Stoneflies.

Something within fishermen tries to make fishing into a world perfect and apartI dont know what it is or where, because sometimes it is in my arms and sometimes in my throat and sometimes nowhere in particular except someplace deep.

Norman Maclean,

A River Runs Through It

About 20 years back, I spent a day with a fly rod maker as he crafted a length of Tonkin cane into a lithe and sturdy bamboo rod. (You can learn how to do this yourself, but be prepared to give up a few good months when you could have been wetting a 3-weight in a freestone Montana stream.)

The next morning, we cast into the Gallatin with that timeless one-two rhythm and the attending pulse and breath and motion.

He didnt try to bamboozle the browns with a dozen different flies. Had a fly box tied to his belt and a handful of stonefly nymphs inside it, that was all.

Everything else, he stashed in the pockets of his vest. Spool tippet, leaders, drying powder, split shot.

We did well that day.

Vintage Linen Fly Fishing Vest (No. 6621) in 100% Italian linen. Ten pockets total including: crescent map pocket, authentic back game pocket, interior Game Pocket. Two interior pockets, and four deep chest pockets. Imported.