William Rumley "Out with the Old, In with the New"

I recently came across a tying video of an older pattern called the Zug Bug. I was intrigued by its old-school materials—mostly unfamiliar to me—and by how closely it resembled the Prince Nymph, a pattern that came much later. The Zug Bug is well known for its effectiveness in catching trout, despite its dated appearance.

As I tied the fly, I found myself reflecting on a shopping trip the day before. I was preparing to photograph installations of my new work and needed to buy a black sheet to photograph through, eliminating my reflection in the framed narratives on the wall. I was frustrated and impatient that I had to make the trip at all.

When I stepped up to the register, the cashier was leaving for a break and was replaced by an older man who slowly hobbled into place. My first thought was, Great, this is going to take forever.

But almost immediately I realized that wasn’t true. He was pleasant, patient, and entirely capable. The delay I had anticipated existed only in my own impatience.

I reflected on my ageist assumption as I hobbled back to my truck.