Reading in the rain

The weather in Texas has been wild and wooly lately. Cataclysmic thunderstorms, heavy rain, hail and tornado-like winds have made fishing an unattractive option. In February, I had mentioned finding a quote from George LaBranche saying that fishing is “closely allied with music.” I recently found the entire quote. In an interview with a lady writer, LaBranche said that, “Fly fishing is distinctly an art, closely allied with music. I think that to cast a fly properly one must possess a sense of rhythm. The cast should be made to a rhythmic beat and the fly could easily be allowed to float on the water for the length of certain notes, withdrawn and the line straightened out and cast again, all to musical measure or cadence.”

Years ago, Barb and I viewed an old movie film which gave us a glimpse of LaBranche fishing. Afterwards, Barb teased me, saying that LaBranche was the handsomest fly fisher she had ever seen. He appeared to be a dead ringer for the old time movie actor, Errol Flynn. LaBranche’s style of casting a fly line appeared to be magical to those who observed his technique. After giving a casting demonstration in England, one of Britain’s reporters gave him the following glowing review: “This remarkable man cast the dry fly into places it would be extremely difficult to even drop a worm, under overhanging alders, blackberry bushes, around trunks of trees, casting at will onto particular leaves that the fly might drop thence like a caterpillar from an oak leaf. His fishing is smooth and entirely effortless, his flies go where he wishes them to go and act as he directs when they get there.”

Then there are fly casters like the Complete Tangler, whose flies also often wind up in tree leaves or limbs, unfortunately too firmly snagged to drop gracefully to the stream. There is no magic to my casting, nor do I resemble Errol Flynn.

I have been rereading the 1975 edition of “The Practical Fly Fisherman,” by A. J. McClane. He dedicated that book to his wife, Patti Murphy McClane, with these lines from a poem by John Donne: “Come live with me and be my love, and we will some new pleasures prove/ Of golden sands and crystal brooks, with silken lines and silver hooks.”

Had I ever written a book, I certainly would have stolen those lines for Barbara Ann, who has followed me along many a mile of trout streams, often showing me the way on the difficult days. Her nephrologist and oncologist will do blood draws on April 23 and 24`. Barring any unexpected bad news, we will then pack our bags and head for Pennsylvania.

The baseball season has opened. My Texas fishing buddy, Willy Landem, has suggested that I try to throw a curve ball past some of you heavy hitters. See if you can at least hit a foul ball off of this pitch. Name the author of an early book regarding angling entomology who insisted to his dying breath that an Isonychia Bicolor nymph was the nymph phase of the Royal Coachman dry fly. Ha! You swing like a rusty gate. The first three correct answers to arrive at PO Box 103, Hankins, NY 12741 will receive two of the Tangler’s hand- tied flies. No, they do not come with a guarantee.

Don’t forget, the Upper Delaware Chapter of Trout Unlimited will meet on Saturday, April 26 at 9:00 a.m. at the Long Eddy Fire House. If you have questions about trout fishing in local streams, this is where to get the answers.