WRITING ON THE FLY
By GEORGE LISET
When I travel, I usually bring my fly rod just in case I have an opportunity to wet a line. As I travel around the state I have found some fun places to fish. There is no dearth of water in New Hampshire. This trip, however, was to Vermont to visit family. It was going to be a quick trip, and my wife Sylvia and I were bringing our oldest grandson Jameson. So I left my fly rod home.
Jameson, at nine years old, is a budding Herpetologist. Jameson was excited to look for frogs, snakes and salamanders at some swimming holes around the family farm. Jameson brought his fish net, viewing tank and materials to make a snake trap. He was like a frog in a box on the ride over, pumping Grana and Pops with questions and telling us his plans.
After arriving and unpacking Jameson and I headed to the first swimming hole. Jameson hunted the edges of the pool with his net looking for critters. Jameson found some minnows and a couple crawfish which he proudly displayed in his viewing tank. I was glad to take some pictures and send them to his mom and dad.
The next morning, after breakfast, we headed to swimming hole number two. The day was an overcast, drizzly fifty-six degrees. But the nice thing about being nine years old is that you don’t feel the cold. Jameson, in his bathing suit, searched the edges and found frogs, tadpoles, salamanders, minnows and tree frogs. One of which was found in my truck when I got home to Dover, happily clinging to my driver’s side window. Mr. Tree frog now happily resides in my garden!
We had only been home for a few minutes when Uncle Dean showed up with a fishing pole. A little Zebco spinning rod with some worms. Our family refers to uncle Dean as “Funcle” Dean, because he is the fun uncle. You never know what is going to happen when he shows up. Lately he has shown up with some ATV’s!
Funcle Dean is a machinist by trade and he can fix/ make anything. He is currently restoring a 1965 Corvette. The second one he has done. Today he was going to take Jameson fishing for some native Vermont Brook Trout at some of his boyhood spots.
I enjoy fishing for native brookies. They are beautiful fish, especially when they have their spawning colors. Brookies are opportunistic eaters and fun to catch; however, not having my fly rod and most importantly a Vermont license, I got to be a bystander as Funcle Dean led our fishing party.
Dean drove us down the road a bit and then up a steep hill on a road that followed a small stream. There wasn’t but a trickle in the stream because of the dry weather. I mentioned that to Dean but he assured us there would be fish. Dean pulled the car over to a little pool by a culvert and told us he always caught fish here. Dean set Jameson up with the pole and told him where to drop the worm.
It wasn’t ten seconds later and the tip of the rod began to wiggle. Then Jameson began to jump with excitement as he brought in his first native Vermont Brook Trout. After some pictures we put the little guy back and tried to catch his buddies. With no takers we moved upstream to the next hole. Dean put on a fresh worm and again told Jameson where to place the worm.
Five seconds later the rod started wiggling again and trout number two was caught. We hit a few more holes, catching and releasing a few more fish before we headed home. Jameson’s excitement was palpable as he told Grana about his fish.
I have worked with young kids my whole career and I know that patience isn’t a virtue that comes easily to them. Having a modicum of success can be helpful when learning a new skill. And having a good teacher is a big help. I think Jameson would have given Funcle Dean a teacher of the year award after this trip.