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St. Vrain Angler News & Muse August 23, 2005
Greetings!
As is always the case, so I repeat it every week, I hope you are well,
enjoying and thriving in life.
It is August 23, 2005: Do you know where your fly rod is?
Please find it and get out on the water.
Do it soon.
Then again.
Today's issue is a pictograph of the last few days of fishing I've been
doing. As you'll see, it has been with friends because they are in lots of
the pictures. Some of the friends look a little buggy for some reason or
other - maybe it is because they are bugs! A few look kind of slimy and may
not be all that happy. Still, they made us happy. The human-featured folks
are my friend Jack, who is a professional clarinetist with a variety of
orchestras as well as a teacher in Pittsburg, PA and the other fellow is my
buddy Dale who's a professional operatic bass. He sings and has been in the
Santa Fe Opera all summer.
Both friends made significant bypasses to get here to fish and I both
appreciate the effort and am honored to have spent time with them again.
These guys are wonderful to be around and keep me feeling guilty about not
doing music with more gusto. Still, they meant no harm.
Please enjoy the pictures. Of course, knowing me as you do, there are going
to have to be a few words attached and some instruction along the way.
Go fishing soon!
Then, go again.
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The flies from my vest patch. Stuff I've used and
probably hooked fish on over the past week or so. |
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I'm going to confess: I fished with the lovely Adams again. And it
worked great! I only allowed myself to hook a couple fish per outing
with this beautiful, useful fly pattern, including the great brown trout
shown above. When do we go again? |
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Jack enjoys fly fishing, is a wonderful fly tier and has built some of
the most beautiful bamboo fly rods I've ever seen. He's a serious person
with lots on his mind, and we get along pretty well, picking up where we
left off from the last time we were together. Jack hooked lots of fish
this particular evening and posed for a smile with this shiny rainbow. |
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One afternoon Jack and I fished some new water. I'd driven past this
spot numerous times and always wanted to hit it. We did. It was really
windy. The browns - that's all we caught - were in all types of waters
and insisted on eating dry flies. |
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The fish liked eating
attractor patterns and terrestrial imitations. They took the flies with
confidence, slapping at them when the flies drifted in faster water and
sipping them when in slower spots.
All we had to do was put the
fly in the right spot on the water and - poof - a fish magically
appeared to take it. |
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Somewhere there's a saying about people who live in glass houses.
Perhaps something similar about care could be said for folks who wear
hip waders. Note the bulge in the left leg? I wonder how it filled with
water? I suppose wading through water deeper than the waders are high
might have something to do with it, but more study is required. |
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Aren't bugs a good invention? These guys were busy
watching out for us and teaching us what trout eat. A river is a
dangerous place, full of life. |
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This newlywed couple spent a
day on the water with our friend and guide Frank. He was tickled to see
the young bride help her hubby across the fast water. Pretty cute, huh?
Building memories is a good part of life and we're pleased to have been
a part of this honeymoon!
The wedding dress was
probably lots prettier than the waders, huh? |
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Something should be said
about optimism relative to marriage and anglers. Going fishing is a good
thing, and making a commitment to live together and to love one another
for all time is too. In both cases we begin with optimism - this will
last; I will hook fish - and persevere through the tough times. Then, we
share and remember the glory of it all, living and enjoying the process
of growing, learning and loving.
Happy Anniversary Shan
Darling. I love you. Twenty Seven Years worth!
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Grand Slam Glory! Rocky Mountain National Park! |
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Charlie Chicken wants to know who's going to take the Introduction to
Fly Tying Class Dale's offering beginning on the 6th of September? He's
lonely at night - the chicken, that is - and would enjoy the pleasure of
your company. Please call 303-651-6061 to register for tying
class. |
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Park waters are lovely and hold very nice trout!
According to Frank, Blue's Brother Joe, another of our guides and
instructors, hooked this trout in a very small stream and a very
small holding spot in an off-the-beaten-path spot. Discover yours
soon in a National Park. |
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Dale is working on his next opera as I'm writing
this. However, last night - and in a bit, when this is done and we
eat breakfast - he'll be having a hoot with trout an flies and so
on. |
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Last night, Dale caught the
largest trout of his fly fishing career. I was reading a book in the
truck and missed the photo op, which bothers both of, but not much. This
fish is indelibly etched in Dale's mind where it will live with Puccini,
Verdi, Mozart and his love for his wife and son. |
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Our buddy Scott joined Dale and I on the Big T the
other evening. We had a dandy time. Scott hooked a few fish, then I
broke his fly rod casting it. Oh well; we'll get it fixed. |
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During our time on the water
Scott and I saw a fish floating downstream. It was out in the current. I
took my net and waded out to it, finally getting the fish into the net.
When I looked at it I did not see life in its eyes. Still, it thrashed a
bit in the net. Someone had released the fish upstream, but without the
standard care a fish should have. We tried to revive the fish for some
time and in the process I lost my net. The fish was dead, even though
its nervous system was still trying to move it - and was, in fact,
succeeding. Scott took the fish home to smoke.
We tried to revive a fish,
and failed. I broke Scott's rod and lost my net. Sometimes, that's just
how it goes.
At least we were fishing
together. |
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You'll be pleased to know that Scott is joining my staff of crack fly
fishers, tiers and all around fine folks. He'll be in the shop during
the Fall. Come by and say hello. I'm sure Scott will have a funny quip
to share about one thing or another. He is one fine young man, and
funny! |
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The brook trout
that Steve H. shared with me was worth repeating. On that note, it is time
for Dale and I to go and get some breakfast. It sounds like my friend Byron
has some time so he's going to join us for some fishing in the Park. Dale
needs to catch a cutthroat or two, and I promised him a greenback today.
We'll see. We're also thinking in terms of a grand slam - hooking all four
species on four different pieces of water. We'll see about that, and I'll
report again next week.
It's August 23,
2005. Do you know where your fly rod is? A few flies? Get 'em out and go get
them wet. Go ahead. You are allowed.
Please report
back concerning your outing, and have fun.
Remember, our
guides are waiting to take you out, to teach you more about fly fishing fun
and to have a great day with you on the water. A guided trip is delightful.
Take one now!
Thanks for
reading. I'll talk with you again next week.
Dale Darling
and friends.... |
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