57 years ago, on January 14th, 1965, Bob Dylan recorded his hit single “Subterranean Homesick Blues”

Here are some thoughts on fly fishing set to this classic tune.

Down in the basement,

Thinnin’ out the head cement,

Thumbin’ through a catalog,

Last year’s fishin’ log.

Tyin’ Brown Drake males,

No hackle, V-tails,

New pattern travails,

Call ’em spinners if you fail.

Look out kid,

Another wing just split,

You need size ten,

But you’re doin’ it again,

Better stand up, take a break,

Go upstairs, check the date,

Make a call upstate,

Hope you’re not already late,

The tape is pre-recorded,

Hendricksons reported,

Mayflies are emergin’,

Fishermen convergin’.

Blue Quills, Red Quills,

Delaware, Beaverkill,

Big time spinner fall,

Maybe you can fish ’em all.

How ya gonna get away?

Maybe take a sick day.

Caddis bust in early May,

But don’t forget Mother’s Day!

Keep tyin’ kid,

You need emergers and nymphs,

For Cornuta, ‘tenuata,

Dorothea, Guttulata,

Slate Wing Blue Dun,

Stenonema Fuscum,

Potomanthus, Vitrea,

Paraleptophlebia,

Baetis, Isonychia,

Also Hexagenia.

A couple weighted Muddlers,

Bead head Wooly Buggers,

Your tired eyes are throbbin’,

The thread breaks in the bobbin.

Summer comes, fly west,

New hat, new vest,

Wading staff, won’t slip,

Big Horn float trip.

Yellowstone, cutthroats,

Spring creeks, belly boats,

Salmon flies, flyin’ ants,

Henry’s Fork, Last Chance.

Look out kid,

For chironomids,

And all minutiae,

Stillborn pupae,

The mating cycles,

Of swarming tricos,

Smutting risers,

Hatch disguisers,

Gnats and skeeters,

Hope yer not a bleeder!

Rod jam, two men,

Hands around the handle,

When you put it in the case,

Rub the ferrules with a candle.

If you wanna be a fishin’ bum,

You’re gonna need some,

Fluorocarbon leaders,

For picky surface feeders,

A better pair of waders,

Don’t forget the gaiters.

You’ve come to fish at the right time, selected the correct lure, made the perfect presentation, and the fish of your lifetime has taken your offering. Your chances for fighting and landing it are now as strong as the weakest link in the line between your reel and the fish. Is now the time to wonder whether the materials you selected and the knots you tied were the best choice for the conditions?

In Fly-Fishing Knots and Connections, legendary fly fisherman Lefty Kreh tells anglers everything they need to know about what may be the most crucial aspect of successful angling-the connections between the reel, backing, fly line, leader, and tippet. Buy Now