Andy Dear | Monday, 15 July 2024
Many times in my Front Pages here on Sexyloops, I have referenced my enduring friendship with Jesse Alonzo. Jesse and I first met in 1994 where we were co-workers at a local financial institution. Over the years, we have fished together, deer hunted together, and shared more than a few glasses of good whiskey together.
Earlier this year, Jesse sent me a text message that indicated that his oldest son Marcus had become interested in fly fishing. Jackson and I first met Marcus in 2015 at a National Wild Turkey Federation youth day, when he was 9 and Jack was 7. It's hard to believe that almost 10 years have passed. Marcus is now in his freshman year of college and Jack will graduate high school in 2 years. Both boys have turned out to be outstanding young men, and tremendous hunters and fishermen, so it was exciting for me to see Marcus take the next step in his angling journey by adding the long rod to his quiver.
Jesse and Marcus met us at my house last night, and before our casting lesson, we shared an early dinner of Mexican food at a local restaurant in an adjacent town. Although Marcus had been on a few fly fishing trips for some freshwater Sunfish and Bass with a 5/6 weight, Jesse indicated that Marcus was keen to dip his toe into the saltwater game. Once the heat abated, I strung a SAGE RPL 8wt, and set up the 2x4 casting course in the yard. As an aside, I am such a huge fan of many of the older tapers from the 1990s. Yeah, they might be a little heavier, with a slightly larger diameter, but the actions in many ways are much more user-friendly.
I always enjoy helping complete beginners, because it reminds me so much of all the time I spent learning the intricacies of this great sport. And, my goal with "lessons" like these is pretty simple. First I do NOT overwhelm someone with a bunch of technical nonsense, but rather give them a sense of what is necessary on the most basic level to start catching a few fish. And second try in the most simple redneck terms to give them a basic understanding of how the cast needs to work, with the future hope of them being able to diagnose beginning casting faults when they are practicing on their own.
Within 2 hours, Marcus went from barely being able to throw 35 feet with no haul(s), to making totally usable presentations with a double haul at up to 60 feet. We also had lengthy discussions on what happens on the deck of a skiff, and what "realistic expectations" should be when playing this game. It is afrer all a VERY difficult game, but as I explained to MArcus...that is precisely wht make it so special.
There isn't a much better way to spend an evening than introducing good friends to the sport that has given me so much. And, judging from how intently Jesse was digesting all of this, I have a feeling Dad might be picking up the long rod as well. In fact, I am desperately hoping that he does. Once Jack goes off to college, I am going to desperately need someone to fill the void left in the other seat in the boat, and I can't think of anyone better than someone that I have as much mileage with as I do Jesse.
Hope you all are having a great week,
Andy