Don't Cast Behind the Boat!

[jdmidwest]

Many moons ago, my cousin introduced me to one of his classmates. We later became room mates in college years and fished together every chance we got. He was the one that introduced me to trout and the 11 Pt. River. He taught me the fine art of topwater and more about bass fishing than I had known before. He had a fine teacher.

When he left off to Med School, he asked me to take his Dad fishing some. All the sons were away from town and Richard needed someone to fish with. We hit it off too and spent many summers fishing the waters and streams of SE MO. Almost all of the time was spent in a canoe, in which he was a master. Thousands of miles were logged without a tipover, Richard in the back all of the time. You could not get him to give up control of the boat or the back, it was his spot, and he knew it well.

The sons returned in a few years, and many trips were spent as a group. I got to know his other two brothers pretty good, as well as the families. We became a close knit group.

Then Richard's health started failing, and the boys said to stop taking him on long trips. We still had a few deer hunts together, but the fishing time alone came to an end.

I got the text Wed, Dad died, was all it said. I carried Richard to his final resting place in the woods yesterday on a ridge overlooking the Black River. The final words at the gravesite from the preacher. Richard and God are in a canoe. God says to Richard, "So That is How to Catch a Fish". Richard says to God, "Whatever you do, Don't Cast Behind The Boat". Everything will be fine.

[Ketchup]

Great read, and sorry to hear about your old friend. Memories will take your thoughts to places for years to come.

[J-Doc]

That is an awesome way to go. I can't think of a nicer way to be remembered and in a better place. Fitting words.

Thanks for sharing and so sorry for you and Richard's family.

[Terrierman]

Good advice. RIP Richard, stay after them.

[ness]

Nicely done, JD. Sorry to hear you lost a friend.

[rps]

Great story. Everyone wants to be remembered as well as your story honors Richard.

[jdmidwest]

Thanks guys. It has been a tough few weeks. I got the news he was failing while camping at Spring River 2 weeks ago. I went to see him for the last time on the way home and visited with him a while. He knew who I was, but was pretty confused. I was there when they told the doctor not to do anything out of the ordinary to try and save him. He had a stroke over a year ago that weakened him, and had a few more during that time. That was what finally did him in. He was 85.

We shared alot of things in common, he was a fly tyer, a hunter, a reloader, gun collector, knife maker, and loved fishing the rivers. Even though he was some 30 years my senior, we were as close as any of my other good friends. I have lost many of my family in my life, aunts and uncles, grandparents, but this is the first really good friend.

[Gavin]

Sorry for your loss. I'm sure he was a great friend and mentor to you. Glad you have great memories of him.