My father took me into the back country in whatever was running that day. A truck or a digger or a bulldozer. We never fished. We just went, and I loved those places enormously. Anything that takes me back there now is a wonderful moment.

Fly fishing was big in Southland. We fished a small river down there, and I am with Paul on this, a size 16 or smaller often does the trick. A friend's father handed me his old ten weight and a tired line, and his son and I would fish the evening rises on level 4lb nylon. Basic gear. We were often successful anyway. Once I started earning I should have upgraded years before I did. I caught fish regardless, so at least I had a feel for the catching.

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…just an update for those interested.
Final day today, and just a few unexpected stragglers turned up in an awful wind and driving rain. The seasons opened in most of the UK, and the waters are calling them back to try out the new skills. The one person I did expect today, called off with a hangover at 2 pm in the afternoon, saying she thought she was still over the limit to drive…..Lightweight!

Only me on the coaching today, and as I had two casting it was more one to one and focused than usual.

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Something a bit different this week and possibly not so well known in the English speaking world, or even outside of the Baltic and Scandinavian coasts. The Vaskebjørn or raccoon/washbear if the Norwegian is too much of a reach for you.

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It's Friday. FP is little late and coming. I really had to do somethings in the morning as it is heavy rain whole day, yet there was short period when clouds just dropped few drops. So now reindeer feeding and some town things are done, just on time when new monsoon started.
 
Coming week doesn't look promising with weather, almost every day some rain. I have guiding most days. Last Sunday I fished with my nephews and it was great fishing day, some nice graylings and dry fly fishing. Boys had Monday and Tuesday awesome fishing and they beat their personal records with 48 cm graylings. They went to fish on spot which I will definitely keep by myself for special occasions and for boys. They understand that telling place on public is end of story for that.

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I almost forgot to write a FP for today. It’s been a crazy week and a crazy day. The day started quite good with some casting practice and on my way home that did change drastically. Outside the street door to my apartment building I did see a cat that didn’t look very well. Not well at all. It was just lying there very still and looking like it was gasping for air. So I felt that I needed to do something.

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Graeme Hird dropped an interesting YouTube video last week about roll casts and anchors. As I’m understanding it the rearward pull on the anchor does not occur until after the rod unloads and the loop is formed. What impressed me the most was watching the loops. What's going on? What is it that creates a virtual pulley - changing the line’s direction and transmitting tension? Why does the form of the loop hold as it eats the fly leg and lengthens the rod leg? Is there an inherent stability to a well formed, well tended loop or is the loop a delicate wraith, only made substantial by the application of a well-learned skill? This virtual pulley is where momentum meets the wave form. It’s like the missing link between relativity and quantum physics (forgive me, physicists. I’m just an old engineer). 

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