Fly Fishing, or the one that didn't get away!

I walked into a local establishment that sells fishing and hunting equipmentt outdoors men and women. As I walked through the door I heard a patron of the store talking to a salesmen. The conversation went like this.

Customer: “How much is that fly?

Salesman: $1.98 sir.

Customer: That isn’t much.

Salesman: Not at all sir. Now all you need are a few other items and you will be all set to go fly fishing.

Customer: Great, tell me what I need.

Saleman: You will need a fly rod. They range in pirice for $89 to over $2,000. I have a nice Orvis Rod for just $198..

Customer. I will take it. Do I need anything else?

Salesman: Yes, a fly reel. These can be very expensive, but fortunately we have an Orvis reel that matches your rod and it is only $295.

Customer: Well I guess a rod isn’t much good without the reel. I will need line for that won’t I?

Sales Man: Yes you will need line, and backing, the backing is $12, and this nice floating fly line is $69..

Customer: Okay.

Salesman: You bought only one fly sir. We have a nice package of dry flies for $32 and one of wet flies for $32. You need to have extra flies in case you lose one, or the fish don’t bite on the pattern you are using.

Customer: Okay

Salesman: May I ask how you are going to tie your flies to your line.

Customer: With a knot.

Salesman: Oh no sir. The line is too thick. You will need a leader and a tippet. I have a nice combo leader and tippet package for $19.95. By the way what are you going to put your flies in?

Customer: My pockets?

Salesman: They will be hooked in your pockets. We have a nice little fly box for $15. And while we are at it we just as well throw in a fishing vest, that is $49 ..

Customer: Why do I need a vest?

Salesman: To put your fly box in, and also the spare tippets and leaders and other stuff.

Customer: Okay

Salesman: You know sometimes you need to wade in the water to cast to the big ones, waders are only $299.

Customer: Are you sure I need them?

Salesman: Only if you want to make sure you catch fish.

Customer: Okay

Salesman: What if the water is deeper than your waders sir? If you really want to catch fish you should have a boat. We have a nice little pontoon boat for only $888..

Customer: Okay, but this is getting to be a lot of stuff.

Salesman: It may seem that way, but it is a onetime investment and think how many times you will go fishing. By the way how are you going to see the fish.

Customer: With my eyes!

Salesman: Of course sir, but what if the sun is shining. We have a great offer right now for polarized sun glasses, just $299..

Customer: Ring me up.

Salesman: One other thing, have you ever fly fished before?

Customer: No

Salesman: it would be a shame if you bought all this nice fishing gear sir and didn’t know how to use it. I can book you for two days of fly fishing lessons in Michigan only $499.

Customer: Well I guess you are right.

Salesman: You live here in Illinois right.

Customer: Year, but….

Salesman: There is hardly a trout in this state. It would be a shame to have all this equipment and know how to use it, but no fish to test your skill. The closest good trout fishing is in Wisconsin. It will only cost you $650 for two days of guided fishing.

The salesman rang up the sale and packed up the purchase. When the customer left I walked over to the sales man and said. “Wow you are one heck of a salesman. That guy walks in and asks how much a little fly is and you end up selling him over $3300 worth of stuff.

Salesman: Oh no sir. The young man didn’t come in to buy anything. He was asking directions. He said he had just moved in and his wife wasn’t going to be here for two weeks and did I know of any points of interest in the area. I asked him, have you ever considered fly fishing?