A belated Happy New Year to all. I would like to endorse the article on ‘Marriage Guidance’ in Jan FF&FT; My wife Karen and I are of the old fashioned sort in that we believe marriage is for life (until death us do part).
Yes, a life-long marriage often requires hard work and soul searching from time to time, but a large dose of good fun, common interests, r&r companionship and friendship are the main ingredients in our ‘glue’ that holds us together.
Karen and I have fished together now for over 30 years, and she really is my best fishing buddy. When away from home on business, I have flyfished for trout in several countries and although enjoyed the fishing, very much I miss my best flyfishing buddy.
We have different fly-fishing styles; I am more of a nympher, she almost exclusively fishes dry fly, no matter what the water/weather conditions. I tell her she has no chance of catching… she catches! On Bewl near the point at Marlpit Wood drifting in the shallows,I helped her undo casting knots while a large rainbow took my dangling GRHE Nymph, rod, reel…everything, over the side of the boat! I, soundless open mouthed, staring after my aqua-planing rod….she, practical as ever “Well, don’t just sit there, start the motor and go after it!” I got it all back, including the cheeky 3lb rainbow.
We’re building up a good set of memories to recall for the time when neither of us will be able to fish. Now in our 60’s, already we reminisce; sunsets, trout leaping over the boat (splashing us), the deer drinking on the opposite river bank, picnic’s, bankside hot smoked trout, late summer evening frog chorus, flyfishing Scotland, Wales, the Lake District etc, etc.
Enjoyable times now and fond memories for the time when the only fishing we’ll be able to do will be in our dreams.