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A story by Juan Carlos, not for the faint of heart nor for those under eighteen years of age.

“I am sorry but no, I definitely won’t show you that fly. Do not take it the wrong way, nothing personal I simply have a habit not to show off my flies to anyone. They result from years of laborious observation and trials, they are my own and, as I said, I have made it a house rule not to show them to anybody no matter what. Besides, all truly experienced anglers do likewise.”

His reply rendered me speechless. I had not even asked him to show me ‘his’ fly, only to tell me what he fished with. To be honest, if there is something I consider a mere beginner’s joke it is this mystery fly thing. After all, if old Pablo felt like a couple more feathers here and some shiny bits there would provide him with an edge if not the ultimate weapon, I had not major problem with it. To each his own as they say and it is all good. Having said that, I found his response rude and quite contrary to one of fly fishing’s most appealing aspects: the sharing of the little things that matter be it a simple anecdote or a wee detail in a fly.

Some time later, I had a chance to fish alongside Pedro, a famous nymph-fishing expert. I was totally flattened by him as far as the number of captures went but I had a wonderful time nonetheless so great was his willingness to pass on his considerable knowledge of fish and rivers. His fly box’s contents were surprising as there were only basic flies known to all. I could not help but mention to him Pablo and his supposedly ‘mystery’ flies, which made Pedro smile. He knew Pablo and was aware of the fact he had developed specific kinds of nymphs, ways to ballast them so that they would drop down with jerks. Pedro even knew he was using two particular nymphs: one on the heavy side and shiny while the other was made of a ‘compliant’ material.

Truth be told, I was little interested in those ‘jerky’ nymphs but Pablo’s being (ridiculously) overprotective of his ‘mystery’ flies had displeased me and thus, when an opportunity to paying him back presented itself I did not let it pass me by! Being aware of Pablo’s vanity I decided to let him know about  the coming to France of an American show business star who had a mind to fly fish but needed an able guide to help him out. This event was to be covered by a TV crew. I made it clear that, to me, Pablo would be the man for the job. The latter agreed with enthusiasm, his wide smile expressing the certainty to flatten the ‘gringo’ on TV. On d-day, a ‘hunting fishing’ channel’s crew came in lead by no other than host Robert Brendecouye. Pablo was fully equipped and ready to rock n’ roll, wearing the same smile as he had when I had suggested this encounter. What he did not know yet was that his big American star of a fly fishing ‘pupil’ was also very big physically. The said-star was no other than Glenn Jacobs, a powerfully built seven-foot man better-known amongst wrestlers as ‘Kanes’ who, despite being charming as a person, is not a man to be crossed slightly.

Here is a man you had better lend your fly box to without too much a fuss!

Here came big Glenn whom I had properly briefed, determined to make a killing (no kill type) and fully equipped except for flies. He only had to ask Pablo for some, which he did on TV (the event is being recorded by ‘hunting fishing’ video cameras, remember). Surprisingly enough, Pablo complied lo and behold one of the world’s most secret fly box was opened.

It contained only two sorts, both designed to bring about sinking with jerks, both with a particular shape reminiscent of what exists in nature. The first sort is heavy and shiny the second is lighter, made of plastic.

Afterword: Glenn Aknowledged me for the excellent fishing he had. I have hardly news form Pablo. Actually I feel a bit guilty, I understand now that it was not only for grediness that he kept his flies  secret.