The Graduations Keep Rolling In
The Winter class of 2024 keep getting ‘er done!! Our newest graduate, John Steuterman, had his day on the water on Monday, April 15th!! Joining John and I (Kenny “mend, “mend’ Mend! Klimes) were Steve “I fish too MUCH” Baker, Don “my wife wants me out of the house now” Varner, Jim “why can’t I use a Cerise Worm?” Craig, Bob “who says I smile too much” Hassett, and last but not least, Bob “no, my name’s not Jason” Born. As we arrived at Montauk, we found the weather great, the wind calm and the park – crowded? Yes, crowded for a Monday! But it tells us one thing that we need to get out there soon before the parks get too crowded, and we have to find locations outside the park.
Seven fly fishers hit the river running and picked their favorite spots to fish before lunch. Kenny and John went to the usual area for the “grads” to start the day. They worked on casting, stripping flies, swinging flies and dead drifting all before noon. Kenny went over the gear to have and where to “attach” it to the vest (or body). John had a couple of hits early on but couldn’t keep them hooked so the two worked on his “set.” It seems the other FATC heard Kenny yelling, “set, set, set” instead of the “mend, mend, mend.” John got to do all of the different techniques before lunch, and we headed back up to the Stag tables at 11:30am. When we met up with the others, we all agreed that the morning was a little “slower catching” than normal.
After lunch, Kenny took John to the top of the river near the spring. Many spin fishermen were up there – it looked like a spin fisherman convention. Kenny had a feeling that there was some kind of “group function” going on. But we were able to work around them with out much problem. Just remember to show good fishing etiquette even if they do not. John pulled in his graduation fish on the “blue hole” and had a few more on while we were up there. As we traveled downstream, we ran into all of our guys and most we just doing ok. Not a lot in the net but some nice trout were caught. John and I worked our way just past the boulder and stopped for the day.
As always, we learn new things on every trip. If you think you know it all you will quickly find out that you don’t. In fly fishing you can and should learn new things every time out. A few lessons – (and I learned this one that last time I was out) if you don’t have a wading staff – get one – a good one. I highly recommend the Folstaf but I hear the company shut down but there should be some still out there in fly shops. If you can’t find that brand then get a good, strong one. Make sure you have your gear organized on your vest and know where each item is located. It helps the “fumbling around” on the water. Keep your flies dry if they get wet by using a hair dryer on them when you get home that night – don’t wait until the next day or later. Could be too late – if rust sets in.
Be careful out there but have fun. It’s not how many fish or how bring the fish are that you catch – it’s are you enjoying the day! SORRY, not a lot of pictures on this day but we did have a great time.
