With winter turning to spring, it is time to break out the fishing gear and prepare for a fun season of fishing. The preparation and the very first days of fishing can be the best. Here is a touching story of a fly-tying celebrity.
Berkley Bedell had a great dog with a perfect color. One evening, Berkley snipped a few hairs off the dog and tied up a couple of flies. The next day, those flies caught trout as fast as he could cast with his fly rod.
Berkley’s fishing buddies were watching his success and wanted to know all about those simple but deadly new flies. Fishing people always want to know about what is catching fish when their offerings are not. It is the nature of the sport.
Wellsir, Berkley’s poor dog, had to go through the rest of his life with little bald patches all over his otherwise luxurious coat.
While Berkley worked over his fly-tying vice in the evenings, the dog would sniff the hand-tied flies suspiciously, then go curl up close to the fire. That’s the way I heard the story.
Berkley went on to found one of the biggest fishing tackle companies of our time, named after himself. Every time I see a dog with little patches of hair missing, I have to wonder if the dog’s master is a Berkley kinda guy trying to be creative about catching fish.
Fortunately for pet dogs, cats, birds, etc., there are plenty of packaged materials available today for tying flies. No need to snip your pet’s fur or feathers, unless it has a perfect color that you can’t find elsewhere.
With lots of trout swimming around looking for something to eat up at Lake Cachuma, this would be a good time to learn fly-tying skills and enjoy a great day at the lake.
Flyfishing is also gaining in popularity out on the big salt. There are plenty of reasons for learning to fly ties.
A really fun local fishing event is coming right up. The annual Trout Derby at Cachuma Lake is April 26-27. The derby benefits the Neal Taylor Nature Center at the lake, and is always a ton of fun.
To register, volunteer or sponsor the popular event, visit troutderby.org.
Capt. Tiffany Vague and I will be the emcees at the awards ceremony at the end of the derby, and will hand out lots of prizes, as well as auction off one of Capt. Tiffany’s custom rods. This will be fun!