St. Vrain Angler News & Muse September 6, 2005

Greetings!

It's another lovely day in the neighborhood and I thought I'd say good morning. I hope you are well and rested. I don't know if I am or not, but I slept lots over the weekend, did lots of reading and basically vegetated. They are good things.

Most of the time I try to do too much and as a result I have fatigue build up that is rusting my bones and brain. Oh well; so it goes. I have been fishing lots this season, though, and that was a significant change from the past.

It seems to be about habit and making time to replace one thing with another. So often I tell myself something that is probably not really true - I've just got to stay here until this particular project is complete or else I'm a failure - and miss other opportunities. Oh well. I keep trying to learn all the time and work at replacing bad habits, thoughts and so on with good. Writing this weekly missive has been a good thing for me and I genuinely appreciate all of the delightful feedback you share.

Thanks. I do hope you are doing well. Most of what I do is about you, my fly fishing friends. I love encouraging others and seeing them thrive in life.

We're moving into Fall. Who knows how long the process will take? I don't. Today has gone from clear to overcast and threatening rain, which would be a good thing. That might mean snow in the high country. The air is cool right now.

I began working on this missive about 1-1/2 hours ago. I got sidetracked and rebuilt the Fall Fly Fishing Tips included on this web page. I'd like you to read it and let me know what you think. I hope you will study this portion of the web page and consider it a portion of today's missive. There's good stuff in there and the Fall Fly Fishing should be fabulous this season.

Please follow this link and enjoy! As always, thanks for being out there and reading my stuff. I sure appreciate all of you. Fall Fly Fishing

Recently, a number of folks have said that my promptings to Go Fishing! have worked on them. They've gone fishing. That's a good thing. In addition to the natural outgrowth of going fishing - new perspective, refreshment, eyes that see and ears that hear - they've also experienced wonder and beauty that can be found on a trout stream, fly rod in hand.

Here are a few pictures folks have shared with me. Any time you have one that you'd like others to enjoy, please send me pictures at angler@peakpeak.com. I'll make them look good for the web page, and make the size fit.

Thanks!

Like many of you my heart and mind have been full of sadness and wonder at the disaster that's hit the Mississippi coast. The more info that comes in, the worse I feel. Last week I just wanted to jump into a car and drive to Mississippi to see what I could do to help, and to interview folks and tell their story in hopes of putting something into perspective. New Orleans is just too much for me to fathom.

Alas, I'm here, writing to you rather than there, writing to you. Now, it seems that lots of folks have been brought to Colorado and the old Lowry Air Force Base. People are helping other people. These folks are in our backyard and they need help.

They all had plans for the past weekend. I wonder how many thought they would be living in cots in a college dorm, wearing someone else's clothing and eating strange food? Their schedules have changed and it was abrupt.

In the meantime, we go ahead with our plans. This is not a bad thing, either. The continuity of habits allow freedom to help in other ways - donations, taking a day or two off to help out and so on. I suppose the question becomes What can I do to help? And then, Will I do it? Will I do something?

Someone far wiser than me said that we'd always have the poor. I suppose we'll always have tragedy, pain, suffering and the like as well. I've always been idealistic and want to figure out how to fix everything that's wrong, but it is not my place to impose such things on others.

If anyone needs to gab and put some of this into perspective, or just sit and tie a fly, please stop by the shop and do so. Okay?

I don't know that that's all that important in the grand scheme of things, but on the other hand little things just might be what we have at any given time to give us perspective.

Let's do what we can, and stay calm and be objective. Whining about things such as gas prices is probably not going to help anyone at all. Putting issues into perspective and seeing what is important will keep us going.

I'd planned on starting a Fly Tying Class tonight. However, not enough folks have signed up to make it a go. I've got to have at least six folks for these classes to work and at this time there are only four. We're going to push back the starting time until next Tuesday, September 13, 2005. I hope this is not an inconvenience to anyone who signed up, and that it will work for those of you who'd like to learn to tie flies.

For info on the class please go to Introduction To Fly Tying and read all about it.

It's September and that means it is time for St. Vrain Angler's chapter of Trout Unlimited to begin meetings. The first meeting of the year will be held on Thursday, September 15, 2005 at the VFW Hall on South Main Street in Longmont, Colorado.

Last year this club got going once again and has done some fabulous work. It is time for you to get involved! There's plenty of work to do and the focus is on the St. Vrain River. That's our home stream and we should do all we can to help. Want to know how? Come and join the group for this meeting. There is no cover charge. You do not have to be a member of Trout Unlimited to attend. The program this month will be fabulous, starring Marty Bartholomew.

Fly tying and social hour begin at 6:30PM. Join the fun! Bring a friend and have an enjoyable evening with like-minded fly fishing nuts.

This week Denver is the host to the Fly Fishing World Expo. At least I think that's what it is called. This show started in the 1980's and I've attended almost all of them. For the past few years the show has been held in Denver after several years of being in Salt Lake City.

This is a trade show and the public is not invited. Sorry. Manufacturers from around the world come to show their wares and fly shop owners walk the aisles looking for good stuff that will fulfill their customer's fly fishing dreams. At least that is what I do.

Is there anything you think the shop is missing? Do you have specific things you'd like me to find for the shop? I'd really enjoy hearing from you on this topic.                  

Many of you have had the privilege, as I have, of talking and working with Ryan Cullerton. Ryan started in the shop in April and has been faithful in working in the shop since then. He's decided to take a leave of absence to study Spanish in Central America. He says he'll be back here in about 6 months or so and we'll how everything works out at that time. I hope he'll be back with us again.

Thursday of this week is Ryan's last day for the time being.

Scott Kelsey, who is a fine and upright young man, will be working in the shop for the foreseeable future. Scott loves fly fishing, his wife and Jake, and people. (Jake is his three-year-old who is going on fourteen or so.)

Scott has lots of very good ideas for the shop and you are going to see them in action. This man knows how to get things done! Scott is an excellent fly tier and will be able to help you with what you need during the fly tying season - which, for us, is year around!

We'll have a special Saturday in the very near future when you can meet and talk with Scott, see a few of his flies and perhaps sample his wonderful Pork Green Chili. Did I mention he is a good cook?

Change is one of the few things that is permanent. I'm pleased with Ryan and the time he's spent in the shop. I'm looking forward to all of the great things Scott is going to do to help you fulfill your fly fishing dreams.

Thanks for your continued support of St. Vrain Angler. We're moving ahead and enjoying the ride.

Yea.

I appreciate all of the excellent feedback you've given me about the Solution Booklets and Boxes. I'm working on a new one that should be done in the near future. It is called Fishing the Flats and is a primer for saltwater anglers. I'm enjoying writing it.

For the coming season I'd like to recommend the following booklets to you.

1. Presentation 101

2. Small Mayflies

3. Streamers

4. Terrestrials

These are the booklets that will help most during Fall Fly Fishing.

Scott and I will also be assembling a selection of Fall Flies that you can use in your Solution Fly Boxes. We'll have new inserts and lots of flies that will work now!

I'll send more info on these boxes in the very near future.

Thanks for your support for my writing, and for St. Vrain Angler Stores.

I appreciate each of you.

Saturday Morning Clinics have been a part of our fly fishing menu of service since 1991. I love doing these. We get a chance to sit around and gab a bit while we share tying and fishing tips. We relax and share in the fly shop and people get to meet one another and find new tying and fishing friends. It is fun.

We'll kick off the Saturday Clinic Season on the first Saturday in October - that's Saturday, October 1, 2005. There will be a number of specials on that date that will be good on that day only.

We'll also do the drawing for the Day With Dale. Read ahead for info.

Last week I mentioned a special offer and several folks have taken advantage of it. During the month of September, anyone who buys a new Winston Fly Rod will be entered into a drawing for a day on the water with yours truly - Dale Darling.

For entering, you'll receive a fly line that matches your new rod.

There will be two winners. The three of us will spend a day on a local stream, fishing. I'll help you with casting, rigging, reading the water, fly placement and much more! It will be fun.

The drawing for the winner will be help on Saturday, October 1, 2005 at 11AM at the St. Vrain Angler. In addition to the other specials of the day, the winners will be announced and the date for the outing set.

Join the fun! Fish with the best - Winston Fly Rods.

We're in good shape on fly patterns. I just brought in a fine set of Blue Winged Olive patterns that are sure to fool picky fish. We also have good streamer patterns and a few great wet flies that I've been tying for your use. More flies are always on the way.

During this week, mention this email and receive 10% off your next fly purchase and a fly box to put them in.

It's time to load up on flies for fall fishing. Please take advantage of this special offer and fill your fly boxes with good flies that work!

The group going to Ascension Bay in October would like to invite you and a friend along for the trip. At this time there are two openings.

Maybe you are like the rest of us, and need a break; a get-away; a good time with good people. No phones. No TV. Nothing but warm breezes, azure colored water and screaming fast fish that are challenging to hook and land.

Please join us.

I'll host an evening of fly tying and get-acquainted to help us prepare for the trip. I'm expecting a wonderful time similar to the one we had in January. For more info about that trip please follow the link and read away. Ascension Bay.

Please contact me for more information about this trip. It will be great!

Dale: angler@peakpeak.com or 303-651-6061 at the shop.

Thanks! I'm looking forward to this trip.

From threatening rain, to raining, to blue sky, Colorado out my window continues to follow the ideal: if you don't like the weather, stick around for a few minutes.

A breeze is gently rattling the aspen leaves. They are turning colors in the mountains and high country. While I've not yet smelled the scent of fall I know it's on the way and one day soon I'll walk out the door and say, "Fall is in the air." The end of summer. A time to reflect. To settle down and relax a bit, and perhaps to enjoy the fruit of our labor.

I hope you are well. this issue has taken longer than I anticipated, but I'm pleased with it for the most part. I'll keep writing and encouraging, and looking forward to hearing from and seeing you soon.

Please, do well today. And go fishing soon!

Dale Darling