Morning folks,
Thought I would pass on some food for thought this morning. Have you
ever considered your participation as a fly fisher "person" was actually
appreciated and respected ? Let me tell you a little story.
Sunday afternoon when we were headed for the "Springs", just before we
entered the little valley where it is, I noticed a man working on a fence.
You see there is "More" water, even better water, deeper pools and lots
more fish below the springs, but it is on private land and "Posted" for
miles. I pulled the truck over to the edge of the road and ask Amanda and
Theresa to wait just a bit I would be right back. As I crossed the road I
ask the man if he was associated with the ranch. He explained that he was
the ranch manager and could he help me. I ask him if they allowed anyone to
fish the lower section from the road crossing down the 2 or so miles where
it was posted.
His reply was so common of today. He told me that years ago they had no
problem with letting folks fish it but things had changed since then. He got
tired of picking up trash and beer bottles, cleaning broken glass up along
the stream and generally folks just making a total mess of the area. The
other thing, and this was what really set him off, was that folks would
catch a 5 gallon bucket full of the little 2 or 3 inch blue gill and take
them home to cook them. As he put it, there isn't a tablespoon of meat on
those things but great for kids to catch. About 4 years ago some folks got
really drunk, fought, tore up the place, shot holes in his signs and just
generally terrorized the canyon, all on private land along the stream. So he
did the only thing he could do. He locked the gates, posted signs, and even
posted a 10 X 20 foot billboard on the road in stating private land, no
hunting or fishing ( which were torn down or shot up for the first few
months). So for almost 4 years he has not let anyone fish the stream except
his kids and the owners kids.
I thanked him and told him I understood and turned to leave. Amanda was
hanging out of the truck window watching and listening with her new VFB hat
and vest on. Bill, ( The Forman), stopped me and ask about the hat and vest.
I told him that Amanda and I almost strictly fly fish. The look on his face
was pure bewilderment. "You Fly Fish" ?? Amanda piped up and told him that
we even tie our own flies. We talked a bit more and we explained that we
catch and release and pack out what we pack in. Amanda showed him her new
rod and explained the intricacies of it.
As we were about to leave he stopped us again. He explained that his dad
used to fish with a fly rod in Montana. The way he respected the fish and
the joy and excitement he expressed when he had one on. He was going to make
an exception, I was going to be given "Exclusive" rights to fish any part of
the stream. I was to park by his house and could bring a guest if I desired,
Amanda always, but I would be the only one to have access, and he gave it to
me in righting. I ask what made the change. He explained that while Amanda
was talking, he could see that she was a "different" sort of kid. She was
knowledgeable about what she was doing, always referred to him as "Sir" and
showed respect, he liked that in a kid."If she acts like that to a stranger,
must have got it from her parents, so they must be decent folks as well". He
told us, " besides, the bass are getting "To" big in the stream and need
some exercise, and we could keep a few of the larger ones to allow the
smaller one to grow if we liked". But mainly he remembered the folks his dad
fly fished with, decent, upstanding, respectful folks. He figured that
hadn't changed much, seeing that you never see them around these parts, kind
of a special bread if you will.
What changed his mind from keeping it closed, Amanda hanging out of the
truck, ( she is a cute kid and can melt your heart with her smile), don't
think so. Listening to him talk, I would say that he had a deep appreciation
about fly fishing, one that he didn't quite understand, a form of "Magic" if
you will. You could see the sparkle in his eyes and the wonder in his words
when he talked about it, he "Appreciated" it as only a few could. Maybe he
saw a bit of himself in Amanda, a part that never really got to experience
the grace of a take on a dry fly or play a fish with such delicate moves so
as not to lose it with such a small tippet. Don't know exactly, but he did.
We plan on heading there on one of the good weather days and explore it
from end to end, fish a little but mainly just get the lay of the land. I
also plan to "Always" have an extra rod in the truck, just in case...
So enjoy my friends, you find out sometimes that just because we fish with
this long stick and little bugs, the look we get is not always contempt, it
very well could be "Appreciation".
Jimi
