By Louis Cahill

I SPENT A WEEK LAST YEAR AT THE PENLAND SCHOOL FOR CRAFT, TEACHING A CLASS ON BAMBOO ROD MAKING.

I was having dinner in the dining hall one evening with ten or so folks I'd never met. Eating with new folks every night is a sort of tradition at Penland and it's a lot of fun. Every one was curious about fly fishing so I was answering questions and generally being the ambassador for all things fish related. It came up that I practice pretty strict catch and release. A woman at the table stated, more than asked, "what is it with you fly fishermen? If I'm going to go to all the trouble to catch a fish, I'm gonna eat it! What's wrong with you?"

I am often honest to a fault and with out thinking I answered, "fish are, I think, the most beautiful creatures that live. Every one is unique. I think that's the real reason I fish. Just to hold them and look at them. If I didn't fish I'd never get to do that. I like to eat fish but I guess I just don't have it in me to kill something that beautiful. " When I stopped talking the table was silent and everyone was looking at the woman. It was uncomfortable at best. "Oh fine", she exclaimed, "I feel just great now" and left the table. I didn't mean to come down hard on her. It was a sincere answer and she did ask. Frankly it kind of shocked me that everyone else didn't see it the same way.

Last year I had the pleasure of teaching my oldest friend to fly fish. He was so excited when he caught his first fish, a beautiful little brook trout.

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