Today, English teacher Debbie Leonard’s AP Literature class began reading its new novella “A River Runs Through It” narrated by the acclaimed author Norman MacLean. The novella tells the story of brothers Norman and Paul, who learn the art of fly fishing from their father; MacLean uses fly fishing as an extended metaphor for life to tell his story.

Leonard wanted her students to get a better understanding of fly fishing to relate better to the story. Middletown High School principal Jay Berno responded to Leonard’s call for an experienced fly fisherman and agreed to speak to the class.

Berno began his lecture about fly fishing by telling the class about a friend he knew when he was principal of Walkersville High School, who got him involved in fly fishing.

Berno spoke about how the a fly fisherman’s rod is different from that of a “worm fisherman.” The rod has a main line and two lines protruding from the main line making a Y. On one of the two lines are weights and on the other is the fly.

Berno showed the class how to properly cast when fly fishing and told it how real fly fisherman land their fish. He showed the class pictures of him fly fishing and pictures of the fish that are typically caught by fly fisherman.

Berno concluded his speech telling the class that fly fishing to him is a meditating experience and that his favorite part about the sport is “communing with nature and being alone.”