WRITING ON THE FLY
By GEORGE LISET
Some of the best fly fishing trips are organic, spur of the moment adventures, as this one was.
I met my youngest daughter and her two children at Kittery Trading Post in Maine for KTP’s annual September Fest. There are bargains to be had as well as a number of activities for adults and children.
My favorite activity this day was the Wild Wolf show which talked about the re- introduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park.
While we waited for the show our family walked through the fishing department to check out the deals. KTP had a good deal on flies and I also needed some Fluorocarbon tippet.
I have found the Fluoro tippet makes a difference on the smaller streams and rivers since it is more effective with spooky fish.
As we were walking past the fishing rods my granddaughter Sadie, who is five years old, announced to her mom that “Pops” (That would be me) was going to take her fishing.
Her mother looked at Sadie and asked when we were going. Without missing a beat she proclaimed “Monday, after we go get my new shoes for school.”
My daughter looked at me and I shrugged my shoulders and said “I guess we are going fishing, bring her boots.”
Now the pressure was on because if I learned anything from all my years of teaching is that children want to be successful when they try something new, and they don’t understand the concept of practice.
I had a few days to figure out my plan of action. I knew what I was in for after taking my two oldest grandsons out who are three and five years older.
So I needed a fly rod for my ‘Little Pricess.”
I had picked up a 5’11”, one weight rod at L.L. Bean’s a number of years ago for small stream fly fishing. It’s a little gem and has a nice action having put an overweighted two weight line on the reel.
My next problem was where to go. I had to go somewhere where there were fish that might cooperate with a desperate grandfather and a five year old. I decided on the Bellamy Reservoir because it had some areas where a five year old could cast and the pan fish usually always are eager to entertain kids.
It is where I took my children when I was teaching them.
I then picked out a few flies that might do the trick. I have had luck with small foam terrestrials like ants, grasshoppers and beetles, size 16 and 18. They need to be small so those little pan fish can get them in their mouths. There is nothing funnier than trying to watch the little pan fish try to get ahold of a size 12 or 14 fly.
I was good to go when Monday arrived. After a successful trip to get shiny sparkly shoes at Red’s Shoe Barn my Princess and her brother were ready to catch fish. I told them that I was taking them to my “Secret” spot and they couldn’t tell anyone where it was. My daughter rolled her eyes and laughed since she had heard the speech before.
My plan was to cast the fly out for her and let her reel the line in. Sadie really enjoyed the reeling part. After a number of casts I cast out by some lilly pads and slowly retrieved some line when I got a bite. I handed it to Sadie who began reeling in the fish. As the fish was about half way in it got off. I mentioned to Sadie that sometimes these fish are sneaky and that we would get him again.
Another fifteen minutes went by and I was beginning to worry that we wouldn’t catch a fish. Sadie said that we should move to another spot because she thought that it looked ”Fishy”. On my second cast we got another bite and this time I made sure the fish was hooked good before I handed the line to Sadie. Sadie began to reel the fish in faster and faster and all the way onto the shore. My prayers were answered.
We reeled in a nice little Rock Bass. After having success, I found a spot where I could let Sadie cast by herself. All went well until the wind picked up and blew the line and the fly against her cheek. After an emergency hug and kiss from Pops, mom decided it was probably time to go. Moms know best. So we scheduled another trip, because what my “Princess” wants, she gets, especially when it comes to fly fishing.
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.