Monday of this week found me back at my sometimes-grueling job. This Monday certainly was one of those days. Through the years I have found my body reacts to stress in different ways. I have experienced hot flashes, rapid pulse, difficulty breathing and a host of other symptoms. On this past Monday I experienced something I had never felt before. Throughout the day my right arm would fly up and 90 degree at the elbow. From there the arm would swing like a pendulum from the 10 o’clock to 2 o’clock positions. In addition I would at times find myself staring into the turbulent water of the flush at the urinal while wearing polarized glasses. I knew then that I was in real trouble. I knew the best thing for my health was to seek medical attention ASAP. My friend Greg has several contacts in the medical field, so I called Greg for advise. Without hesitation he recommended that I call Dr. Fishalot. Dr. Fishalot was unable to see me on Monday, but quickly diagnosed my symptoms as Landlock Salmonitis. ?Although no cure is known, he said, “the symptoms can be relieved by locating a river holding salmon.” Another call to Greg and plans were made to treat my condition at first light on Tuesday. After driving for 3 hours, spotting a young cow moose, a deer and several other creatures of nature we arrived at our destination. I passed along to Greg, that fishing above the bridge at this location would be non productive. (I had gathered that bit of information in my search for productive salmon waters) Well, Greg insisted we start at the top and work our way down. On about my fifth cast, with a cone head wooly bugger attached, into the top run of this river the tug I needed to ease the symptoms I had described to Dr. Fishalot happened. This was a heavy fish and my 5-wt trident was being pushed to its limits as this fish fought being brought back upstream. The fish came into the net and was quickly released. Greg was next to hook up using a stonefly nymph. And so the day went. We caught fish on streamers, and nymphs. We caught salmon and trout. But, the fish I remembered as I laid my head on the pillow last night was the one in the pool just before the bridge. I was drifting a nymph and using an indicator. The drift was perfect, the indicator paused momentarily and I set the hook. From below the surface an explosion occurred that propelled a huge salmon into the air. “There he is,” I hollered and “there he goes I cried.” He shook the hook as soon as he hit the water. I will remember that fish for a long time. Hopefully my symptoms of Landlocked Salmonitis will subside a little and will be able to concentrate on work for the remainder of the week. If not Dr Fishalot has said I will need to see a specialist? Dr Seasonoff?.
hey pat — i hope your disease continues to progress. i know you will be strong and hang in there as the symptoms become much worse … and you know, that you can always count on me to be by yourside until the very end… even if i have to make the necessary sacrifices …. i will be by your side during your trials and tribulations … and if that means going to quebec, labrador, alaska, wyoming … well so be it. i know full well how contagious salmonitis can be … it has been spreading through maine at alarming rates … but i won’t let this disease get the best of me or you … i don’t care if dr. fishalot prescribes hours upon hours on the water … and even if we have to travel to distant lands to find the cures and ease your pain …. count me in.
thanks, its nice to know i can count on some support. Honestly, that last fish hooked was a beauty. I bet 24″ and fat. The rod vibrated down to the handle. Thanks for teaching me the nymph game. I am learning and loving it.
I’m very sorry to hear of your recent illness. Salamonitis is a brutal and merciless disease as it often morphs into other related diseases, steelheaditis, striperitis, smallmouthitis, etc. One never knows when or how intense the symptoms will appear. As far as I know there is no cure or even a hope of a cure. The only remedy that helps me is time of the water. I hope you get enough of that to make the illness bearable. Good luck and let us know how you deal with your affliction.
thank you for your concern. I am sure that if I do as Dr. Fishalot tells me I will be fine. It is nice to know that I am not alone with this affliction. FliesandFins has been a great support group. Maybe we should get Jeremy to post a list of members that would volunteer to be available should the need arise. Sort of like AA. When things are real rough you call a member on the list and they will fish with you….
Pat/ should you ever need an intervention I’m sure we could all get together and see you through.
Thanks Whippa, I think a support group is what I need.
Doctor, I believe we lost another one….Darnit, he seemed so strong willed. He wanted to live!!!