Great story Jimi. I completely understand where he was coming from in not letting people fish on his property.
The garbage that people leave behind is disgusting -- tangles of monafilment everywhere -- no respect for the land the river or the fish. I usually pick up some of the garbage and pack it out. Make sure Amanda takes the guy fly fishing. -Ken- ----- Original Message ----- From: "Desert Eagle" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, December 17, 2002 5:37 AM Subject: [VFB] "Appreciation" > 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 > >
