| The Magic of My First Trout | | | | O'Fallon Park one |
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| I grew up in Iowa fishing for catfish, bass, | | | | Saturday. Jerry parked the car and said, |
| crappie and bullheads using some ofthe worst | | | | "Hey, there's Frank Aubon. Frank isone of the |
| smelling baits you could imagine. But my | | | | best fly fishermen I know. He can teach you |
| father loved to hunt and fish so | | | | how to catch fish on a flyrod." (Frank was |
| | | | from Maine and had been fly fishing some 40 |
| I went along. On one summer vacation to | | | | years when I firstmet him.) |
| Oklahoma, Dad stopped at the fish hatcheryin | | | | |
| Bennett Springs, MO. | | | | Jerry introduced me to Frank and explained |
| | | | the problem I was having with a fly rod. |
| I can still remember standing on the bridge | | | | |
| watching a fly fisherman gracefully casta dry | | | | Frank said, "Come here and show me what you |
| fly upstream to the base of the little dam | | | | know about casting." So Idropped a couple of |
| feeding a pool by the hatchery. Onthe third | | | | reasonable overhand casts out onto the Creek. |
| cast, he hooked up with a nice fat 12 to 14 | | | | Frank looked atme, "You know enough about |
| inch rainbow that leapt outthe water 3 or 4 | | | | basic casting, what do you do with the fly |
| times trying to throw the hook. | | | | when itis in the water?" "Frank, if I knew |
| | | | what the H--- to do with the fly inthe water, |
| The fisherman prevailed and slipped the | | | | I would be catching fish!", I said. |
| rainbow into his classic wicker creel withthe | | | | |
| slot in the lid. (Back in those days we ate a | | | | "Come on and watch what I do." said Frank. |
| fish once in a while) Turning tomy father, I | | | | Frank shook out a little lineand let it drift |
| asked what the fisherman was using for bait. | | | | downstream. Then he flipped a "Tension" cast |
| Dad said, "He isusing an artificial fly and | | | | backupstream. On the 3rd drift, Frank hooked |
| not bait." "Does it stink?", I asked. | | | | a nice bow right along the bank. He lookedat |
| | | | me and said, "Now you do it!" I tried to |
| Dad laughed and said "No." Right then I knew | | | | imitate Frank but no fish. |
| one day I would become a fly fisherman. I was | | | | |
| about 14 at the time. I never touched stinky | | | | Finally Frank asked me what I had been |
| bait after that. | | | | fishing. "Eggs on the bottom." Ireplied. |
| | | | "Fishing eggs on the bottom is the same as |
| I would not take up fly fishing until 1969 | | | | fishing nymphs on thebottom", said Frank. |
| some 15 years after first seeing it in the | | | | "You make a little J in the line just at the |
| | | | waterline and watch it as you bounce the |
| Ozarks of Missouri. I had moved to Colorado | | | | nymph on the bottom. If the J twitches left |
| to learn to ski and fly fish. Never didlearn | | | | orright or hesitates, raise the rod tip to |
| to ski but I did learn to fly fish. | | | | set the hook. And don't rip the rod tip up. |
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| When I was starting out, there weren't a lot | | | | Remember that hook is only a quarter inch or |
| of classes, guides or instructors toteach fly | | | | less long to the bend. A gentle tipupis all |
| fishing. I purchased a cheap rod, reel, line | | | | that is needed." Then Frank proceeded to |
| and some flies from a localsporting goods | | | | demonstrate with two more fish. |
| store. Then I read a lot of books and | | | | |
| practiced casting until I coulddo a | | | | I watched Frank and tried to imitate him with |
| reasonable overhand cast. | | | | some success. As I remember I caughtand |
| | | | released about 6 trout that Saturday. For me |
| My first fish was a 2 lb. brookie caught on a | | | | that was the best I had ever donewith a fly |
| brassie out of the famed South Platteriver. | | | | rod. Frank and I fished together for some 5 |
| That was my only fish on a fly rod for that | | | | years before loosing touchwith each other. |
| whole season. For the next twoseasons, I | | | | |
| caught exactly one fish a season on a fly | | | | But I will never forget the gift of a |
| rod. I had upgraded myequipment so the | | | | lifetime fly fishing enjoyment you gave me |
| casting was a lot more enjoyable. | | | | |
| | | | Frank. You were a good teacher and fine |
| In 1972, I was back to drifting salmon eggs | | | | friend to wade the waters with. |
| on the bottom with light spinning gearand was | | | | |
| catching fish. But releasing them was killing | | | | Whatever big river you are fishing in Heaven, |
| a lot of them I knew. Asdestiny would have | | | | I hope the fish are huge and you arehaving a |
| it. A friend and I ended up on Bear Creek at | | | | ball. |