My best wishes for a speedy recovery to Herb Mossman, who at the time of this writing, is recovering from cancer surgery.  From early indications the surgery went well and the doctors are confidant he will recover and be as salty as ever.

 

I have been encouraged of late in the interest expressed in fly fishing by the ladies, many of whom are the wives of fly fishers and have a desire to accompany their significant others on expeditions to the mountains, coastal waters, Alaska, and other vacation destinations.  As many of us are aware, women make very good fly fishers.  It is not a sport that requires a great deal of physical strength and endurance but one of technique, and folks, the ladies have it over the guys when finesse is involved.  In our fly casting clinic’s it very apparent to me the women haven’t developed the men’s casting and spin fisher’s ‘power push’ on the fly rod but will allow the rod to do the casting and remain smooth in their casting stroke.  Also worthy of mention is that fact women generally don’t have opinions on how they are to do a specific task and listen to the instruction given them.   And speaking of instruction, there are two tests a man can make of his marriage – one is to teach your wife how to play golf and the other is to teach your wife to fly fish!  I suggest you let others with more patience do the teaching. . . . . .If you gals want to pursue fly fishing, gladly accept a hand-me-down rod/reel, or get a entry level rod at the local sports supermarket, or one off the shelf, or come in and together we can personalize the equipment and you can have the pride in ownership many of the rest of us so enjoy.  We can also talk about the stuff you need to have (optic’s, rod, reel, line) and the stuff that is nice to have (waders that fit, boots, vests etc.) and the stuff that you will eventually want to have (wading staff, tools, flies, fly boxes, etc.).  The Tackle Box in Alamo Heights has a great line of clothing, waders etc. but come to me for instruction and the technical expertise needed to get you on a path that leads to the river or our great salt pastures.

 

Unfortunately (or fortunately for me as a builder of custom rods), most of the actions and grips are not factory built for ladies and do not afford the comfort of a good fitting handle, nor are the colors they are wrapped in feminine.  I can fix that!  Should you want to pursue the sport I would encourage you to attend one of the beginner’s clinic’s I offer and then take it to the next level by staying and fishing with a great gal Raye Carrington on the Llano (email: raye@carrington.com / www.llanoriver.com) or Harry Lane on the San Juan in New Mexico (sjtroutfitters@zianet.com).   Both are excellent guides and teachers I highly recommend and will teach you over nice fish.  Should you want to pursue salt water fly fishing in addition to trout, pan fish, and bass, I would suggest Capt. Sally at www.captainsally.com, ‘Lefty’ Ray Chappa at leftyraychappa@msn.com, or my good friend Capt. Chuck Naiser at naiser@dbstech.com.  All are excellent teachers and consummate pros.

 

I got a nice email from Joe Imoe of his thoughts “some people go fishing all their lives, without knowing it is not the fish they are after” (previous newsletter) while landing a nice 16” trout on the Cimarron in the cool mountain air.  That same day a friend and customer was bemoaning the fact his casting sucked and his wife caught more fish than he and has committed himself to practice and more practice before ‘being humbled’ again in front of a guide. . . . . . .Fly fishing is an experience not to be measured in our every day competitive world of win or lose.  Just enjoy!

 

I think most of the fishing community in San Antonio will be in Alaska this coming month.  I expect to have several reports in my next newsletter (not to mention a few promises of fresh Salmon and Halibut)!

 

Dennis O. Freeman

RODMAKERS         

13457 Blanco Road

San Antonio, TX. 78216

210-479-3477

www.rod-makers.com

email:  rodmaker@rod-makers.com