I’d tied a hundred flies for this trip. Mostly clousers - 2s thru 6s. Chartreuse and white. Pink and white. Olive and white. Grey and white. Tan and white. White and white. Pink and chartreuse. Olive and grey. Orange and brown. Two big bugger barns. Slam full.
I’d tied rust and tan Borski sliders. I'd ravaged my bass boxes for poppers, gummy and gulley fish, gurglers - flies of all configurations and colors that I thought might, just might, come in handy. I'd even nicked some candy-colored spoon flies (I'm sorry, I’m weak) from Todd’s box as he slept.
I was loaded. I was ready.
I didn’t have black.
The damn fish wanted black.
Luckily, any good fish camp has a central, vital, station - the tying table - and Austin, Brandon and Jen were on the job. Need black? Have a seat.
And, honestly, how could I think I was prepared? Saltwater boxes look nothing like what I'm used to. More Victoria's Secret than Bob's Fly Shop. Even my outrageous largemouth box is drab by comparison.
So while the salt mavens were better prepared, not even Austin was ready with black.
But it didn't take long to fix that.
Please pass the marabou.
That is a lot of fluff going on in that box! And they wanted black. You never know...
ReplyDeleteI always wondered why the experience guys brought their tying stuff with them. I guess this is why. I recall one guy telling me that they ran out of black dubbing on one trip when the Labrador Brookies wanted caddis of that color. They ended up tying flies using dark green trash bags. Seemed to work well.
ReplyDeleteWell, I certainly never seem to know, Emily. :-)
ReplyDeleteTrash bags. Thanks for a new material idea, Steve. Hefty streamers. Who knew?
I'm partial to Glad bag myself, but who knows what you're going to need until you get there. I once needed to buy clothing because I forgot mine at home. Preparing is half the fun.
ReplyDeletePreparing is half the fun. Ain't that the truth, Howard. Good call.
ReplyDeleteWell, ya know what they say. Once you go black........they want orange and chartreuse.
ReplyDeleteI'm at a total loss for words, Rider. :-)
ReplyDeleteMy wife tells me that often.... often while shaking her head walking away.
DeleteI am putting Rhythm Rider's quote on my business card. Today. Right under my name. Thanks for the chuckle, gentlemen.
ReplyDelete