Sh*t You Hear In (or near) A Fly Shop: Jungle Cock

by Jake McGlothlin on March 3, 2015

in Sh*t You Hear In A Fly Shop

Three fly tyers walk into a wine bar…

It’s always interesting how hearing a conversation out of context can make things pretty damn awkward.

Last night after work Ethan and I headed over to the bar near the shop for a drink before the shop’s weekly tying night.  The establishment is a pretty swanky place, known for it’s somewhat snooty clientele and pricey wine.  Not the typical setting for a couple of fly fishermen.

We sat down and before too long Ken wandered in and joined us.  We ordered drinks and were catching up on the day as the waitress filled our water glasses.  I asked Ken if he’d been fishing today and he replied, “No, I drove all the way to the Upper Madison to buy some jungle cock”.  

Out of the corner of my eye I saw the hand pouring the water stop, mid pour.  An awkward silence fell over the table. Sadly I couldn’t see the waitress’s face, but Ken said she gave him a very strange look and half a smile and left, quickly.  We immediately burst out laughing and I don’t think I’ve seen Ken’s face get that red before.  He wanted to explain the context of our conversation, but when our drinks were ready a different waitress brought them over.

jc10_2

For those of you who don’t know, jungle cock is a very highly prized (and pricey) fly tying material.  Steelhead and salmon anglers have been using it in their patterns for many years.  Some people believe that using it has some “magical” power that draws fish in.  Regardless of that, it does look pretty damn good on a fly and is a must for a serious steelhead tyer.  

It’s also very hard to find in Montana.

I can pretty much guarantee that our waitress has never fly fished or tied a fly in her life.  She no doubt had absolutely no idea what we were talking about.  And out of context, it’s one of those things that sounds really bad…  Oh well. That’s what happens when three fly fishermen sit down in a wine bar.

We’ll be laughing about that one for a while.