Reel Recovery 2018

[BilletHead]

      Another one is in the books,

       Thought I would do a report. This one is a bit more special to me as I got to meet and be a reel buddy to two of our own members here from OAF.  The first evening everyone comes together to dine as a group. The participants, the facilitators and the river buddies which I am fortunate to be a part of. The river buddies try to work our way in and sit amongst the participants to visit and become part of the group. Some of the guys are pretty quiet and some are not. We don't like quiet we are here to have fellowship and have a good time. After dinner the River buddies are run off to our lodging while the participants and facilitators do there thing, what ever that is. Top secret stuff I suppose .  Next morning early the Buddies get up and rig rods and reels for the guys who don't bring their own. Some of these good fellows have never had a fly rod in hand. We all eat breakfast and get ready to pair up and hit the stream. We had nine men attend  this year. We try to get ten but things happen and some cannot make it for various reasons. One of the things that is done is the vest signing. There is a set of traveling vests signed by all the men going through this program. some vests have been retired because they are filled with names. When you see the names on here it really makes you think. I have two very close friends that have signed vests that are not with us now. Both were members on here. 

Then we have a shot of eight very special men from this retreat,Two of these guys are our members.Can you find them.

With all this stuff the first fishing session is pretty short. I got to go out with Rusty. Rusty is not a member on here but his cousin is. Rusty is JDmidwest's "little cousin" I thought little cousin my rear as Rusty towers over me and way over JDmidwest ! Rusty had fly fished some and soon got to hooking trout. We worked on his skills and he was mending line like a pro in the fast water,

We changed places and flies often. Some of the fish in the stream had been very educated by the time we got to them. We were called to lunch and after that the guys all changed river buddies for the next session. So here we go again and I had the pleasure to fish with our own OAF member patfish . Pat knows his way around a fly rod and it showed. We hit a place where the spring creek and dry creek have a confluence. i knew some of the guys in the morning session had stripped small buggers and caught I gave Pat a small black seal leech and he began to put the smack down on fish. after catching a few we passed the spot on to other men and their buddies. This is what we all do so everyone catches fish. We worked our way up the stream catching here and there. We talked about everything you could think of as we fished. I knew right off I had met another special person that will have a place in my list of friends,

We hit more spots and worked our way back for dinner. Pat wore me out .  A break was taken and we all met back for dinner, more fellowship and then the buddies were once again run off from the group. Next morning we got breakfast and there was a guy cooking omelets to order. With that done we paired off again and I got to fish with another OAF member JDmidwest . Again another one knowing his way around a fly rod. I asked him what he was looking for fishing this morning. His response was away from the crowd ! We dropped down below, way below where the others were fishing. After the confluence of the spring creek and dry creek come together there is a stretch still owned by Westover. Then more stream leased. We took a walk to a place down there where Pat and I had ventured the day before.  This was pretty thin water with a slot that has a limestone slab. JD worked this over pretty good. Had a few hits but nothing serious. He finally hooked a minnow and bringing it in a trout tried to get the minnow. fished a bit more there and then worked our way back to the crowd. We were needing a hero shot and I knew of the place. We messed there for awhile , caught fish and got the hero shot. I think JD and I did more talking than fishing. We talked hunting, more fishing adventures and of course bee keeping, I got many tips from JD,  I am truly blessed to have had one on one time with these guys. More friends to add to my list. I wish I could of fished with each one of the eight men attendees. I did get to visit with each of them and learned from the other Buddies their stories. We had a quick lunch and then closed out the retreat.  One more thing to share. I was handed something  special from Pat before he left.  Am now a card carrying honorary member,

  I will take it but am sure I could not keep up with this group. I am also sure that I would end up in an early grave trying to.

   Be well fish on!

BilletHead

    

[Flysmallie]

Sounds like a great time but I can’t see your pics. 

I know Pat had a good time and was showing me the flies he received. 

[BilletHead]

       I tried pictures again. I accidentally did a double post and then deleted one. Are they there now?

BilletHead 

[snagged in outlet 3]

Way to Go Pat!

[Flysmallie]

That membership is like a death sentence. 

I already chastised Pat for the fingers in the picture. Guessing those were your digits. 

FIFY

[Harps]

Much good here. Thanks Billethead.

Right on Pat!!

[BilletHead]

29 minutes ago, Flysmallie said:

That membership is like a death sentence. 

I already chastised Pat for the fingers in the picture. Guessing those were your digits. 

FIFY

         Thanks Ronnie,

 Those squirming slimy trout wiggling around you had to do things quick to get the picture. That and your dealing with a hack behind the camera,

BilletHead

[Flysmallie]

It’s a great pic and that’s what I told Pat when he sent it to me. I just tried to make it a little better. 

[BilletHead]

    Well you certainly did! Thanks again,

BilletHead

[jdmidwest]

Better late than never, take 2 days off and it takes a week to catch up.

For the record, I held my little cousin in my arms when I was about 4 years old and have a pic to prove it somewhere.  Some time down the line he out grew me.

It was a great trip, I had been waiting over a year to fish with the Billethead and it was worth every minute.  Time flies when you are having fun and it got away from us quick.  We will spend more time in the future for sure.

I met some great people on the trip, both sides of the show.  The fishing buddies and the members of the group.  The organizers were special too.  Its a great program, if you are ever lucky enough to get cancer and survive, spend a few days on one of these retreats.  I use the word lucky loosely as I met some that were not as lucky as I was, but all were on their way to being great flyfishermen.  Cancer changes a person, it tends to make you a better person, stronger in many ways.

I beat my cancer back twice, so I was the pro at recovery.  I was able to pass along words of wisdom and healing that gave others inspiration.  That was my reward along with getting to fish an area that I had scanned a few times in the past with some great guides.  Kent was great and I learned some small fly techniques that will be used in the future.  Steve was great, he marveled at my calm disposition as I caught and released fish, and my ability to recover flies from the trees with ease.  I kept steering my fishing buddies to the stream that runs thru Westover and left the other waters for others.  It felt funny giving up my line to another fisherman to tie flies on and net my fish. 

I wish I could have spent some time with Patfish outside of the meetings, he looks like a fun guy to fish with.  As always, meeting others off this forum face to face is always great.

Be well, Fish on!