Why you shouldn't use a short bamboo rod to cast a big fly on a big lake windy day.

[Dave Westburg]

An old picture of mine which shows what happens when you try to fish an 8' bamboo fly rod and a big sedge fly out of a boat on a BC lake on a windy day. A gust of wind buried the fly past the barb into the cartilage of my nose. I'm smiling now but wasn't smiling when we had to take the fly out with a leatherman.

The problem wasn't bamboo. The problem was the length of the fly rod. I was on the oars while my fishing buddy was casting. If he had been casting an 8'6" or 9" bamboo fly rod I think the fly would have cleared my head.

Two other protips. (1) Wear sunglasses or glasses just in case. (2) Always pinch your barbs. I learned the hard way.

 

[Matt B]

That's kind of a cool look. Maybe you should've left it.

 

[Mike Monsos]

But did you manage to save the fly??????

 

[Pink Nighty]

Was teaching someone to spey cast this past weekend and she lost her sunglasses at some point in the day. When we noticed, I insisted she take mine for safety. When she pointed out that it would leave me unsafe, I assured her that A) I have gotten pretty good at not hitting myself and B) I've already come to terms with the reality that I'll be sacrificing my body to this game for the rest of my life. The good lord gave me two eyes and I fish single hooks, cant get em both!

 

[Cliff]

You really need to shave that off. If you can't grow a decent mustache don't even try.

 

[Smith]

Im thinking once it's out you are now bait fishing.

 

[Tim Cottage]

The closest I've come to that was casting my hat off with an 8wt rod and a sink tip line.

 

[Para_Adams]

Nose rings are all the rage now. Be careful or you'll popularize a new version for fly fishers.

 

[Greg Armstrong]

That’s not a bad look Dave, you just need to grow that out a little and even it up when you trim it.

 

[DoesItFloat]

I bet you did nazi that coming.