Bill Flader shares lessons learned from 75 years of fishing
My parents, both fishers, often told us, “If you’ve made plans to go fishing and the forecast is unfavorable, go anyway. It often turns out better than you expect.”

Years later, the evening before my fishing buddy Tom and I were to depart for the Florida Keys for flyrod tarpon, we got a phone call from our guide-to-be advising that he had been injured and would not be available. Hoping for the best, we went anyway. (Arriving at Bud ‘n Mary’s Marina in Islamorada in high season without a guide is not recommended.)

On arrival, we were told, “Well, we have this older guy who still takes people out.” What choice did we have? That “older guy” turned out to be Jimmie Albright, then in his early 70s, one of the pioneers in saltwater fly fishing and the developer of the knot that bears his name. He was the  preferred guide of baseball great Ted Williams, and was also requested by Ernest Hemmingway, Jimmy Stewart, and Zane Grey.

Due to Jimmie’s age we spent much of the day “staked out” in likely spots, and I don’t recall jumping any tarpon. However, we were intrigued by his stories and experiences, and felt privileged to be included among his usual clientele.

The next day we were assigned to a less experienced guide, but when Tom strip-struck a tarpon the line-leader knot broke. I’d never heard Tom swear before. Back at the dock, Jimmie was busy cleaning his boat nearby, so Tom asked him if he would tie a better knot. Of course he was happy to oblige.