Don't hold your fly rod in your mouth.

[Marty Owens]

Don’t chew up your equipment

I have noticed in the past several years a strange trend towards holding your fishing rod in your mouth while having your picture made with your catch. I first noticed this in some of the more popular fly fishing magazines. It would be some guide in Wyoming with a nice little cut throat and a little #2 weight rod stuck in his mouth. I suppose they were trying to get the rod & reel into the picture. Maybe for sponsors or maybe they were just proud of their equipment, I am not sure. I admit when I first saw this strange phenomenon and fishing myself for little brookies with light tackle I tried it shortly after thinking it must be the latest and greatest technique for posing with your fish and your outfit. I promptly discovered that it is a strange sensation, graphite and tooth enamel don’t mix. My dentist is and angler and I couldn’t imagine trying to explain to him the manner in which I cracked my tooth. And the ensuing balancing act was a little to much work for posing. How far from your mouth does the reel need to be and there was a leverage issue it was just too complicated. What truly showed me the error in my ways was to see the photo later. I looked like some sort of weird swashbuckling angler.

In the years after, I have noticed and increase in this trend. I have to believe it is a subliminal thing that has grown in seeing more and more guys posing in this manner. They saw it, tried as I did, and it stuck. Only the others fail to see the strange appearance you have. Sort of a kinky, S&M, gag thing going on with a fishing pole in your mouth. The other thing I noticed was these weren’t the tiny little #2 weight outfits as seen early on, no these were everything. I saw a tarpon angler trying to hold up this beautiful big fish with a big #13 weight and reel to match not near as delicately crammed in his mouth. I mean what’s next a tuna fisherman standing on the pier by a 200 lbs. fish with a big standup rod & reel dangling from his lips.

The cover of a recent popular magazine was more than I could stand. The guy, on the cover no less, has a nice trout he is posing with and there perched firmly in his jaws is his bait casting outfit. Not even a particularly nice outfit at that or even a fly rod. In the process of getting the necessary vise like grip on the rod he has managed to get the line in-between the rod and his teeth. Most of us go to great pains to protect our lines from any nick or scrap and here this bozo is taking a big bite out of his. I would hate to loose my next fish because I was the one that bite and nicked my line. I suppose he was trying to smile. I would, I mean here he is on the cover of this great magazine only he has this strange self imposed gag look on his face. What do you want to bet this picture is hanging on the wall in his office?

Fellow anglers I implore you to reframe from this ridiculous pose. If you must have your tackle in the picture invite a friend to hold it. There is a great picture on the cover of another great magazine of to guys, ones holding a nice Bonita and the other is holding the weapon used to capture the magnificent beast. If you must hold something in your mouth make it a big cigar, a nice Macunudo or even Cuban if you can get it. But I believe the best option is a big ole toothy smile.

Tight Lines, Marty Owens