I had been to this stretch of stream just three days before, when conditions weren't as good, & I had hooked into - & lost - a very smart trout. Naturally, I was on a mission to meet up with that trout again (as you would be, too I'm sure). As I walked the trail through the woods that ran somewhat parallel to the stream, thinking of said trout & my plan of attack, I was in good spirits. Being the only angler along the water that morning I was very confident I could fish the spot where I was outwitted by my trout without any other angler getting in the way.
As I picked up my walking pace again I approached a blind curve in the trail & that's where we both met - him heading in the opposite direction as me. I was relieved to see that he wasn't physically hurt in any way. We made eye contact & I saw this stranger's facial expression change from anger to embarrassment in an instant. Obviously he, too thought he was alone on the stream. As loud as his tirade had been, he knew that I must have heard it. He had already taken his rod apart & I could see a tangled bird's nest of leader hanging from the rod tip in his hand.
In my mind I felt pity for the guy but I'm sure that outwardly I was grinning. I asked him if he was okay in a casual tone & that seemed to soften his embarrassment some. He informed me that he was alright & went on to explain that he was new to fishing & was trying to learn, but had been having nothing but trouble. He just couldn't get the hang of it. "I don't know why anybody does this fishing thing!", he said.
"Is there anything I can do to help you", I asked. "I'll be happy to show you anything I can."
"Nah, to hell with it," he said with a gesture. "Thanks, anyway but I've had enough of this. I'm going golfing for the rest of the day."
I wished him good luck & we parted company.
Certainly that fellow's problem was that he had no one to show him the ropes of the sport. I would have been willing to do that for him, as much as I could, spending the better part of my day if that's what it took. The thought did occur to me that I hoped he was a better golfer than he was angler. If not, good luck to all those other golfers on the course he was headed to! Who knows, maybe it was a good thing (for me) that he declined my offer to help?
But it was a beautiful spring day. The sky was blue, the sun was out, & the trees were budding with new life - & I had a score to settle with a very smart trout.