About Hooks

Beware of cheap hooks! Not to be a bigot, but cheap imported Chinese hooks are exactly that cheap. I became aware of buying cheap metal products, even if they were drop-forged and zinc-coated. The telltale strip of rust always gave them away. J-hooks to pull limbs together require both strength and weather protection. A failure would be catastrophic. Someone being crushed when they failed is not a good outcome. We always tried to buy zinc-coated drop-forged eyes and lag hooks. Threading rod was always difficult due to the glut of cheap foreign steel on the market.

So, why are hooks different? They aren’t. You need a good, well-made hook to handle a large fish, and the pressure needs to turn the fish and get them to the net. The market is flooded with bad hooks and other flitting materials. We all succumbed to the economy of the fly and occasionally used the wrong hook and size because that’s what we had on hand.

So you want to bring your fly-tying skills to the next level? Buy good material. Just don’t make do. Tying your own flies isn’t about saving money. It’s about making nice-looking fishable flies. Is it cheaper to just buy flies? Probably, but you would end up with a box full of cheap, badly made flies. Someone told me that flies are like bullets; expect to lose them. Fly-tying is an art, not just a task to fill those empty boxes. My mantra is still to tie flies that you use all the time. Stick to four or five flies. You don’t need the life cycle of every aquatic insect. Just a few that represent what’s living in your stream. Fish your home waters and fish it well.

Life and Goals

Life has a way of making goals seem meaningless at times. Why are we still chasing after elusive dreams, trying to conquer impossible challenges, or still aiming to slay mythical creatures? The answer lies in facing our own shortcomings, laziness, complacency, and the inevitable reality of mortality. Life’s end often sneaks up on us, unannounced and unplanned. Our life goals come crashing down, and the expectations of the future fade away. We silently submit and quietly fade into the night.

Before this moment, we still need something to live for, something to desire, and something to hope for. Our sense of adventure still stirs within us, and our tired, abused heart still beats. We can still make a difference and find purpose. Defining that purpose is a personal journey, something that only we can determine. Others cannot define ours, and we cannot define theirs.

Embrace the daylight and savor each breath of life. Do what we must, even if we think we can’t. Work towards having adventure, fun, fitness, and joy. Put down that guilty pleasure and that favorite easy chair. Rise from the couch and take a walk, swim, or pick up a fishing rod and practice your casting. Even better, get to the river now. What’s on the tube will be there later; it’s not like it’s going anywhere. Missing a rerun is not worth missing your life. Find some music in your community and immerse yourself in the sound and the company you’ll find.

Health is the new wealth! Without it, all the money you have is worthless. Spend it on fun trips, concerts, and spending time with your grandchildren. Your life will thank you. Waiting for a better time doesn’t work. That stroke or heart attack is just waiting for you because you didn’t take any steps to prevent it. Sadly, you did everything in your power to encourage it. Live life with consequences if you don’t. I was told a long time ago that no one lies on their deathbed wishing they spent more time at work. Learn to separate work from real life. Work will always be there. Bosses who don’t understand this need to be fired.