Death of the Micro-Ultra-Mini lightweight rod

It all started innocently enough. I worked my way down the size scale until I was at the Micro-Ultra-Mini lightweight fishing tackle. I was fishing for bluegill and bass on some of Missouri's small streams. The next thing I knew I was wondering to myself. What would it be like to use one of those whip like rods. As you can tell I had never been around Fly fishing very much. Sheltered childhood I guess. Where better to start than your local K-mart. I forked out 50 bucks and jumped in with my big toe. I got the rod, reel, fly line and a whole slue of flies. I was set.

The first day I took my rod out I had my father along. We were going to a small stream called the Dry Fork on the 4^th of July. I grabbed the fly rod from behind the seat of the truck and started trying to figure it out. I remember my fathers exact words. "Are you going to use that thing? You'll catch more fish with this" Holding up an Micro-ultra-mini lightweight rod and a rebel Crawdad. He may very well be right, but I was determined to learn how to fish a fly rod. I finally got the rod set up in a manner that I could at least fish with it and took off. I proceeded to whip the small stream into a nice froth while only losing eight flies to the tree behind me. So much for the slue of flies. Yet I didn't produce but a few small perch.

The next thing I know my dad, feeling sorry for me I'm sure, asked for the rod. Seems he used to do lots of fly fishing back in the old day, the 60's. He began to show me a basic cast and how to get the fly somewhat near the place of desire. He taught me how to use a two fly system with a popping bug in front and a small wet fly trailing behind. This he demonstrated by catching two perch on the same cast. Needless to say now I was ready to catch some fish.

There was only one problem. How do I get my fly rod back from my dad. He was having so much fun fishing with it that every time I got close to him he would turn and walk up stream. I did manage to get it for short intervals. However every time he saw a nice bass he would snatch it out of my hands and give me his rod in its stead. Then he would proceed to tell me how much fun it is to catch fish on a fly rod. Since we were planning on trying a different stream the next day I made him go to K-mart that night and by his own fly rod set up. July 5^th was great. I finally got to fish with my own rod and dad fished with his. There is a picture of my dad floating around somewhere with him holding two really nice bass. I later found out that those were both caught on a fly rod in a little farm pond back in the day.

Now I have decided to get both feet wet. Actually, I'm wet up to my neck now. I have upgraded my fly fishing tackle and took up tying my own flies. Originally, to save money, Yea right, but now I do it for the relaxation of it all. I am exploring the other resources of central Missouri and have started chasing trout when ever possible. I joined a local fly fishing club. I am still in awe when I watch a really good fly fisherman fish. These guys make fly casting poetry. I am still trying to complete a sentence. Taking up fly fishing was a wonderful decision and it has brought me hours and hours of joy, but the one thing I still look forward to most is fishing with dad on those hot summer afternoons with cut-offs and creek shoes. Only now instead of the Micro-Ultra-Mini setup, I grab my fly rod.