Cousin Jerry

Arizona Outdoorsman / AZOD

COUSIN JERRY

By Reg “Chip” Chipman

My wife’s cousin Jerry is coming for a visit soon and we will do some fishing. Jerry likes to make our outings into a contest on who catches and releases the most fish each day. The loser has to buy the treats after fishing. Jerry has done a lot of buying in the past.

So that there is no misunderstand, Jerry is great fellow and I am looking forward to his visit. But why he insists on pursuing his futile attempt to win is beyond me.

He claimed a win once. We were fishing Earl Park from a johnboat. We had caught the same number of fish. On his last cast of the day, Jerry’s two-piece rod came apart, the top section hitting the water about 15 feet from the boat.

I made an appropriate comment, accompanied by near-hysterical laughter. The laughter ceased abruptly when Jerry carefully reeled in, recovered his rod tip, and then brought in a 6-inch rainbow that had attached itself to the fly. He declared himself the winner, and much gloating ensued.

The gloating was a welcome change from all his previous whining about how I always win because I know all the hot spots and what flies are effective. Well, Yeah! I’m a guide. Guides are supposed to know that stuff.

Things are going to be different for Jerry on this visit. He is going to win. I will see to it that he fishes the choice spots and I will be sure that he has the most effective flies even if I have to tie up a few extras.

What it comes down to is that I can take his gloating better than his whining. I will, however, temper his gloating by pointing out that he had a good guide.

Another advantage to “losing” is that I buy a better quality of treats. Milk and Cookies of course.

Have a great vist Jerry. The trout and I are waiting.