When a cast is more than a cast

[AKSkim]

This past summer while in Maine fly fishing the Kennebec River as I was exiting the river stiff and sore after a few hours in there fighting the currents I knew I had enough for a bit and was calling it an afternoon of fishing. My brother and his son came along and of course, my nephew wanted a fly casting demonstration. After a few declines I was soon quickly wore out and gave in.

The river was flowing at over 4,000 cfs at that time, and I was not looking forward of going back in to that flow just to show him a few well placed casts. Oh well, after all he is family and why not. So I reluctantly got my wading staff out again and slowly entered the river. Pulling fly line from my reel I began to think how did this youngster ever talk me into something I didn’t want to do…?

I knew where the trout were holding and had managed to hook and land a fair number of them that afternoon, so what could be better than to make a cast, get a nice drift and hook up with a nice size Brook Trout, that will not only show him my advanced casting and fly fishing skills, but firmly cement my fly fishing prowess within the family.

I made an absolutely beautiful cast. The line was flowing through the air in slow motion, the wetness of the line catching the fading afternoon sun light just glistened, it was what we all dream about in as far as a cast goes….

Straight into the nearest tree limb.

A slight tug and I was heading back out of the water with line a trailing.

AK Skims fly fishing lesson number 107:
Just cast the little booger into the tree me-bucko and be done with it