Yes, I like to feel that the guiding hand of Divine Providence helps
me to do something good now and then. But as is usually the case
(especially if a "Higher Power" is involved) it was as good for me
as it was for Chuck. I have never been one of the "fly fishing for
solitude" types and ALWAYS prefer to fish with a friend. This
isn't the first time I have made a stranger into a friend so I would
have someone to fish with! But Chuck's handicap certainly made it
more compelling to fish with him, and more satisfying when he met
with success.
And you are right, I think I might have made a friend for life, and
perhaps some of you will as well. I'm going to give Chuck the VFB
link and perhaps he will choose to join the list.
By the way, Chuck came to America and made the most of it, he works
as a Pharmacist in a Salt Lake Hospital, is married with children and
hasn't let his handicap stop him from doing anything that was
important to him (he fishes in the summer and skies in the winter).
Tom
On Apr 6, 2007, at 12:44 PM, jim phillips wrote:
You will have a friend for life and you made your "Higher Power"
smile. divine providence guided you to make that early turn and
stop for the waving fisherman. You were there because you were
suppose to do just what you did. Good job!!!
Jim
On 4/6/07, Larry Johnson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Tom: Good story.
LJ
>>> "Tom Davenport" < [EMAIL PROTECTED]> 4/5/2007 11:30 PM >>>
Wednesday I decided I was going to try to get my pontoon kickboat out
for the year and get the still water season kicked off. I had gotten
it out, inflated and left early Wednesday morning. On the way up
Weber Canyon I decided to take the Taggert exit and see how the
river looked (I wasn't even certain that the reservoir I was heading
for was ice free, so I was hedging my bets). As I pulled off the
exit onto the road that borders the Weber river another fly
fisherman was getting ready. He smiled and waved at me like I was an
old friend, so I pulled over to see if it was someone I knew (I have
had over 15,000 students in my 31 year career as a high school
teacher, and am always running into people who know me but I don't
recognize because they have grown older).
Well, it turned out to be a stranger about my age who just wanted to
ask some questions about the river. After talking for a while I
found out this man was born in Hong Kong and had contracted Polio
when he was two years old. It left both of his legs paralyzed but he
has gained partial use of one, and with braces on both can walk on a
smooth surface. But when he is fishing, he uses crutches, and has
learned to be satisfied with fishing what ever part of the river he
is able to reach.
Well, I decided to bag my trip to the reservoir and fish with him to
see if I could help him get into some fish. He had never fished the
Weber before, and I have fished it for 15 years and know every hole
on this particular stretch.
I put on my waders and started hunting for my fly rod (which should
have been in its case at the bottom of all of the stuff I had piled
in the truck. ) It wasn't there! Then I remembered that I emptied
the truck (including the rod) before putting in the pontoon boat, and
hadn't put the rod back in. If I hadn't stopped and decided to help
Chuck (this fellows name was Chuck Chow) I would have had an hour and
a half drive for nothing!
Chuck had an extra rod, an Orvis Trident 3 wt. that he let me use. It
fished amazingly well for such a light rod, especially since we were
nymphing with some serious weight to get the flies down into the deep
holes. He was left handed, so the reel was backwards for me, but
that wasn't a big deal.
We were starting early in the day for the Weber , and neither of us
had a bite for the first hour and a half. So I went further down
river to the "Honey Hole" and caught a fish first cast. The access
was a little tricky for Chuck, but it was a perfect hole for him,
long and deep, so I went back up and talked him into switching. It
took about 45 minutes for Chuck to make his way the 100 yards down
stream, but it was worth the effort. I gave Chuck the best stretch
(I thought) and went 30 feet up to high stick the fast water at the
head of the hole. I started catching a fish every other cast, but
Chuck wasn't catching any. I tried to get him to come up to my spot,
but he wouldn't. After I caught about six fish I stopped and asked
Chuck to let me see how he was rigged. With his permission I rigged
him up using my favorite flies for the Weber and made a cast to show
him how to best to fish the hole. I handed his rod back at the
beginning of the drift, and he immediately got a fish! I love it
when that happens! We both got into plenty of fish after that and
ended catching more than we cared to count (mostly Whitefish, with a
few Browns now and then) Basically a good old, Weber river day with
plenty of action. It is amazing how many fish can be pulled out of
one of the Weber's deep holes on a good day.
Bu the most fun for me by far was getting Chuck into some fish, and
we are going to do it again in a couple of weeks. He is a "kindred
spirit" (yes, I'm man enough to admit I have read the Ann of Green
Gables books), and I suspect will become a good friends, (like many
of you I have met on this list). All in all it was great day of
fishing!
Tom
My Daughter's Name Art website: www.wishberrie.com
Home Page: http://homepage.mac.com/tsmd
Webshots Albums: http://community.webshots.com/user/tsmdav
My Daughter's Name Art website: www.wishberrie.com
Home Page: http://homepage.mac.com/tsmd
Webshots Albums: http://community.webshots.com/user/tsmdav
