What a fool believes

I last went fly fishing more than 10 years ago. A private stretch of either the Test or the Itchen (fly anglers bash their heads against the nearest wall in disbelief that I'm unable to remember which). I taught myself to cast about 20 feet and set off. I bent my landing net handle, I remember that. And the guy I was with caught a grayling. I saw some trout and cast to them, but they showed not the slightest interest. I can't remember what flies were used - though obviously they weren't mine.

Anyway, I was heartened recently by Sheringham who maintained that one only needs a couple of flies to make a decent stab at fly fishing. As this new and strange world opens before me, that's what I'm hanging on to.