I went to the tackle shop the other day to get a fly line winder that
was on sale. I've seen the things over the years but the $59.00 price
tag was always too much. But at 35.99 I just couldn't resist, besides
I've got a ton of reels and lines that need be cleaned and stored.
While I'm in the store I decide to pick up some tippet and hen necks
that I'll use in the coming year. I always buy too much damn tippet
and wind up throwing the old stuff out. But I feel better when I start
the year with new tippet. I'm in the back of the store sorting
through the necks and in comes an elderly man and his wife there both
in there 80's. The gentleman has a bag with him that he places beside
him on the floor. I could tell he was an old school gent and his wife
was the classic demure lady from days long since past. There was a high
back chair next counter and lady sat down while the man talked to the
owner. The older fellow started telling stories about the 2nd world war
and fishing the Test and the other chalk streams of England. I walked
up to listen and he spoke about the Itchen Hampshire and the Kennet
Berkshire and the wonderful times he spent fishing those waters. After
a short while the man handed the bag to the owner and asked him to take
stock of what was in the bag. There was a kind of hesitation and
sadness in the eyes of the older fellow but he quickly started talking
about the different places he'd fished while the owner looked through
the bag. His wife God bless her heart didn't say a word she just sat
by his side and helped him say goodbye to his old friends. The bag
contained beautiful old hardy reels with names like St George, Perfect,
Bougle and most of them had the old agate style line guides. As each
reel came out he told a story about where he fished it and when he
bought it. He had a story for all the reels and rods. He asked the
owner to sell them because he was getting too old to walk the streams
any longer. It was one of the saddest sights I've ever seen. Right
then I made myself a promise to stop collecting things. I have too many
rods and reels that only come out once a year. For Pete's sake they
will still be new 30 years from now. One of these days I am going to
pick a few special rods and reels and get rid of the rest. One of these
days before it's too late!