When I write that everyone deserves a friend/mentor like Tom, that is not hyperbole. I genuinely mean that. Whether you fish, hunt, teach, sell, construct, engineer, litigate or anything else, EVERYONE deserves a friend/mentor like Tom. You see, I have known Tom for about three years now and he has forgotten more about fly fishing than I could ever hope to learn. Now don't take that as some sort of slight or backhanded compliment- it is a term of endearment. Tom is the epidemy of a fisherman and could catch fish in ANY condition and I would never bet against him. I hope to be like Tom when I grow up!
I first met Tom when he called me and told me that he wanted to donate some equipment to my middle school fly fishing club. After our first meeting we have fished a few times together and to say that he has schooled me would be an understatement. I'm pretty sure that Tom catches two to every one of my fish but you could never tell it. He is as humble as the day is long and lives in and loves each moment on the water. He's not on the water to catch the biggest fish (which he usually does), or the most fish (which he also usually does), or identify the most bird species (which he ALWAYS does), but instead you can tell that he genuinely loves each and every moment of the outdoors and trying to outsmart a finned adversary.
While we are on the topic of outsmarting scaly critters, Tom employs a method in a way that is better than anyone I have ever seen. Tom's favorite method of fly fishing is utilizing a single, small jig under a strike indicator. He catches catfish, red ear, bluegill, carp, bass, green sunfish, trout, and other species by using a simple yet effective method. Now don't get me wrong, I have fished with Tom on multiple occasions with every time being on still water (usually small lakes) and every...single...time he has out-fished me from top to bottom while using one of his six different jigs that he deploys as ordinance.
Now I am not at liberty to comment on his color combinations (out of fear for my life, he's a Marine after all) but what I can tell you is that he has this method of fishing down to a science while being an artist at the same time. Most of his hand-tied jigs don't resemble actual aquatic organisms, but by golly they attract fish with their color contrast and finesse.
Tom has also fished many different parts of the world and has experiences that most of us would laud over. From out west in Wyoming to parts of Florida, this guy has covered some water and seen some amazing things. While I try to go nose to nose with his stories while we are in a boat together, I might as well be cross-legged on the floor of a living room while he holds court at a family reunion. If my admiration is not coming across for this fine angler and man, then please allow me to comment that it is unparalleled and unrivaled.
That admiration will hopefully lead me back to my main point, which is that EVERYONE deserves to have a friend like Tom. His experience, expertise, and excellence on the water have helped make me a better angler and better person as well. His kindness, gentleness, toughness, and generosity have made me strive to be a better person and I could not be more grateful.
At this point, I am going to propose something that might be somewhat controversial, but please hear me out. You see a lot of advertising and promotions that suggest anglers take young people and kids fishing. I am not here to argue or dispute that ideal and don't get me wrong, you should do that if you it calls to you! What I would recommend is that maybe we need to look at the other side to that coin as well. Maybe, just maybe, we also need to consider taking those that are older than us fishing as well. Lest we forget that folks that are older than us have seen more and experienced more are thus, more experienced as well. Don't they have a wealth of knowledge to pass along to us? You darn right they do AND THEY WANT TO DO SO! I don't write this out of pity or sorrow towards the elderly, please don't get me wrong. What I am proposing is more of a win-win type of situation. There are a lot of older folks that just want someone to go fishing with and pass along their expertise along to. Isn't that what the whole "Take a Kid Fishing" promotion is all about. Well just put yourself in the situation of an older kid that is taking an adult fishing! Don't you both get a rewarding experience as a result and benefit from one another? Isn't that what humanity, community, and camaraderie is all about?
Wow, that got all existential didn't it? Sorry if that was too deep.
Anyway, the point I am trying to make is that Tom is a great friend and I am a better person as a result of knowing him. I am so grateful that he came into my life and he is unlike any fishing partner I have ever had. Tom, if you are reading this, please know that I think the world of you and respect you as a fisherman. I cannot pay any higher compliment to a man so this seems like a good point to conclude this post. In closing, you aren't the friend I deserve, but instead, you are the friend I was blessed with regardless.
PS- I almost forgot to mention that we caught quite a few crappie and bluegill with a few red ear sunfish as well on Lone Jack. We caught them deep, shallow, around cover/structure, and in open water. There's a lot of fish in that lake!
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