I was on my way into the kitchen, to refill the water bowl for my dog when I heard the familiar "swish-pause-swish". It took me a moment to understand what I was hearing, as it seemed so out of place. I looked out of my 7th floor kitchen window, on to the roof top next door, about 10 feet below, and see two guys in their early 30's, with a Sage case and a six pack of beer between them. I step a bit closer, and look down to see a girl about the same age working on her cast. I watch for about 10 seconds before they notice me. We exchange pleasantries, and I tell them I was just out fishing on opening day here in NY. "Oh, do you know any good places near Sparta?" "I know a few out that way" I reply. The girl immediately chimes in with "do you have any pointers? My casting is really horrible!" I tell her to hold on a minute, and go grab my copy of 'Longer Casting with Lefty Kreh" "This will help you with the basics, make sure and read it through first, then try the principals one by one." I tell her. I drop it down out of the window, and she deftly catches it with a big "thanks!" One of the guys asks me if I have ever read "A River Why" and I tell him no, not yet. He climbs in through the dormer window and returns a few seconds later. "Here!" he yelss, and tosses the book up towards the window. I catch it, and we talk a little more, exchange names, and then the rain starts to fall. "good talking to ya" I say, and they reply "we should go fishing sometime!"

"Sounds good."


"Alright"

After living next door to these people for 5 years, I had no idea that they were into fishing, much less fly fishing. I love knowing that there is that common bond between people, regardless of where you are from. If you love fly fishing , everything else can be overlooked.

Well, almost everything.