MY DOG TOOK ME FISHING

[John Berry]

The White river was on the bottom. As I passed by the dog run, my yellow Lab, Ellie, gave me that I want to go fishing look. It was beastly hot and we both needed to cool off. We went to Rim Shoals and we quickly noted that we were the only ones there. The water was low, clear, and loaded with hungry trout. Ellie waited in chest deep water near the bank. When I would hook a trout, she would swim out and help me land it. We had a blast. The hot fly was the size eighteen black zebra midge. We must have landed over fifty trout. It was like being in a duck blind on that perfect winter day. I was in awe of Ellie's energy and enthusiasm. She was the perfect fishing companion. She didn't whine and she was impressed with every fish I hooked. I will always remember that day.

[brownieman]

That's cool john...reminds me of a plaque my ex-wife made for me years back...had a picture of an old hound on it and said "The more I see of some people, the more I like my dawg"...aint it the truth.

The last dog I had was a Brittany...he was indeed a good friend and a hard worker, excellent bird dog...had to have him put down 2 years ago.

I have many pictures and fond memories of Luke...he was my best friend for 15 years...not a day passes he doesn't enter my mind...never have been a big hunter but I did enjoy quail hunting due to him...he was indeed a natural and a pleasure to hunt with.

bm

[John Berry]

We used to have a Brittany, Sam. He was the best hunting dog I have ever seen. The down side is that he destroyed everything in the back yard. He chewed everything from rose bushes to grill brushes. He could point a quail in his sleep and never quit. We still miss him.

[brownieman]

Yeah John,

they say one can count his true friends on one hand...Skipper, my kid years...Rita, my growing up years...Elsie, my young man years...Lucas, my later years.

The older years are coming...had a couple year break..been thinking, wondering""..how long do I go before my next but I would like for it to be my last, so, i must time this right.

would be pretty neat to me to kick it about the same time as my last dog...be a good friend to step out with...i know, corny, i'm sick, whatever...i can think of few triends that would be proud to accomodate to that degree...dogs it's just totally unconditional...he received the same in return as do they all.

everybody has their favorites...Lucas was mine. In the off season he loved to swim along beside the jon in the river...he was also a good helper landing fish, lol

They truely can be/are our best friends...I have little doubt of that.

I speculate many can relate to this subject...they are good memories.

Oh yeah...Luke was also a chewer...think they just like the brush..period.

thanks john...good words and memories

bm

[Kansas Fly Fisher]

Ahhhh stop it you guys! I can't see for the mist in my eyes. Jake was my best friend, a Brittany also. Spent many an hour in the woods behind him. I can remember a day he was doing his job; and pretty darn good at it too; but I was not keeping up my end of the bargain. After about my third or fourth (okay - maybe tenth) miss for the day, Ol' Jake stood there watching the bird fly off, turned his head to one side to give me "that look." He did it better than my wife! I still remember that day and always will. It was our best ever, even if I didn't keep up my part.

I have another Britt now, Sadie, she's a good friend and hunter as well, but every time we go to the field I still remember Jake and what a pleasure it was to just be out there with him. If dogs do go to heaven I'll see him again and this time I won't miss.

Thanks for the memories guys.

John

[John Berry]

The reason that Ellie and I haven't fished together in a while is that our rottweiler is declining. Ellie has faithfully kept her company now that she cannot get out. We have a box fan going in the dog run to keep her cool and my wife Lori is feeding her by hand. It is a sad process but part of life. I remember fishing with her. She didn't like the cold but would sit and watch the strike indicator. When it went down she would dive in to retrieve the trout.

[Don Allenbaugh]

My friend "Buddy" enjoyed meeting Ellie. I hate to disagree with you but the hot fly was the "D B" (don's bug). I quit right at 50. It was enjoyable having the Rim to ourselves. How did the "grasshopper" do after I left?

[John Berry]

Don,

You need to show me that fly. I did see you in an inordinate number of fish. I tried the hopper on the way out . I had a couple of fish look at it but no takers. it was definately a day for numphs.

[jjtroutbum]

O no not a thread dedicated to mans best friend! I am currently on my second Brit and her name is the same as the first "Bete." She is currently a retired form the field 15yr old that really has been more of a house dog than her name sake. And is I am shure in her final year as I write this.

However all of my dogs will have there own spots and a Dogwood sapling for each of them. Along the edge of the property were they run along the fence annoying the neighbors with barking and frantic tail waging for the rest of there days.

JJ

[bojack]

well~~guess i might as well get my two cents in about my mini schnauzer. got her 6 years ago from the APA. she was taken in a raid of a puppy mill and she was in very bad shape, but healed well. she had sores all over her, afraid of everything, not house broken(she was 2 when we got her) but a very loving dog. she doesn't hunt or chase rabbits or geese or birds in our back yard, just passes them by and does her business. she was attacked by our neighbors 2 dogs 2 years ago and tore up pretty bad, but healed over time. over memorial day we were camping and she got sick so we found a vet and she said the dogs lungs were full of fluid and she had a heart mermer. when we got home from camping we took her to our vet and he did test and x-rays and found that her heart is enlarged and crushing her wind pipe making it very hard for her to breath. she isn't in pain or distress just hard to breath. she has had one tuff life and doesn't deserve all this. but every day we give her her pills and go outside and play, take her to the park so she can do her business. the vet looks at her often and will tell us when it's time to put her down~~4-6 weeks~~just like all of you who miss your friend ours will also be greatly missed. sorry for spilling my feelings.

anybody catching any fish?

thanks