Home & People

Press, 21 October 1978, Page 4

Home & People

Buying a new fishing rod has problems. You have to get the money saved, but a good keen disciplined man can do that. Another problem is the wife. Women folk have a most distorted sense of values. A new washing machine, or new curtains are rated as top priority while fishing tackle rates poorly. The other day 1 went into a fishing shop and a nervous looking chap was buying a new fishing rod. I stood there waiting, but interested in the beautiful new graphite fly rod. “Get all the price tags off.” he said to the salesman. The salesman giggled. “Oh, a gift is it?” “No,” said the nervous buyer. “It’s for me. Look you have to get the price tags off. Hell, if the wife knows the correct price, I’ll be for it.” The nervy angler shot a glance around the shop, then he turned to the salesman. “Look she doesn’t know the price of a carbon rod. I’ll just tell her it was a few dollars, a sale-price item.” You leave that $l5O price tag on and she’ll never let me go fishing again.” Now that chap was not being honest. If he was honest with his wife, I’m sure she would admire him. that is, if he plays his cards right. I agree that the angler was considerate in that he was trying to save her

from anguish, especially when she had probably been wanting new curtains for a year.

Sa I suppose he can’t wander in with his new rod and announce he’s just paid out $l5O for a fishing pole. That is unfair to the wife. The shock would hit her hard. He could sneak it in and hide it in a place where she’d never find it, but each fishing trip would be a devious, sneaky, nervewracking affair. Besides the kids might find it. He could buy a cheaper rod. It’ll catch as many fish but it’s not in the same class and that would deflate badly our hero’s ego.

Buying an expensive fishing rod is just the way to restore seif-morale. What to do? Well, there is just one way out of this problem- It’s fair, considerate and kind. Get the rod gift-wrapped.

Take it home, with a loving smile on your face and present it to her for the birthday you forgot last- year, or else make it next year’s present in advance. She could not object to this display- of husband devotion could she? This all depends on whether she fishes herself. It won’t work if she does and there is the faint possibility it might inspire her to take up trout fishing, and leave you at home to look after the kids and to do the spring cleaning. However, there’s a good

chance she won’t and then when you go fishing you can ask her if you can borrow her rod. If you really flog along the fishing trips during the winter and next spring, by

Christmas, the rod will virtually be yours because, they say, "possession is nine-tenths of the law.” Fishermen must be honwhen buying a new rod.