Pennsylvania

Before this fishing trip I stopped at a café not far from the river. Sitting next to me was a very young man dressed to go trout fishing. I told him about the Fishing America project and how I was going fishing with someone named Charles Meek. He said, “Do you mean Charles Meck?”

I said, “Yes.” I was embarrassed as this is all too common for me to mess up names.

Charles has written several books about Fly Fishing for trout and where to fish for them in Pennsylvania. This guy said, “Wow, Charlie is my God and you are going fishing with him and you don’t even know his name!” He got up, paid his bill and left in a huff.

I fished with Charlie in a river that was full of fly fishermen. He caught several fish, as did all the guys around us, while I didn’t. I didn’t and still don’t understand how to fly fish for Brown Trout. It was almost dark when Charlie decided to coach me. It didn’t take much and I too caught the targeted Brown Trout. I won’t forget Charlie’s name again, but I forgot what he taught me.