Orvis Encounter Fly Rod

🫣*This blog post contains adult language!* Don't tell my Mom 🤫 🫣

In the world of fly fishing, time stands still and worries fade away. - Unknown

“Did you rent waders from us?” said the man in line ahead of me at the coffee shop.

“Not me,” I reflexively said, in a kind of pissed off way. I was hangry and in a hurry to get my coffee and pastry to go on a hike with Winston. I was also in the thick of the divorce and in my man-eating phase of life! I was ticked off that this guy thought I looked like someone who I wasn’t. Oh come on, really bro? Plus, who the hell has a store that rents pants to people? 

Well, turns out, sometimes it’s love at first sight. And sometimes it’s who the hell are you, why are you talking to me, and bugger off dude. 

If a man be gracious and courteous to strangers, it shows he is a citizen of the world. - Francis Bacon

I sure did eat a piece of humble pie that day. That man exponentially enhanced my life, helped me survive divorce and taught me everything I know about fly fishing. But mostly, he taught me what friendship is, what love is, and how each of us can give back to make the world a better place.

First time in a raft...

Fast forward one week, and I find myself in this guy's raft with his waders on, with no clue where we are, no cell service, about 3 hours from my apartment, while it is pouring down rain, 40 degrees out, and the river rapids are moving pretty good because it is Spring run-off time. Are you worried about me yet? Because I am.

It was my first time in a raft, and about 5 minutes into our trip I looked down at my life-vest, the large boulders ahead, and turned around to this guy I barely knew and said, “so what happens if this thing flips?”

“Can you swim?” he said. 

Oh for fucks sake. Yes. I can swim dude, like a fucking mermaid 🧜, you should see my flip turns. But I rock it in swimming pools  🏊. This is a river! There are big rocks, boulders, freezing water, and for all I know, there are probably alligators in there too. And did you bring my goggles for me if I fall in 🥽?

Safety class...

He pulled the raft over to the side of the river and said, “You’re not going to fall out. But if you do, don’t panic, roll on your back, face up, feet forward and I’ll come get you.” Then he handed me his gloves to put on because my el cheapo gas station ones were freezing.

I can’t appropriately verbalize what happened in that moment. All I knew was that I was in a raft with someone who was entirely in his element. He was in a state of flow, and he was doing what his soul was meant to be doing. That is a beautiful and rare thing to witness.

A few weeks later, he gave me this Orvis Fly Rod. I am forever grateful to him for teaching me so much about fly fishing. And for teaching me to love the river and the fish, and to take care of them.

He has been a professional fishing guide for over 40 years, and has sold high-quality gear in his stores for just as long. This is the starter fly rod he gave me. Need I say more?  Don’t take my word for it, take it from a pro, that many say is the best fishing guide in Montana. He's also one of the finest human beings I will ever know.

Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in. - Henry David Thoreau

So go get your Orvis rod today, fall in love with it, the river, the fish, and the people around you. And be kind to the people you meet at coffee shops… you never know when you might end up changing your life for the better, and teaching you the magic of fly fishing.

Thank you Orvis for making an awesome rod!  And thanks to one awesome fisherman for teaching me it's okay to be me.

A special thank you to Dan Bailey's Outdoor Store in Livingston, Montana. Need a rod? They have an amazing selection, you can buy this Orvis starter rod, and SO many others. Check them out: https://danbaileys.com

Things we love about the Rod:

• Even a rookie can figure out how to put it together (connect the dots)

• It’s tough and sturdy, and has been stuck in many a tree, and survived to fish again!

• The case is awesome and easy to transport. It's Winston proof!

• You can put some cool NoSo patches on the case to personalize it

Why we love Orvis: 

• They have an entire website devoted to gear for beginner fly fisher people.

• And awesome Intro to Fly Fishing videos here.

What Winston has to say: 

Fish? Huh? Kind of weird looking. Where the feathers at? I like the feathered things.

I think I like birds the most still. But when I see Mom put the Orvis rod in the car, I know we are off to have some water fun! So I'm down with that.

Mom can swim pretty good, it's true, but you should see me in the river! I've

swam across the Yellowstone many of

times 🐶. It's one of my favorite ♥️ things

to do.