I heard some bad news on Sunday morning that one of my good friends has died. It’s very sad. I don’t know how widespread the information is at the moment so I shall save my obituary for later in the week.


I posted a video on YouTube last week of two fish in two casts, quite literally… of course there were dozens of casts before and dozens more since, that I am cleverly ignoring! I also uploaded a short video up on Instagram because I’m “supposed to”.

There was a really nice comment on YouTube that someone had taken up flyfishing because of my videos, which is great I think. Although I should probably apologise to everyone who knows him, because fly fishers can disappear for months at a time, spend more time thinking about fishing than about their wives and acquire an unhealthy interest in roadkill. Still, one more brother/sister is always a good thing!

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My father took me into the back country in whatever was running that day. A truck or a digger or a bulldozer. We never fished. We just went, and I loved those places enormously. Anything that takes me back there now is a wonderful moment.

Fly fishing was big in Southland. We fished a small river down there, and I am with Paul on this, a size 16 or smaller often does the trick. A friend's father handed me his old ten weight and a tired line, and his son and I would fish the evening rises on level 4lb nylon. Basic gear. We were often successful anyway. Once I started earning I should have upgraded years before I did. I caught fish regardless, so at least I had a feel for the catching.

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…just an update for those interested.
Final day today, and just a few unexpected stragglers turned up in an awful wind and driving rain. The seasons opened in most of the UK, and the waters are calling them back to try out the new skills. The one person I did expect today, called off with a hangover at 2 pm in the afternoon, saying she thought she was still over the limit to drive…..Lightweight!

Only me on the coaching today, and as I had two casting it was more one to one and focused than usual.

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Something a bit different this week and possibly not so well known in the English speaking world, or even outside of the Baltic and Scandinavian coasts. The Vaskebjørn or raccoon/washbear if the Norwegian is too much of a reach for you.

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It's Friday. FP is little late and coming. I really had to do somethings in the morning as it is heavy rain whole day, yet there was short period when clouds just dropped few drops. So now reindeer feeding and some town things are done, just on time when new monsoon started.
 
Coming week doesn't look promising with weather, almost every day some rain. I have guiding most days. Last Sunday I fished with my nephews and it was great fishing day, some nice graylings and dry fly fishing. Boys had Monday and Tuesday awesome fishing and they beat their personal records with 48 cm graylings. They went to fish on spot which I will definitely keep by myself for special occasions and for boys. They understand that telling place on public is end of story for that.

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This is another organ recital so I’ll keep it short. I’m going a little nuts, generally sidelined for the week by my pinky-fix. I'm unable to shower (TMI?),wearing a rigid dressing, fixed at maybe 105 degree angle. It’s also challenging my ability to use a knife and fork. I can use chopsticks and otherwise eat one-handed.  I did manage a casting practice in Riverside Park - right hand only, no hauls. So with my left arm in a sling and my HT4 over lined with the SA Trout WF5F, I tried to replicate the slowed down pace and resultant rod action experienced while casting streamers last week in Wyoming. I failed. I couldn’t feel it and couldn’t see it. Bummer. I’ll have to explore this after I lose the bandages and return to LA. 

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