I was beginning to think stern looks from anglers were due to the similarities fly fishing has with the workplace. Guys on vacation smile and hold a dripping fish close to their chest, but guys at work thrust it towards the lens to look focused and professional.
Another silly idea proven wrong, but fly fishing and the workplace share one common feature and that’s ants.
Everyone knows the ant(s) where you work, and if you don’t – then you’re the guy that inhales everyone’s donuts and never brings any, the guy that fingers lunches in the communal refrigerator, the guy that knows the location of every candy dish for six floors, and more importantly – when they’re undefended.
You’d better nod vigorously … and while protesting your innocence perhaps you may want to question similar behavior when fishing?
Every fisherman I know can point to the pal who insists he’s required to share flies with, “one tenth of his get” donated to a callous GrabbyMitt with a drooping backcast.
I suggest something like leaving him in the parking lot at dark, or pulling a runner and sticking him with the breakfast tab, and the complainant usually scuffs his toe whilst looking downward, mentioning something like, “… can’t, I married his sister” or ” … I’d like to but Ma would ..”
Revenge is a dish best served in cold water, I may be able to assist.
I’ve been fiddling with magnetic hematite beads, hematite being an oxide of Iron – non corrosive and not as heavy as traditional brass or copper beads.
It yields a beadhead fly with a slower sinkrate than traditional fly tying beads – but more importantly, if you toss a handful in your buddies box it’ll cause every loose fly in the compartment to instantly polarize, gluing itself to the closest bead. It’s a dramatic effect on small flies – and while “Grabby” is separating his #16’s from his #24’s – you’ve got ample time to take ownership of the water he was laying claim to …
Toss him a half dozen and make sure they land in all the small fly compartments.
I haven’t had a chance to try the super-conductive Hematite version, mainly because I pick up too much debris on the Little Stinking with the regular flavor, most of the streambed appears to be metallic fragments, and coupled with algae – it’s just plain hard work.
You know what I think is funny? You’ve only come upon this revenge scheme after creating total havok in your own fly box.
Yes, but can you drift these beautifully tied triple-smart super-conductor hematite babies past the occasional underwater car fender, shopping cart or waterheater ? Sounds like there’ll be more than one of you hung up at streamside cussing a blue streak.
DSFly: Notice how those Golden Mutts are attached to each other? Yep.
Yomama: I can’t wade near large metallic objects – a pocket full of Hematite means I’m headed North and the vest wants to go South. The good news is I always know where my car keys are ..
sabotage!
I swing past an unguarded candy dish almost daily on my way out. I guess the first step is admitting I have a problem. Can you help me with step two?
Do they make Neodymium beads?
KB,
Have you fished those golden mutts yet? I love the way they look.
Curious.
The Mutt’s work fine, I’ve used this fly for trout for a couple seasons (albeit with a different wingcase), I added the Boa yarn wingcase this year after tinkering with the material.
The wingcases of the fly were the only fragile area – now that I’ve replaced the brown turkey with Boa, it is bulletproof.
I’ll try these on the Little Stinking if this weekend is dry enough. There aren’t any stoneflies there – but hungry fish just don’t care – as long as it looks alive.
Yeah, went to a party this last week, The scallops wrapped in bacon KILLED. I’m gonna try to tie some on a hook – I’ll keep you posted. Hungry fish… etc.