On 3/20/2010 12:21 PM, Giles wrote:
1. Don't wipe your nose with Velcro.

A couple of weeks ago, while working in the woods on a relatively warm
and sunny day, I found myself in a situation we've all been in many
times. Needed to wipe my nose. A quick check of pockets revealed no
scraps of napkin, paper towel, or other suitable remedy. But I was
wearing thin leather work gloves. Good enough.....

Well, I'd forgotten that the gloves had Veclro closure straps at the
wrist.

That stuff HURTS! The next twenty minutes saw many pauses in the work
to blot blood off the end of my nose.

And then, while thinking of other things, I absently mindedly wiped my
nose......again. That **** hurts just as much the second time.

2. ?

giles

Ah... that would have been almost as much fun to watch as my buddy
George attempting to broad jump while wading on Thursday.

We were fishing the Deschutes (in Washington state, not the real one in
Oregon) and the water was 'up' a bit from the last time either of us had
fished that particular area.

So. The underwater ledge George had waded across the river on some weeks
before was a little more interesting than it had been, and when he got
to the 3 foot long section that falls away and adds another 8-10 inches
or so to the water depth he was already within 6 inches of his chest
wader top.

I was sitting on a rock downstream recovering from my usual backcast
hookup (Alder tree that time, Cedar before that) and watching him with
some concern as he WAS almost to the top of his waders. Being downstream
I knew I'd feel really bad if/when he went down and floated past me
spooking the fish I was working. It would be incumbent upon me to make
an effort to pull him out, and I really, really didn't want to go there.

I almost suggested he give it up, but it was one of those situations
where you hesitate to offer advice which may be poorly taken and then
it's too late. Oh well.

A reasonably sane person in George's position might have examined his
options closely at that point (or earlier?), but George (for whatever
reason) decided that he could 'jump' across the little dip to where the
ledge comes back up.

Did I mention he's taken to not wearing his wading belt because he's put
on a few pounds and the one he has doesn't fit anymore?

Happily, things didn't turn out as bad as they might have, since George
did not go down. His attempted leap netted him just enough forward
movement to put him squarely in middle of the dip and get a refreshing
shot of 43 degree (F) river water to the family jewels. The shock of
that cold water galvanized him into a Shamu like leap up onto the
further rock shelf.

That was the fun part to watch. :-) He deserved an extra anchovy for the
performance, but none to be had, too bad, so sad.

Me? I decided not to cross the river were I was as I really don't like
the bottom there (ankle breaker), and so I fished the one hole and fed
the trees.

After a bit with absolutely nothing going on surface wise, I changed
over to a type 4 sinking 5 wt line and an olive woolly bugger. I
immediately hooked up to a 12-13 inch sea-run cut which received a
courtesy release about 8 feet from my net. I caught a few smaller fish,
and was studying my 'bugger box for alternate offerings when George came
back downstream complaining about being cold (imagine) so we moved on
back towards the pickup.

On the walk back, I asked George what possessed him to try that jump. He
said it just didn't occur to him to factor in the water resistance.

I bet he will the next time.


Steve




--
TANSTAAFL