I'd Rather Be Fly Fishing.

When Father's Day rolled around a few weeks ago, Big Poppa Pump and I hit up the golf links. He is a golfer, and thus, we went golfing instead of fly fishing. It was my first time golfing in over a year but I still laid the smack down on the old man defeating him and his ego by nine shots on nine holes. Since we were stuck behind a foursome that thought they were Tiger and Phil during the last round of the Masters I had a lot of time to reflect on the sport of golf. As in a lot of time, I am talking hours. When each of the four people takes four practice strokes before each shot and then you add in them chasing their balls all over the place, Dad and I had a lot of sitting around to do. During a lot of the downtime, I was thinking of what we could have been doing instead. We could be fly fishing. Yes, golf and fly fishing are similar in many ways, but golf sucks in comparison, and I like golf.

The First Fish of the Morning.

Big Poppa Pump Gets The Second.

Release.

Wild Brown For The Old Man.

One doesn't have to look far to see similarities. All you have to do is walk into a fly shop/pro shop or head to the local course/stream and observe. For starters the majority of participants are middle aged men or older and for one, golf has a lot more young people in the sport than fly fishing. Secondly, the equipment used can be cheap or it can be extremely expensive. They both perform the same task but those really into their respective hobbies are willing to drop top dime in order to have the latest technology. Even so, you will still have your beginners decked out with the latest clubs/rods and the newest golf ball/reel that still cannot golf/fish if their lives depended upon it. Lastly, each sport is steeped in tradition and etiquette and here is where the major differences lie.

Wild Bow Coming To Hand.

Looking Good.

Dad's Bow on the SJW.

As I sat waiting for the four idiots in front of us to finish their next shots I started to realize how different the two sports are. For one, there I was stuck in the middle of a hole on a beautiful golf course. I am bound by the group in front of me and the group behind me. I cannot escape. The two groups dictate how fast we play our game. I am also bound by rules and etiquette. You are expected to dress a certain way, and follow strict guidelines on how you are supposed to play. If I was on a stream I am only bound by my own personal limitations and the private property lines. I am free to fish how I want to, when I want to, and for the most part where I want to. There is no one rushing me to finish a cast or to catch the next fish. I can enjoy the moment for as long as I want to.

Ice Man UV Tube Minnow on the Swing.

First Cast. Bow Couldn't Resist The Crawfish.

Evidence.

The Very Next Cast. Same Fish. Same Fly.

Sophie Missing Out on the Action.

After finishing our nine holes of golf, we decided to head out fishing in the near future, where we were free to explore and hopefully catch a few fish.

Way Home = Carpin' in the Wind.

Took a Long Time.

Smile.

The Winner.