On our way out to Creede this year my wife threw me a big curve ball. As we were driving through eastern Colorado she casually asked if you could get a one-day fishing license. “Sure”, I said, “but I always get a year license since I fish for more than ten days.”
“Not for you, for me. I think I want to try flyfishing for one day—if you think you can teach me.” There was a challenge in that statement. (I’m paraphrasing here, the shock was so great that I really can’t remember the word for word of the conversation.)
Lucky for us there was no traffic as I sputtered and stammered, “Sure, I think I’ve got just the ticket. This will be fun.” Of course I was lying, I was scared to death. I didn’t want to mess up on this opportunity. I’ve got three grand daughters that idolize their grandma and I’d like all of us to get a chance to enjoy fishing together. I knew that one of the things that is common knowledge: you don’t want to do is to try and teach your spouse how to flyfish—way too many chances for things said, and expressions made to be misinterpreted. I knew I had to approach this chance with the utmost decorum, diplomacy and delicacy
Carol, to this point has been happy to hike in with me to streams, then sit and read a book while I fish. Not the best of arrangements in my mind but I get to vacation with my life’s partner (very important) and flyfish at the same time–win-win.
I wanted Carol to have success so I chose to take her to the same creek that I reported on last year. Ooops—I didn’t mean that I took her, (she may read this) I should have said, “She and I chose to hike in and go fishing on the same creek I reported on last year.” (Still learning, after 40 years.)
The hike in.
The creek.
This creek is loaded with good sized brookies (for a stream in Colorado) and is about a 2 mile hike in. The creek is open with one large pool, lots of smaller ones and several open runs. The success that I had earlier this summer helping my granddaughters catch their first trout informed my decision to introduce Carol to flyfishing, using the Tenkara rod. Turned out to be a good choice. The Tenkara rod reduced the entire process down to just the essentials.
Carol mastering the Tenkara rod.
Like my granddaughters, earlier, within a few minutes of arriving at the creek, Carol had cast, hooked and landed this brookie. She went on to hook several others and landed four in about an hour before the rains came. Good times. She had fun, I had fun and I hope she chooses to go again in the future but if not I’ll still cherish this day.
Success. Mission accomplished.
I fished a little before the rain and then went back a couple of days later. Here’s some brookie shots from this year.
The next three are of the same fish:
The end: