ON THE WATER FOR AUGUST

 This month’s column has been a hard one for me to write. My thoughts are mixed with happy Memories, Anticipation, and sad Contemplation. It will be interesting to see how this Old Fisherman gets himself out of this catch & release net !!

 

MEMORIES >>> Yes Mae West was right, 2 weeks in Montana Fly Fishing for Big Brown Trout, with one of my sons, was wonderful. Of course, the Club could rely on Big Fish to pull off a terrific Breakfast Meeting with a great member turn out. Then we had Casey Deckard, of ODFW, give us a briefing on what turned out to be, the following day, one of the best field trips the Club has ever taken. He & our friend Tom Roederer made it possible for us (14 members) to go up to the Siletz Fish Trap. I am sure, by now, you all have seen the pictures & talked with the attendees to know what an unforgettable experience it was for all of those who could attend. For those of you who could not attend, we hope to do this again next year. We also had what many of us consider the most successful Litter Patrol ever. It was a great joy to be able to have Shutter Bug with us, not to mention the great photos he has posted on our Web Page. This event was complimented by a wonderful turn out of members & guests to make the day go smoothly and conclude with a fun lunch at our familiar “Watering Hole,” the Agate Beach Golf Club. Another Club first, allow me to introduce our Newest Lady of The Club. Her name is Miss Makennah Skye Deckard. Makennah was born on 13 June to the happy Mr. & Mrs. Casey Deckard. It was readily moved & seconded that she become an Honorary Member of our Club and we are most pleased to welcome her to our ranks. She may not be able to attend many of our meetings for awhile, but Casey will keep us abreast of how she is doing & we will look forward to getting her involved in the Sport of Fishing as soon as is practical. Allow me to interject a Big Att’a Boy to Frank Stout for all of the accolades he has recently received for his superb wood carvings. All in All, July was a wonderful Month thanks to Big Fish, Drifter, Shutter Bug & the support shown by the great members of our fine Club.

 

ANTICIPATION >>> This month kicks off on the 1^st with “Bob’s Beverly Beach Patrol.” Big Fish & I are pleased that so many of you have offered to give Bob a hand with this worthwhile cause. On the 3rd we will have our friend & fellow member Dean Fleck join us and speak to the many issues involving the Fall Fishing Season, which is rapidly approaching. On the 17^th we will be joined by James Ray, of ODFW, who will give us an overview of the various activities going on in the STEP Program.  Sometime later in the month Big Fish will be giving us a heads-up on another Big Creek Litter Patrol. Please feel free to invite guests to be a part of any of our meetings and/or events. Some additional good news for this month, Sparky will be wrapping up his involvement in the Toledo G.P. Construction Project and be back with us in time to do some late summer fishing. Good to have you back as a man of leisure again Sparky. It was beginning to make us couch potatoes feel a little (just a little) inadequate !!

 

CONTEMPLATION>>> It seems to me there are great similarities between Fishing & Life. Some days on the water are great and some days are terrible. That leaves us with the days in between. Life is a lot like that, the challenge is what to do with the days in between. The real mystery is not the highs & lows but finding the strength to carry on between those two points. I can understand Ecclesiastes, “For everything there is a season, etc.”, but it doesn’t help me much in between.

 

In closing, I’ll leave you with this thought…….When our time comes to leave this earth, we can take nothing we received, but only what we have given. Donna Davi gave without limit, I hope McKenna Deckard is as blessed. On those in between days we all would be well served to follow Donna’s example.

Well that’s the top of the news as it looks from here. Hope to see you on the water.              THE HOOK