Brits: You Can Die Flyfishing in N. America!
Posted on Monday, November 17th, 2008
I’ve always thought the wilderness could be the neutral meeting ground for peaceful and harmonious experiences. A place where people from all different nations and creeds could come together to enjoy recreating and meditating in the sounds and smells of the forests and rivers.
Not so.
At least, not so for those hoping to commune with nature through flyfishing in North America.
According to the British fly fishing site “The English Fly Fishing Shop,” fly fishermen visiting the states could die in the wilds and never come home.
Here is the introduction to the cautionary page (click here then scroll to the bottom of the page for the entire WARNING):
What are you talking about I hear you say. This guy has gone mad. He has been fishing in the sun too long. I am very serious. Non Americans fishing in America are in danger of being killed or of being seriously injured. There are hazards like bears, alligators, stingrays, poison ivy, hunters with guns and monster sharks that can cause you harm if not fatal damage. The locals know of the dangers and take steps to try and avoid being hurt. Here in Britain there are no dangerous animals to interrupt a great days fishing. I hope to help you have a safe fishing vacation by providing you with knowledge you need to avoid the pit falls of fly fishing in the America Continent.
The author later goes on to detail those hazards. His list includes sharks, jellyfish, warm seawater bacterium, coral rocks & shells and mountain lions, to name a few.
Maybe because I live in a place populated by mountain lions and bison and elk, or maybe just because the warning is so outrageous, one of my favorite highlights from the warning is about elk:
ELK
American Elk are mostly benign but in the autumn, it’s rutting season and male elk are getting combative, “bugling” to attract mates and deter lustful opponents, just at the same time you might be stalking giant 15 pound, 30 inch brown trout as they spawn in America’s numerous public access rivers. It’s also hunting season in America, so you should wear blaze orange if you are out fishing in the wilderness. The wearing of silly fur hats with antlers is strongly discouraged here! In certain American “wilderness areas” you could find yourself in the middle of a herd of 1,000 or more elk as they migrate through your favorite fishing hole. Simply remain calm, don’t make any sudden movements, and for God’s sake don’t apply any commercially-available “elk rut scent” behind your ears! A bull elk agitated by the rut might get the wrong idea about your intentions, and the results (and surgery bills) could be tragic.
I don’t know if I should laugh or just stare in wonder at this warning.
If the author is serious, and I’m still guessing, one interesting result of the warning creeks and rivers of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and beyond will be devoid British accents and full of grizzly-fighting, coral-wrangling North American hard men.
The article in question is simply linkbait – a heavy-handed attempt to generate traffic by being outrageous. It’s a sleazy tactic, and I wouldn’t give them the benefit of a link.
Trout Underground: You’re probably right. Thanks for the tip. Despite the sleaze, it’s still kind of entertaining and gave me a laugh. I’d love some tips for real stories, if you have any, and thanks for the comment.