| Man's best friend.Who better to share time with | | | | want him to give you some room to cast a fly |
| when out on a fishing trip than........Man's best | | | | line, and he will walk on, over and through your |
| friend.I don't know about your dog but any | | | | line until he has some sort of Chinese string puzzle |
| number of the pooches I have had in my lifetime | | | | created, that only a nine year old girl can undo. |
| have never had the ability to throw a five weight | | | | Better yet, he will "sniff" around right in your |
| line let alone handle a level wind reel.Something | | | | backcasting zone until you eventually land a #6 |
| about the lack of opposable thumbs, has been a | | | | Green Butted Skunk deep within his fur.5) |
| real handicap in making our faithful canine | | | | Speaking of Skunks. Nothing like the eye jarring, |
| companions the perfect fishing | | | | nose alarming smell of a two in the morning skunk |
| partner.Nonetheless, many a fishing trip has been | | | | rendezvous. Your faithful friend is mighty proud |
| made with either my dog or a bi-ped friends dog | | | | that he has saved the fish camp from the |
| along for the experience. For me, dogs have | | | | nightime intruder. This is especially enjoyable when |
| always added to almost any outdoor experience, | | | | you yell at the top of your lungs for him to get |
| whether it be hiking, camping,bird hunting,mountain | | | | back in the tent--and then yell at the top of your |
| biking,or skiing.Fishing, on the other hand is | | | | lungs for him to get BACK OUT of the tent.This |
| somewhat a different story.In my mind, I have | | | | has happened to at least four different dogs, and |
| always dreamed of having that perfect pooch, | | | | has left my camping rig and gear smelling like |
| the one that walks calmly by your side, curls up | | | | skunk for months. We have even given the old |
| and takes a nap while you endlessly cast over | | | | "tomato juice" baths right on the bank of the |
| and over for hours to trout filled waters. A dog | | | | river before, which only makes the dog smell like |
| that yawns, stretches, wags his tail and comes | | | | a skunk pizza. Not to mention, the bath scene |
| over to give your catch a sniff and a lick before | | | | which resembles some sort of sickening |
| you release your finny playmate back into his | | | | bloodletting ritual--which induces calls to 911 from |
| natural habitat.Nice dream.I don't know about you, | | | | nearby campers.The dog also usually likes this |
| but most of the fishing/dog fishing experiences I | | | | new man/dog bonding ritual and of course wags |
| have had-- have not exactly fallen into the | | | | his tail profusely while self indulging himself in a |
| Hallmark special dog category.More like a Mel | | | | virgin Bloody Mary, thereby splattering you with |
| Brooks comedy.My dogs have usually been | | | | most of the tomato juice.6) Fish wrestling. For the |
| somewhat overexuberent in their fishing | | | | most part, your dog can care less about your |
| adventures, doing happy things like:1)Running at | | | | fishing experience, usually wandering about looking |
| breakneck speed and leaping into a fshing | | | | for any of the aforementioned fun things to do. |
| hole--especially one that you have belly crawled or | | | | On the off chance you can concentrate long |
| "stealthily" snuck up on so as to not spook the | | | | enough to actually catch and land a fish, and |
| fish-- and then swam around in it, thanking you | | | | suddenly he is on top of your fish licking, tooth |
| for finding such a wonderful place to cool down | | | | tagging, and generally treating your catch like a |
| from racing up and down the banks. Most dogs I | | | | s"squeaky toy".If the fish is lucky enough to |
| have had really love the water, in fact, I used to | | | | make it back into the water, he is sure to swear |
| have a Husky that would swim halfway out into | | | | off eating worms for the rest of his days.7) Dog |
| the river, pretty much scaring away any fish in a | | | | flatulence. Do I really need to say anything |
| three county area.2)Eating dead fish carcasses, | | | | else??These are just a few of the many |
| which invariably lands your dog at the vets office, | | | | pleasures of fishing with your dog, and I am sure |
| where six hundred dollars later, "mans best friend" | | | | you have some interesting stories yourself.Man's |
| does not so much as offer one thin dime or learn | | | | best friend?You bet. There is still nothing better |
| a small trick that might land you a spot on | | | | than the companionship of our cold nosed, cow |
| Letterman, so you can recoup some of your | | | | patty breathed, furry friends.And any good fishing |
| costs.3) Rolling in dead things--or worse! Nothing | | | | tale I have ever heard has been enhanced by the |
| like having your dog find something good and | | | | presence of the TAIL of man's best friend.Happy |
| rank, up to and including animal excrement, giving | | | | Tails To You....A.J. KlottAuthor, writer of fishing |
| a good roll in it, and then coming to snuggle up | | | | humor,and "fly tack" peddler.A.J. writes about the |
| with you while you try to cast.4) The old tangle | | | | people,characters and modern day events that |
| up the line trick. Sure, most of the time you can't | | | | surround the fishing world. His first book is due |
| get your dog calm enough to sit by your side, but | | | | out in December of 2005. |