[VFB] Philmont Fishing Report

[Jimmy D. Moore]

Now that Denny has made his report, I'll add a little to it.  For any of 
you that don't know Denny, he is a very quiet, shy guy who has more 
fly-fishing and hackle knowledge than anyone I've ever met or fished 
with.  Denny's forte is teaching.  It was a real pleasure to sit with 
others of our group and watch him demonstrate tying his Knit Pickin 
Mayfly and also soak up a pointer or two on fly casting.  Denny has the 
patience of Jobe. I now know how to braid, as do the rest of the gang 
that watched.  Denny took one of our group who'd never had a fly rod in 
her hand and in 20 minutes had her casting like Brad Pitt in "A River 
Runs Through It."  She caught no fish the first day, but sure made up 
for it on the second.  She is a volunteer Scouter in the Albuquerque Boy 
Scout Council and has a 15 year old son who she will shortly be teaching 
how to cast and how to tie flies.

The total number of fly fishers attending the Philmont Fly Fishing 
Invitational was 105.  They came from all over the USA and all are Scout 
adult volunteers back in their home council.  The presentation of 
Denny's "replacement" Eagle Scout Badge was something that Jeff Hines 
and I had worked on for the last three months.When Jeff found out that 
Denny was attending as the guest of Philmont, ( Denny donated 60 necks & 
saddles for the Philmont Summer fly fishing program with close to 5,000 
Scouts participating),  he told me the story about how Denny had lost 
his Eagle Badge while away in the military.  Denny didn't know that a 
replacement badge could be had, so he never persued getting it.  Jeff 
and I worked with National BSA to secure a new Eagle badge, certificate 
and wallet card.  To make a long story short,  Jeff couldn't make the 
trip, so I had the honor and pleasure of presenting Denny's Eagle Badge 
at the opening Buffalo Steak Dinner at the Old Mill in Cimarron in front 
of the entire 100+ group. Denny was, to put it mildly, "in a state of 
shock", for he had no idea that I was to present his Eagle.  His 
understanding was that I wanted to recognize him for his donation to 
Philmont, which I did, but then  I explained the what and why about 
Denny's Eagle and asked all Eagles in attendance to stand and share the 
moment as I presented the award.   There were close to 40 Eagles 
attending.  There wasn't a dry eye in the group when I finished, 
including Denny and me.  It was a very emotional moment for all.

I salute Denny Conrad.  He's a special guy and a super friend!  If any 
of you would like to see photos of the Eagle presentation and the cabin, 
etc. where we stayed, please email me OFF LIST.

Cheers !
JIMMY  D