| Fly fishing here in Alberta, Canada is about as good | | | | we packed my truck and headed out on the |
| now as it was when my father first took me as a | | | | four-hour drive. I could see that he was as excited |
| young boy, 35 years ago. My dad was my fishing | | | | as I was and when we arrived I don't ever recall |
| partner for all of my life, but sadly he got very sick | | | | setting up camp in such timely fashion. We got |
| and that was the end of his fishing days. Fishing was | | | | geared up and spent the whole day fishing, and that |
| never the same after that, as for 2 years I walked | | | | evening, sitting by the campfire, Zuk's only question |
| the backwoods and cut lines alone, and I caught my | | | | was why I caught all the fish and he couldn't catch |
| share of trout, but something was missing. I finally | | | | any. We talked about fishing long into the night and I |
| decided that I would have to find someone to share | | | | told him many little tips and tricks that I have picked |
| this experience with me, someone who would enjoy | | | | up over the years. He sat in silence nodding his head. |
| this as much as I did. | | | | The next morning we arose with the sun and headed |
| Over the next two years I fished off and on with 10 | | | | out for a long day of fishing, and as I watched him |
| different partners and came to the conclusion that I | | | | fishing and I could see that what I had told him the |
| would never find anyone that enjoyed fly fishing as | | | | previous night had not been in vain. Zuk caught |
| much as I did. I was totally convinced that I would | | | | several fish that day and he was amazed at his good |
| never find anyone that would walk the remote | | | | luck, that night by the firelight we talked about what |
| creeks and rivers all day long without complaint, and | | | | he had learned that day. In all my years of fly fishing |
| sit by the campfire long after we should have | | | | I have never seen anyone that could be so absorbed |
| crawled into our sleeping bags. My brother came out | | | | with every little detail he was told and still be able to |
| to fish with me one day and brought along a friend | | | | store it in his memory, never to forget. |
| of his by the name of Zuk. Now this guy was green | | | | We have been fishing partners for 11 years now, and |
| as grass when it came to fly-fishing. Zuk fished the | | | | I have to always been at my best game when it |
| day with us and I don't recall him catching anything | | | | comes to fishing for fear that he will show me up, as |
| more than rocks, and he lost all his hooks, and a | | | | he has done so many times in the past few years. |
| dozen of the hooks I gave to him. Later that evening | | | | The first few years we fished together at some of |
| we started a small fire along the river we were | | | | the more popular spots, where there was usually |
| fishing and I fried a couple of trout that my brother | | | | several other fishermen, it was normal for at least |
| and I had caught. After we had finished eating we | | | | one or two of them to come over and ask what I |
| ended up sitting around the campfire long into the | | | | was doing different that allowed me to catch more |
| night, talking about the events of the day and poking | | | | fish than they could. As the years have slowly gone |
| fun at Zuk. The only comment Zuk had about the | | | | by and people wander over to us looking for advice, |
| day was that he had never had this much fun fishing | | | | its not unusual for them to direct their questions at |
| before, and he was wondering if he would be able to | | | | Zuk, and you know for some reason I feel good |
| do this again. We were in the early days of | | | | about that. This story is not about my abilities as a |
| September, 1994, and I thought we would be able to | | | | fly fishing teacher, this story is about an exceptional |
| do one more trip, but the weather changed to early | | | | fishing partner who had the ability to learn, and teach |
| snow and we never did get out again that year. | | | | himself, and in doing so helped make me a better |
| The following spring I decided to give Zuk a call and | | | | fisherman also. |
| we arranged a five-day trip together in September. | | | | Good luck and tight lines. |
| After months of planning, the big day was here, and | | | | |