Provenance

You have to understand your roots. I, for example, am a small creek man.

Picture at left from wikicommons and used here courtesy SJu. The ford is a site in the Czech Republic.

My earliest trout fishing came on a creek like this in the mountains of Colorado where a ranch trail crossed a small stream.The country looked just like this in my memory. I had to wear a bush jacket to keep from being cut up by brambles on the hike to the creek,  In those days, a bush jacket was made by Levi Strauss and Co.

I only fished the creek twice and caught only one fish each time. It was a magical place. I never want to go back and find it different than I have it in my mind.

I like small fish. I landed a six-inch brown tonight from Mill Creek down by the cemetery. I haven't been fishing there for a bit as the temperatures have been "summer" and my schedule has been filled with obligations to family and others.

The time of obligatory socialization has passed. I'm free to work, write, and fish once in a while.

If I could fish all the time, it would make the experience less the precious gem it is to me. Tonight was all a summer's evening could be ...less strong drink. I'm on the wagon for no good reason. I don't feel the need for the distraction right now.

So, small creek fly fishers of the world rejoice. There's nothing wrong with a leader as long as a creek is wide.

You've got the gear, boys.

Use it.