I have the Lefty fly fishing video and really like it. Fly fishing lessons from George and Brandon really got JWHAP and I excited about fly fishing though. Brandon taught Fatty, JWHAP and I the double haul in a matter of minutes.

Things I have learned about fly fishing:

1. It is incredibly fun to catch a fish on a fly rod.

2. You can practice a technique (like double haul) all you want in an open field (or in the case of the 2008 PB Conference, in the hall of the conference center) but when you get to the pond with lots of trees and brush and wind things become much more complicated.

3. It is a very fun alternative way to fish to help mix things up.

4. It doesn't have to be elitist (as was suggested in a River Runs Through It). You can get moderately priced equipment, learn a few techniques and have a fantastic time. That is something DIED taught me.

I don't thing I ever mentioned it to DIED but the very first fish I EVER caught on my own fly rod was at his pond. We had so very much fun one afternoon on his pond fly fishing for sunfish. Great memories.

One of my 2009 goals is to fly fish on my pond much more often. We are going to mow around our pond a little differently (more extensively around a flatter area) just to give us more fly fishing area.

Thank you George, DIED and of course Brandon for getting JWHAP and I excited about fly fishing.

JHAP
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"My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives."
...Hedley Lamarr (that's Hedley not Hedy)