Life Lessons on the Water

A windy day near Gandy Bridge

Fly fishing can yield a lot of life lessons. Learned this the hard way Tuesday while trying to get out before the big change in weather. Among the noteworthy realizations while out on the water.
1) If you see someone kite surfing, that means the cold front has arrived early and the weather forecast was off by a few hours. So if you're sight fishing out of a canoe with a fly rod, you're screwed as far as getting back to the launch without feeling as if you've been shoved into a nautical washing machine.

2) Sharks like redfish, too. Sharks never bothered me too much until today when I came face to face with a 5-foot bull shark while wading in knee-deep water. We circled each other like a pair of alley cats when a number of thoughts raced through my frazzled mind. A) I could have used that extra cup of coffee about now. I hope he doesn't go for the groin. Immediately, I thought of Ahmad, the Bad News Bears outfielder, who misplayed a fly ball, which led the infamous quote from Engleberg: 'Right in the balls,' and prompted a mandate from Buttermaker that everyone wear a cup. Unfortunately, I don't fish with a cup. Then I figured Mr. Bull Shark would go low, probably for the Achilles. Enough strategy: Time to assess the matchup. I was bigger and taller. Size and height vs. a mouthful of sharp teeth against a wild animal with breathtaking speed on his turf. 911, anyone? My only hope was to shove the butt of my fly rod down his throat and hope for the best, assuming the fight lasted longer than a few seconds. Well, at the last second the shark peeled off to the right toward deeper water. I'd like to think it was a draw.