Benefits

Maryam Peigahi of Damsel Flies Fishing Club

“Many of life’s passages leave women akin to a light house on the Oregon coast: weathered, worn, stronger, still standing. The trials of death, divorce, children, health, elder parents, career….the list of life goes on….it tests our resolve, sometimes day after day. So, the other evening I made my way to a club outing (practicing our casting at an area park) for the Damsel Flies, I was self absorbed with my life’s concerns. I arrived and saw the familiar faces and some new faces. I was pleased to see newer faces because it means the club is vital and growing. It has been a positive experience in my life.

But, as I stood there something else occurred to me. I am not alone, as a woman, with the travails of life. As I gazed out at the familiar faces I knew that many, all?, of these women have withstood enormous hardships, heart breaks and the joys of life. Yet, here they stood before me as positive, supportive mentors and ready friends. No need to pour out anyone’s latest woes. Rather, there is quiet strength and warmth from these stalwart women. I was comforted and renewed.

A club provides outings, how to information, the basics for fly fishing or tying. But, this women’s club provides something deeper and more meaningful: quiet reassurance and hope for moving through life and surviving the unique passages of women. I am happy to be part of the Damsel Flies Fly Fishing club. Locate a club near you and join. The advantages are deeper than you might at first expect.” Maryam Peigahi

I believe the advantages of clubs are there for men, women and children depending upon the makeup of the club. It is important to note though what Ms. Peigahi pointed to above….sometimes just being around others that have experienced similar hardships is reassuring and supportive. Some of these lessons may not be realized at the time. I can think of several gentlemen, who have passed on, whom I fished with years ago. In my intense, make the most of every moment fishing, I did notice they were not all that concerned with fishing. They were just out there. Their loss I thought at the time. No, my loss. I should have spent a little more time visiting and listening. They were winding down in life. We may not have even talked about anything too deep. Rather I would just have noted their tempo, their expressions, their joy at just being alive and out there. Slow down, look and take it in like Ms. Peigahi did. Blessings abound where you least expect them.  

Damsel Flies Fly Fishing Group    

Fly Fishing & Digital Photography

Don't Be A Prisoner to Auto Mode!

For me, understanding camera basics has been akin to being back in high school algebra. Brain freeze. That side of my brain was probably damaged when I was dropped as an infant. It has never computed for me. So, when I read about shutter speed, aperture, ISO setting and depth of field and realize they are interconnected my mind, at first quakes, then sighs in relief that there is an auto setting for my cameras.

I’m spoiled by nice mid-level cameras. But, is that going to teach me how to maximize the capabilities of the cameras/lens? Of course not. If you are like me, every little bit helps in the take me by the Manual Mode hand and teach me. Here is a good Digital Camera Tutorial site for the beginner that wants the cues on how  to experiment with confidence in that manual mode. So, if that creative streak hits you out there on the water or at the bench take a chance. Of course you can search down the right side of my blogroll for the true experts in fly fishing photography. Inspiring and exceptional work; they obviously excelled in algebra or weren’t dropped on their heads.

Salton Sea ParaToys 2011

Salton Sea Para Toys 2011 Event

 

February3-6, 2011

 

Fly Tying: Loose Ends Tidied Up (Cauterizing Tool)

If you look at most of my pictures, you soon see that I will not receive any photography accolades for crisp, clean work. I struggle to tie tidy flies but the lens does not lie. A cool idea for cleaning up some loose ends for those that require the perfect look for the lens, themselves or the fish came from Feathersmc.com ….via Raspberryfisher’sBlog….a cauterizing tool.

Fly Tying: Craft Stores & Yarn Stores

This morning, I was checking out Roughfisher.com and I saw Jean Paul’s ‘cache’ of goodies from a craft store. It reminded me of a plastic bag of materials I bought at a Eugene, Oregon yarn shop and have yet to use. Much of what is found in a craft or yarn shop are not found in a fly shop. So, if you feel you are betraying your favorite shop(s), don’t worry. A caution: you can find so many unique treasures that you will start grabbing multiple colors of everything. That can add up. Do the math as you grab.

Fly Tying: Lighting Up the Sweet Spot

It seems as if I have been spent a good part of my parental life admonishing ‘don’t read in the dark’..’turn on a light so you can see better’…’would you turn on a light?’ or combinations of the above. So, it comes with practiced ease that I admonish you to not tie flies with improper lighting.

Room lighting or natural light will rarely be adequate for tying. Invest in an excellent quality light. At a recent show I noticed craft lights, Ott lights, goose necks, magnification lamps, office lamps and those little lamps that slide on to the shaft of the vise.

Another recommendation is the back drop you tie against. As you can imagine, your eyes are always focusing. If you want to strain that process try tying against a varied backdrop. Place a neutral colored backdrop behind the vise so your eyes only focus upon the hook and nothing behind. Some vises come with attachments that slide onto the shaft (like the lamps) and present a square, neutral colored plate behind the vise, for a neutral backdrop. Years ago, I recall Dave Hughes tying at a less than suitable venue. He unfolded a pale green cloth napkin. He laid it out slightly in front of the vise as this would be the area his eyes would be drawn to behind the fly. The napkin diverts the attention from the backdrop to the front. Remember your eyes can begin to play tricks on you.

A Woman & Fly Fishing (Seeking a Sanctuary While Waving The Magic Wand)

Tree of Life (Bryant Art)

Your article about women and fly fishing led me to tell you my fly fishing story.  Fly fishing was never an interest to me until this year.  Sure, I have some amazing memories of fishing with my father when I was a child on the McKenzie River at Doris Landing, with our Spinning Rods and Salmon eggs and a packed lunch. I would see the men floating down the river in big boats, laughing, yelling, smoking cigars, waving their rods in and out of the water as I sat on the big rock waiting for a bite.  Always wondering in my mind, what kind of fish are they trying to catch?

Until about seven months ago, when I met a wonderful young man, who began telling me about the sport of fly fishing. At first I only listened because I was very interested in him, but as he began describing stories of his past trips, childhood memories and the enthusiasm he had even for tying the flies, my ears perked up.  It was as if I couldn’t get enough information fast enough.  I wanted to learn. I wanted that excitement, that happiness.  I wanted my eyes to sparkle as his were, just telling me his stories.

See this last year and a half I have been severely depressed, honestly not knowing how I would get out of my funk. A long marriage that went bust, and some other major issues had put me in a hole.

Listening to the stories and the beauty of the sport via pictures, books and blogs, I decided to take a fly fishing class at our local fly shop.  The first class I took was in August and it had to be 100 degrees out, and we all sat inside with no A/C, talking about the terminology of fly fishing.  Now, I will admit the gentleman that taught the class was very easy on the eyes and the way he cast the line made him and the sport ever more attractive. So after six classes out on the ponds and next to the shop, I decided to rent a rod from the shop and hit the river.  I had no idea even where to go, so I decided to head up Hwy. 58.  I packed my rented rod, some newly purchased flies, my puppy and some drinks.

I found a likely spot, parked and started walking a ways.  I strung the rod and started wading into the river.  It was refreshing, as it was a very hot day.  I was amazed just being surrounded with the beauty of the mountains, the water, the trees, the birds, the soft breeze and a few white clouds drifting by. I felt so happy to be out there even though I lost mucho flies in the bushes and in the river.  I definitely needed to practice tying my fly on the tippet.  I was at peace for the first time in a very long time- I could have stayed out there all day and night, but obligations of children brought me home. But the desire to go again and again was born.

The most memorable day, thus far, I have had fly fishing, was when I went fly fishing with the young man who introduced the sport to me.  We left early in the day and headed toward the mountains.  I took him to the place the fly shop and another friend had recommended to me.  I caught three fish nymphing with a strike indicator. He tutored me on when to strike as he watched the strike indicator bobbing along the current seam. Well, let’s say it was a joint effort. I had a blast. Not only to be out on the beautiful water, learning, but to be in such good company-such a good friend.   I feel very lucky and blessed that we crossed paths-not only because of a friendship that grew, but also being introduced to something I had no clue about and probably would never have discovered without him.I have since continued to reasearch and fish although not as much as I would like to since Winter has come.  I have had amazing friends give me lots of fishing gear and support this last year. I have my own gear now including my very own rod and reel. I have joined two local fly fishing groups and am still looking for a buddy to fish with.

I probably wont ever get to go fishing with my fine attractive friend as he has moved away and I don’t have a picture, which is too bad for the ladies, but his face, body and energy will always be engraved in my mind and heart. I don’t have any pictures of myself (not a HOT young nymph)  holding any big trout or salmon but I sure am hooked!

So keep looking ladies our fishing angel is our there in one form or another-handsome or not.

~SPP~

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(Reading the narrative leaves little doubt (if I may generalize…well, of course I can…its my blog)…that women often bring a different perspective to the sport or any endeavor for that matter. It is more than the recent fishing ad re ‘women speak 21,000 words a day and men 7,000 words a day. No, women will stop to look at the butterfly. I for one hope SPP continues with her new found passion in FFing. One universal truth: Women and Men crave The Moment)

‘fly tying ain’t easy’ (you’re not alone….find that kit and tie away the Winter months)

“For a good 20 minutes.

That’s how long it took to Super Glue bits and pieces of duck feather wings to both my thumbs, spill a bag of #6 hooks on the carpet, and string several dozen yards of thread around the living room. Plus, in the course of ‘relaxing’ with my hobby I managed to terrorize my children with an assortment of yells and screams associated with the frustration of trying to create rather poorly designed flies of such quality they wouldn’t fool a carp.

I gave up after figuring out the cost of store-bought flies, coming to the realization they were more affordable than blood-pressure medication. I put the kit back in the attic.

That’s right, I kept the kit. After all, you can’t just throw this stuff away.”   (Darrell Pendergrass, Superior Telegram)

Tinker Toys & Fly Tying (Creative Links)

Once upon a time, a long time ago…you may have developed an urge to assemble, construct, imagine, build something with sticks and wheels with numerous holes. Tinker Toys (originally: Thousand Wonder Builder) were a creation of Charles Pajeau and Robert Pettit around 1913. The two tried to develop interest in their creation at the American Toy Festival in 1914, but had no takers. A short time later they hired midgets to dress up as Elves and had them display and assemble the Tinker Toys in a store window.

The promotion was a huge success with one million sold the next year at .60 The Tinker Toy set evolved with different colored sticks and a motor. By the 1950′s the toy set was selling a consistent 2.5 million units a year. Eventually, the success story was sold several time and ultimately ended up with Playskool. Not a bad story for two guys traveling by train from Evanston to Chicago, Illinois. For those of you that took the Lego plunge, the petroleum based building blocks satisfied the same urge.

So, perhaps this necessity to assemble was part of your early mental preparation to tie flies. Part art, part architecture, part fantasy…Tinker Toys (ok, and Lego’s) led the way to your fly tying addiction.

Sears and Roebuck Catalog, 1928 (Notice ‘Tinker Toy is the Wonder Builder’)