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FISHING ARIZONA STYLEBy Reg “Chip” Chipman I travel once or twice a year to go fly fishing. This requires lengthy waits before boarding an airplane and more waiting at connecting airports. Fellow travelers often strike up a conversation asking where I am from. If I feel like chatting, I usually launch into a travelogue that would make the state Chamber of Commerce proud. If I don’t feel like yakking, I just say I’m from Arizona and I sell mortuary services or life insurance. That always causes the other party to immediately reading a magazine or to close their eyes and pretend to sleep. On my last trip, I didn’t do either of those things. ‘So what do you do in Arizona,” the man asked. “I’m a fishing guide.” He looked skeptical. “You have rivers out there in Arizona?” “Yes, but ours are different than in most places.” “How’s that? “In most of the country rivers have water in ‘em.” “Fish need water to live.” I could see that this dude was sharp. “I didn’t say we fish for fish.” “What then,” looking really puzzled. “Rattlesnakes,” I replied. “RATTLESNAKES!” People from several aisles around turned their heads in our direction. He flagged down a flight attendant and ordered another drink. I ordered my usual, milk and cookies. I really had the dude going. “How the hell do you fish for rattlesnakes”? “Well we use bait casting rods or spinning rods and live mice that you can get from any pet store. You put a little harness on the mouse that has a couple of hooks on it. It’s cleverly designed so they don’t stick the mouse, and there is a little eyelet so you can attach a snap swivel and your fishing line. I went on to explain the technique. “In the late afternoon when the snakes start to move around, you go out to your favorite dry wash or river bed. You cast the mouse as you would a lure, but you have to be certain that the mouse lands in a soft sandy spot and not on a rock, which usually kills the mouse. Snakes prefer live food, so if the mouse is not alive, you have to rig up again. “In fact, when I am guiding novices, I tell them just to put the mouse on the ground, pay out some line, and let it scurry off. If you are lucky, a rattler will chomp on the mouse and then you will have a real battle on your hands.” The dude is thinking this over. “How do you get the snake off the hook?” he asks. “Carefully. Veeeery carefully.” -END-
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