WRITING ON THE FLY
By GEORGE LISET
When did fly fishing get so complex? It seems like just the other day I went fly fishing with just a fly rod, a box of flies, some tippet and nippers. On my last trip from fishing some of the tributaries around Lake Winnipesaukee I came home with a sore back, knees and shoulder. As I was taking my gear out of the truck I picked up my sling pack and it felt like I was picking up a twenty-five pound weight. So out of curiosity I got myself on the scale with and without the sling pack and it weighed close to twenty pounds.
Over the next week I tried to get back to simple, which was harder than I thought. Habits are hard to change. My Boy Scout motto of “Be Prepared” kept creeping into my stream lining. It is like the camel that starts sticking its nose into the tent and then you realize there is no room in the tent. That is exactly what complexity does, it slowly creeps in under the guise of “I might need this,” and you know you probably will at some point.
I’m heading up to fish some of the small rivers and streams up in the White Mountains in a few days so I thought I’d empty out my sling pack and reorganize for small stream fishing. I started by putting in a couple pairs of nippers and three spools of tippet and two packs of leaders size six and seven. I added a bottle of floatant for my dry flies and some for my line. Then I started filling a fly box.
I like to fish dry flies and occasionally add a nymph dropper depending on water depth. My three go-to flies are Caddis, Blue Wing Olives and Yellow Sulphurs in sizes 16 to 20. I then put in some Pheasant Tail nymphs, some Prince nymphs and a Black Zebra Midge.
I also had room to toss in a couple small size 16 and 18 Wooly Buggers. I had everything in one fly box and convinced myself that if the Brookies didn’t want any of these I would just enjoy the scenery.
As I was feeling satisfied about how light my pack was, the camel started breathing down my neck. I just read a New Hampshire Fish and Game reminder to be prepared for hiking in the White Mountains. The list includes the “Ten Essentials” ( map, compass, warm clothing, extra food and water, headlamp, fire starter, first aid kit, whistle, rain/ wind gear and a knife). I then felt like a den of Boy Scouts were trying to get into the tent.
I decided that I would wear extra clothes and bring a small snack and a bottle of water. I carry a knife and a small first aid kit and a fire starter. I skipped the head lamp but I did bring a whistle so that either the rescue team or the nearest hungry bear could find me. The weight in my pack started creeping back up so I made the decision not to bring my net. Even though it is of medium size it is still a little too big for small streams. I have a great antique small stream net from Kittery Trading Post but it has the rope netting and I prefer the rubber netting so as to not get my fly hooks tangled in the netting. Also the rubber netting is easier on the fish.
I weighed my pack and had it at around ten pounds. If I don’t go adding stuff I should be O.K., at least until the “What Ifs” show up.
George Liset of Dover is an award-winning outdoor writer and avid fly fisherman who shares insights of his time on the water exploring New Hampshire streams and rivers as well of those around New England. George is a graduate of Wheaton College, Illinois, and the University of New Hampshire. His column Writing on the Fly has been honored by the New England Press Association and the New Hampshire Press Association.