Jungle Warfare

With a watchful eye, I make slow deliberate steps through the chest-tall grass, aware of any danger that might be underfoot. The sound of flowing water is just ahead of me now. Not the fast moving rush of a big river, but the slow sliding gurgle of a warm water stream gently passing by. I am nearly in it before I realize that I'm even on its banks. Suddenly, I hear a screech overhead and a shadow whizzes past. Just a chicken hawk on its way out for an evening meal. The stream cuts deeply to my right and the water is slowed by the sudden change in direction. It's here I am briefly made aware of the presence of my target. There under the bank a dark shadow sits among the slow swirling weeds and water. I prepare my weapon for the attack.  It's a short rod, only a 7 footer, smooth rolled fiberglass and cork. The line is light - 5wt with a 7 foot leader. At the end, a small black fly is tied on. The fly is meant to look like a lot of things and look like nothing at the same time. That's why it's effective here. I judge the distance to my target and check the wind and current. 25 feet, maybe 30. If I misjudge, my fly will hit the water too close to the fish. If it's too short, the fish might not see it at all. Making a good cast in this tall grass is difficult, but I manage to hit the water about two feet in front of the cut bank with just enough slack in the line to get a perfect drift. The line goes tight with the current, then it goes even tighter with sudden extra weight. The water explodes. Victory is mine.