Once an Addict, Always an Addict
Thursday, August 12, 2010 at 10:03PM Permalink I'm going to once again blame the lack recent fly fishing on the birth of our daughter, and I'll again iterate that it’s been a good trade. That being said, the urge to pursue my finned friends was not diminished by the addition of a family member.
This story starts off 3 1/2 weeks ago, on the day before baby Addilyn's arrival. Robert (my brother in law) and I decided to go play a round of Golf (Historically speaking, it’s something I do 2-3 times a year). My wife was 9 days past due at this point, and found this activity acceptable, considering it did not take me out of cell range, was close to home, and would give her a couple hours break from the barrage of "Do you think she's going to come out soon?".
To the links we went, and $11 on a Sunday bought us 9-holes at the best standard-length 9-hole golf course in town. And we played.
And on this course, the 1st green, and the 9th Tee both rest alongside a pond, a small, shallow pond that appears to be just loaded with 4-6" Bluegill. I couldn't help but watch the school of 'gills swim around, chasing the small minnows and eating insects. I stood and watched when I realized that in that moment, given the choice of proceeding to the next tee or catching a bluegill smaller than my hand, my preference was for the latter. I played out the remainder of the round, with the realization that I was going to have to come back to this place, and I was going to be prepared.
Just 3 weeks later, Robert again posed the question... Do you want to play golf again? Yes Robert, why yes I do!;)
The "Tackle".
The night before, I prepared my tackle: 5' Furled Leader, 3' of 5x tippet, and a size 16 Copper John (w/glass beadhead, for a slower sinking fly... or because I ran out of "real" beads, you decide). I rigged everything up and wrapped it around a foam fly patch to keep it all from getting tangled. As I stuffed the outfit into the golf bag, I added a spongebob caddis, just in case (wholly un-needed).
On the first hole I broke all Golf Etiquette and finished out on the green before anyone in my group had started putting, in order to maximize my time on the water. I looped the Shorb loop of the furled leader around my fingertip and made a normal fly-cast. The Copper John dropped into the water and quickly disappeared with a flash. With a satisfied grin, I released the 5" bluegill while my group laughed and continued to the next tee. I packed up and followed them, 7 more holes to play and I will get more time.
After finishing hole number 8, I was pleased to see that the 9th tee was going to be a bit of a wait... so I upped the ante a little. I removed the rig from its stowage location, and rather than attaching to my finger, I used the grip of my putter, in a rudimentary Tenkara type setup (more on this later). The rig worked great, and in the time the group ahead needed to get beyond the range of my driver, I was able to land and release another 5 or 6 small bluegills.;)
Rigged and ready. Some algae remains from the course pond.
Satisfied, I teed off for a double-bogey on the final hole, giving up two strokes versus my score 2 weeks prior, but it mattered little, this was a much better round of fly-golfing.
I realized at once that I had finally found something interesting and useful to use a Tenkara rod for, and if I played golf with any regularity I would be tempted to get a telescoping rod of some kind. I've never been particularly interested in Tenkara as an alternative to fly fishing (I see it needlessly limiting), but as an alternative to fishing with a putter... well, there I can see some potential.
I've been meaning to really outline my thoughts on Tenkara as a whole, but I will wait until I have had the opportunity to actually try fishing Tenkara style.
Bluegill, Furled Leaders, Golfing, Tenkara, fly fishing
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