My Fishing Partner

Fly fishing here in Alberta, Canada is about asand we arranged a five-day trip together in
good now as it was when my father first tookSeptember. After months of planning, the big day
me as a young boy, 35 years ago.was here, and we packed my truck and headed
Fly fishing here in Alberta, Canada is about asout on the four-hour drive. I could see that he
good now as it was when my father first tookwas as excited as I was and when we arrived I
me as a young boy, 35 years ago. My dad wasdon’t ever recall setting up camp in such
my fishing partner for all of my life, but sadly hetimely fashion. We got geared up and spent the
got very sick and that was the end of his fishingwhole day fishing, and that evening, sitting by the
days. Fishing was never the same after that, ascampfire, Zuk’s only question was why I
for 2 years I walked the backwoods and cut linescaught all the fish and he couldn’t catch
alone, and I caught my share of trout, butany. We talked about fishing long into the night
something was missing. I finally decided that Iand I told him many little tips and tricks that I
would have to find someone to share thishave picked up over the years. He sat in silence
experience with me, someone who would enjoynodding his head. The next morning we arose with
this as much as I did.the sun and headed out for a long day of fishing,
Over the next two years I fished off and on withand as I watched him fishing and I could see that
10 different partners and came to the conclusionwhat I had told him the previous night had not
that I would never find anyone that enjoyed flybeen in vain. Zuk caught several fish that day and
fishing as much as I did. I was totally convincedhe was amazed at his good luck, that night by
that I would never find anyone that would walkthe firelight we talked about what he had learned
the remote creeks and rivers all day long withoutthat day. In all my years of fly fishing I have
complaint, and sit by the campfire long after wenever seen anyone that could be so absorbed
should have crawled into our sleeping bags. Mywith every little detail he was told and still be able
brother came out to fish with me one day andto store it in his memory, never to forget.
brought along a friend of his by the name of Zuk.We have been fishing partners for 11 years now,
Now this guy was green as grass when it cameand I have to always been at my best game
to fly-fishing. Zuk fished the day with us and Iwhen it comes to fishing for fear that he will
don’t recall him catching anything moreshow me up, as he has done so many times in
than rocks, and he lost all his hooks, and a dozenthe past few years. The first few years we
of the hooks I gave to him. Later that eveningfished together at some of the more popular
we started a small fire along the river we werespots, where there was usually several other
fishing and I fried a couple of trout that myfishermen, it was normal for at least one or two
brother and I had caught. After we had finishedof them to come over and ask what I was doing
eating we ended up sitting around the campfiredifferent that allowed me to catch more fish than
long into the night, talking about the events of thethey could. As the years have slowly gone by and
day and poking fun at Zuk. The only commentpeople wander over to us looking for advice, its
Zuk had about the day was that he had nevernot unusual for them to direct their questions at
had this much fun fishing before, and he wasZuk, and you know for some reason I feel good
wondering if he would be able to do this again. Weabout that. This story is not about my abilities as
were in the early days of September, 1994, and Ia fly fishing teacher, this story is about an
thought we would be able to do one more trip,exceptional fishing partner who had the ability to
but the weather changed to early snow and welearn, and teach himself, and in doing so helped
never did get out again that year.make me a better fisherman also.
The following spring I decided to give Zuk a callGood luck and tight lines.