Monday, October 03, 2011

of fishing, flies, and fun!

**This post is dedicated to those fisherman who lured me in and hooked me on fly fishing (no pun intended.  okay, that’s not true). 
Societies are a big deal at universities in the United Kingdom.  At St. Andrews alone there are 100+ societies led by students, from activities as diverse as speaking Spanish, to making films, to kickboxing and everything in between.  As for me, I am now an official member of one: The University of St. Andrews Fly Fishing Society.  Thank you Dave and Rick.

Growing up I spent many hours fishing the lakes and rivers of Minnesota with my dad.  Saturday mornings were spent on the boat on Lake Pepin, afternoons on Trout Brook, ice fishing on Lake Mille Lacs and Lake Zumbro, always with a bet on the biggest and the most and rarely paying up. 

And then I met the Lamar, the Cutthroat, and the fly rod in Yellowstone National Park, and I found a new summer love – a love that refused to be left in the west.   

So here I am, two weeks into my time here in Scotland, and I’m fly fishing as if I’ve been born and raised on the sport and can’t live without it.  On Sunday the Society took a trip to Glensherup, a small reservoir nestled in the middle of the rolling hills of the lower highlands, about an hours drive from St. Andrews.  The day was rainy and cold at the start, but turned into a beautiful afternoon with low fog on the hills and hardly a rain drop to be felt.   

And so for some pictures…

The Society provides all the equipment, which is nice for us internationals. 

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Because the reservoir had the feel of a lake, I experienced fishing with a fly rod on a lake for the first time, as well as a longer and heavier rod.

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Below stands a German and an English man, one learning, one teaching, both struggling at their tasks!

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And one of the highlights of the day… fly fishing from a boat on a lake with a Norwegian named Ole, whom I dare say couldn’t cast for the life of him.  Notice, if you will, that I was standing to his right, which is never the place to be if you don’t want the fly attached to your face. Thankfully, he never brought it quite that close, though it was definitely too close for comfort.  My first-ever Norwegian named Ole experience was memorable.

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As was my first experience fly fishing in Scotland.  I dare say I’ll do it again.

3 comments:

  1. Anonymous12:20 PM

    I. LOVE. THIS. And I love fly fishing! How did i not know you were (also) into that??!?

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  2. You do? That's awesome! You probably didn't know since I haven't been around you since I learned. Massachusetts seems so long ago now.

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  3. So impressed!!I wish I could come cast with you across the pond!!

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