FROM MY INBOX:THE FISHING WIRE 1/23/2012
Could You Pass This One?
OK, let’s admit it, we have a tendency to make fishing more complicated than it really is. Successful fishing is really nothing more than convincing a fish that whatever you’re using to tempt them to bite a hook is, well, worth biting.
So you’d think getting a Boy Scout merit badge in fishing would be pretty simple, right?
Wrong.
Just before Christmas, our friend J.R. Absher forwarded several outdoor writers copies of the Boy Scouts’ Fly Fishing Merit Badge Workbook. It came with a simple question: could you pass this one?
I’m no fly fisherman, so I knew I was in trouble. The responses from “real” fly fishing experts were surprising. At least three of these folks write regularly about fly fishing. At least one has written a definitive book on fly fishing in the south.
They were equally impressed with the requirements. “I’m not exactly a novice fly fisherman,” one wrote, “but I’ll be danged if I could answer the questions on fly tying. I’ve never really tied a lot of flies, so it was stuff I can’t pretend to know.”
OK, by now those of you who are fly fishermen are probably laughing out loud. But I’d suggest your holding your guffaws until you see some of the questions required by the Scouts.
For example, can you quickly explain the the “prevention and treatment for the following health concerns that could occur while fly-fishing”: scratches, puncture wounds, insect bites, hypothermia, dehydration, heat exhaustion, heatstroke, and sunburn.
Can you quickly explain how to remove a hook that has lodged in your arm?
OK, how’s about demonstrating how to match a fly rod and leader to achieve a balanced system? Or demonstrate how to tie a backing to a fly reel spool -with an arbor knot? A nail knot? Needle knot or loop-to-loop connection?
Use the blood knot to add tippet to a leader or tie a fly onto aforementioned leader using the improved clinch knot?
Don’t get cocky….if you can do all that, you should then be able to explain when to use wet flies, dry flies, nymphs, streamers, bass bugs poppers and saltwater flies- and then tie at least two of them for your leader.
If you’ve shown that knowledge, you’re now ready for the physical parts of the test. Cast a fly -consistently- 30 feet using both overhead and roll cast techniques. Take a trip to a “suitable fishing location” and observe- and demonstrate your knowledge of what the fish are eating above- and below the surface.
Then explain “Leave no trace” “catch and release” and demonstrate how to safely release a fish.
Now, catch at least one fish. If it’s permitted, you should then clean and cook your catch. If not “acquire fish” and cook it.
I can go with the Scouts when it comes to cleaning and preparation, but I’m afraid I might be found lacking in some of the other areas.
Looking over their exam, I realize there’s really only one thing I need to prepared to go fly fishing: a Boy Scout with the Fly Fishing merit badge.
At that point, I’m good-to-go.
– Jim Shepherd
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