Interesting...
Now if
I were having that conversation(that is if I actually talked to someone on the river while fishing) I woulda tried to be light on the specifics.
" Are you catching any fish today?"
"Nope."
That'd usually end it right there.
But if I'd a momentary lapse and actually said:
"Why yes, I have gotten a couple.."
And he followed with:
Oh, what did you get them on?
I woulda countered with:
"THIS" and just showed him.
BUT if I had another lapse and said:
"This great fly I saw on a web-site.."
and he countered with:
"What web-site?"
I woulda hit him with:
"I forget" (OR Garden State Trout(because no serious fly guys go there anyway- and that woulda thrown him off)).
Of course, there is another way to go, and that is to pull a Manson.
The second he opened with "Are you catching any fish today?", I'd hit 'im with:
" I DON'T talk about MY FLY FISHIN'"
It's a tough one to pull off... wild eyes, scruffy beard, don't change your clothes for a few days, etc., but the "Manson" technique has been used successfully for years on the Beaverkill...
In SHORT, do whatever possible to NOT bring up N.E.F.F... (sorry, Debacle, nothin' personal)