Mika Lappalainen | Friday, 31 July 2026
Week ago my calendar filled with short notice bookings. I was great week with youngsters and old guests. Friday there was one more to come as I got call in afternoon while returning from reindeer work.
Guy called and asked possibility to have casting teaching. He explained that he haven't touch flyrod for 20 years as family etc took his time. Life got him as we often say. He had been in Norway camping and cycling and now on the way back home he could have some fishing to find out if flyfishing is still thing for him. He had even bought set before trip yet haven't opened it.
We agreed that Saturday I will give lesson on field and then he can go fishing by himself. And on Sunday I will go guide him. He had been staying in tent 10 days under heavy rain so suggested our accommodation to him which he also booked for three nights.
I offered him package about accommodation, lesson and half day guiding as he didn't want more on this point. Well basically lesson went almost as free which will pay off in long run, hopefully.
During Saturday's lesson he started to get casting back, as he has been fishing a lot with DH in past we had to fix some muscle memory. Casting started to pretty solid and loops tight and accuracy was okay. His main goal was to see if dry fly fishing is what he remembered from past. He showed spots for him from map to fish. I knew he will struggle with fishing but he will find out some things without me. And he did.
I got message in evening that no fish (I was not shocked, little suprised) It was windy day and if you can't read water it will be even more difficult. He told that superb day even he was pushing too hard.
Sunday we went together. On the way he told more about previous day. He is really analytical and he knew more less the problems. I started to have feeling that he is taking fly, still watching if it is eatable. When he told that he had dropped some tears while being in the river, being happy and sad at same time. It was strike.
My job is reel him in today. So we went fishing, still windy and pretty difficult circumstances for beginner as he wanted to me handle he as like that. Same time it was perfect weather as we had some calm spots and then wind gave now and then some challenges. We had heavy rain shower in really begin of fishing which launch some activity. I had good feeling about day.
He caught some fish now and then, not big ones yet lot of action. We spoke about reading water and how to place the fly etc. He basically fished whole day with dry. we had lunch and he started to ask when I will be fishing, I told not today. He insisted me to fish to see what I do and how. So finally I gave up and fished one spot. He stayed on shore and I wade from downstream to fish spot really close to him, so he could see my casting.
That spot is now called two sizeable fish and one lost in 5 minute. It was his turn now. Different spot yet as good or even better than which I fished. Some fish for him, small, yet fish. We finished day with difficult spot that he had to cast under tree. Casting was good, presentation needs improving.
On the way back I offered him that maybe he should book more nights and have more fishing time. He took two more nights which meant two fishing days more for him. I showed spot for him for Monday. Monday evening I got message that some fish and great day, he told he bought own waders etc as rod he already had. He just needs to be landed now, hook is set up deeply.
I told him to go fishing Sunday's place again as he have idea how and where to fish now. Satu was having day trip to Oulu and told me to go fishing also. So after morning routines I headed also to fish on same place.
I fished some spots and got some okay fish, plan was to head downstream and meet this guy and maybe guide him just little bit more. I met some other fishermen who complained that no sizeable fish around only small ones. I fished "2 sizeable and one lost in 5 min" - spot and caught again two.
I watched them fishing 30 meters down from me and caught nothing. It was same spot where we finished day on Sunday. They gave up and I went to fish it with dries. I got fast two good fish and just when I was landing second one I saw that my guest was watching from shore. I took him on spot and let him to fish. He landed two smaller ones and lost three big ones, well didn't really lost as he couldn't hook those.
I gave him 30 minute guiding and we trained presentation. Then heavy rain came and we had to stop as there was chance of thunder also. We walked back to our cars and drove home. I went to see him in the evening and say byes. He booked accommodation for next summer for one week and at least one day guiding. He got more than price was, it paid off for me in long run. He has some "connections" so could be even more.
For me most important thing is that he found love with his old hobby again. He told it will with him rest of his life now. My job is done. I landed him.
I had some request for guiding on coming weekend, I didn't took those and also I empty my calendar from next week. It is our turn to have fishing. We will head to Sweden on Saturday for 9 nights for fishing, food and friends. Now I need to start packing etc, need to tie some flies also.
Have a nice weekend and go fishing
Mika from North