“I have to tell you something，” he said. “This has been one of the best days of my life. The reason I’m telling you is， I wasn’t supposed to be here right now. I’ve been very sick， and my doctors didn’t think I was going to make it. I wasn’t sure I was going to make it， but I’ve been well since last autumn， and everything is fine now. My wife gave me this equipment because I’ve always wanted to fly-fish， and this trip is kind of a celebration for our family. This really has been one of the best days of my life.”
I could not speak. I looked into his eyes and nodded. He smiled at me and cast again. We left the creek only after hearing the triangle ringing for dinner in the distance.
Down the dirt road my four-wheel drive bounced over rots and rocks as I followed the creek that had given us “fantastic”， “beautiful”， “amazing” trout. The next day there would be a new fisherman to meet. And I would not let stiff， expensive clothes or a backward-mounted reel deceive me into thinking he had nothing to teach me.
我从汽车上下来，去见我的客户和他的妻子。他身体强壮结实，看起来就像户外运动宣传册上的模特。崭新的钓竿笔挺，所有的器具都闪着光泽，从未被使用过。他把它们挂在胸前，就像搁置在工具房里的工具。他背上挂着一个手工编制的渔网，水靴上的毛毡像雪一样洁白。钓竿从没弄湿过，更别说钓过鱼了，钓鱼线因为没有用过而闪闪发光，卷线轴装反了。
“典型的新手”，我想，根据我的经验，他跟所有的富人一样，有钱，但可能苛刻。
我伸出手去跟他握手，他有力地回握。
他的妻子，是一个自信迷人的女士。她为我们照了一张合影后，就向我们挥手道别了，她举起来的手臂上带着一个缀满了绿松石的手镯。
首先，我把他的卷线轴转了过来，他笑了，耸了耸肩。然后，在房子后面的草坪上，我们开始练习抛钩。