after writing a short paper this morning, and doing some reading for a
class, i decided to pack up the rest of my school-work, and take it to the
park up on the parkway. it was just too beautiful a day up here on the
mountain to spend it inside. i figured that since i was going to a park
with a stream, i might just as well take my fly rod, you know, in case i
needed a break from all that homework ;-).

i got myself up there, and did a little reading like the diligent student
that i am g, and then decided it was time to get into the water. i put my
boots and vest on, and commenced to assembling my rod, tied on some new
tippet, and a green worm. ready for action, i headed across the little
bridge to the spot i best like to fish in that park. i was greeted by a man
and his son, who decided to take up seats on the ground and watch the action
(folks seem to be very interested in watching people fly fish. every time i
go there, i always have several on-lookers). as i stepped to the edge of
the water, i saw my fish! he was fairly long, and dark, swimming just under
the surface- couldn't make out what he was, although i do think i saw some
whiskers. i unhooked my fly from the guide, and prepared for my first cast,
calculating where i should cast it to get the best results. then, just as i
raised my arm, a quite long, brown, banded snake swam up and snatched him!

well, i was quite put out, but there is no question that the better
fisherman won, and it was nothing less than fascinating to watch the snake
take that fish up onto the sloping bank, and work it. i was glad that the
man with the little boy did not have his son avert his eyes, rather they
watched the action together. great stuff for a kid, i think.

it wasn't too long though, before i wished the man had left cause i swear
to god he was the freakin howard cosell of fishing! he was all full of ,
"ooh, you had a strike", "oh, looks like ya caught a leaf", etc. it got a
little annoying.

anyway, the star of the day was that awesome fish stealing snake.

snake-
(who has to occasionally defer to the real thing)