11 June 06

Hi from Baghdad,
This week’s update has to begin with a couple of BIG “Thank-You”s. There are a couple of guys in Ohio and West Virginia who tie great flies. A special thanks to Rick Browning, Pete Isner and Dave Payne Sr. for filling up the fly boxs. These guys sent a great selection of nymphs, streamers and dry flies. We should have every contingency covered guys, Thanks! Dave, I can’t wait to see the signature “Payne Killer” in action.
School. Well, school is in recess right now. Vance and I are trying to figure out the best place and time to resume class. Sunday seems to be the only day that any of us can get away for a few hours. The problem is that at 1600 (the usual class time) it has been up in the low ‘teens (Yep, that’s 113…114….115…) I like to fish. But I don’t like to roast. We are taking a look at holding the class up on one of the 3d floor balconies. It will still be hot but it will be in the shade. Eventually we will have to get back out on the water. There is no substitute for the feel of the surface tension of water in casting practice. Maybe Saturday or Sunday evening will work out. We’ll keep you posted.
When we do restart class we’ll have a great new manual as a reference. Dennis Grant from the Atlantic Fly Fishing School in Nova Scotia, Canada sent a basic instruction manual that is really, head and shoulders over others that I have seen and used. Dennis is on the FFF Board of Governors and is a Master Certified Casting Instructor. This knowledge and experience base shows in the quality of the book!
I have a new fishing buddy. He’s having better luck than I am. It seems that lately I can’t even catch a cold. The fish in the picture is a kind of catfish that lives in the lake. They are about 10-12 inches long and look a lot like eels. I’m going to grab a cup of coffee and see if he’s outside right now.
//Bill

Bill's new fishing partner.........