A New Trout Flyfisher

[jdmidwest]

My daughter and I have been going camping on Father's Day weekend for the last several years. This year I decided to take her back to Montauk and start her off trout fishing. I also decided it would be a good time to teach her to flyfish. We have been lake fishing in the boat and have fished ponds with spin gear in the past, but this was her first time with the flyrod. We drove up Saturday and found a spot in the park to camp around noon. We set up camp and at lunch at the lodge then headed up into the fly area. This is the first time I had been to the park since the floods. The river has changed for the better, the stream had a good flow throughout the park. I tied a bead head on for her and let her go. She caught a sculpin before I had my rod rigged up. A short while later with some instruction and a few flies, she had her first fish. As you can see in the pics, she was excited. I did not really get to fish much, I was too busy retying flies, straightening out knots and tangles, watching her backcast, and trying to teach her to watch for fish picking up the fly. We fished Sunday for a while from about 8:30 till noon.

I was fishing my new Sport King bamboo rod. Its 7' and was told it cast a 5 wt line. I found it to be more like a 7 wt rod and it will probably be for bass and bigger rivers. It was made back in the 50's for Montgomery Ward by Horrocks Ibbotson and is still in great shape. I traded some computer work for it and I think I came out ahead. I am afraid I am taking a liking to the bamboo. It may cost me dearly.

The campground was maxed. The stream was crowded even at the later hours. There were lots of fish in the fly area. I did not see anyone catching very many though.

Sunday, while fishing above the bluff in the fly area, I had a solo whitewater kayaker paddle upstream by me with his helmet and nose plugs and his wet suit. It was quite a site, I wish I would have taken a pic of him. I asked him if he was lost and told him he would probably get a ticket if he was caught in the park waters as there is no swimming or boating allowed. He informed me that he asked permission and it was Federal water so they could not stop him. The park Ranger had a different view as I met him going by to find the guy. I wonder how that turned out. Maybe I'll take my yak next time.

Here are a few pics of my best Father's Day yet.

[Kansas Fly Fisher]

OUTSTANDING! Congrats to the young gal and her first fish on a fly rod. What better way to spend the father's day than with your best fishing partner. I'm envious.

John