Too Much Equipment and other musings...(long)
 

"Barry" wrote in

River. I have thought about finding a young boy/man with a passion for
the sport but lacking equipment and/or a "teacher"...and a fly fishing
companion. Thoughts? Suggestions?


I have two rods that were given to me, both by near strangers. Both people
saw me fishing and said they could see watching me that I had "the passion"
Both wanted their fine rods USED and both gave me the rods with the
condition that I USE them not "collect" them.

I treasure both, and use both, even though I've had 'collectors" try to buy
the E.C.Powell on three occasions. When I can no longer get out and use
them a couple times a year, I will pass them on in the same manner ....
look for the passion in the eyes and the appreciation of the wonderful
places trout live, and insist the rods get some use each year, out of
respect for those that have used and built them.

I don't think such a person has to be "lacking equipment" but MUST have true
and abundant understanding of the most important reasons to fish. In
today's culture, where fly fishing is mainly a social climber's activity,
such people are rare, start your search soon as they won't be easy to find.

Good luck

Too Much Equipment and other musings...(long)
 

On Mon, 04 Oct 2004 19:35:40 GMT, "Barry" wrote:

I spent over fifty years fly fishing with my dad before he died about three
months ago. Both of us collected a lot of fly fishing gear over that period
of time. When I inherited my dad's equipment, I found my den looking like a
small tackle shop. I've also found that I really don't need all of that
equipment. I have a question and ask for some suggestions from the Group.
I have one child, a daughter, who has chosen not to have children. There
are no other males in the family who have an interest in fly fishing. My
daughter and sister have no interest...and my one nephew appears to be going
in another direction with his dad. Which leads me to something that my dad
and I discussed at one time and that is the "legacy" of our passion for fly
fishing. It seems so wrong to leave such a collection of fine equipment to
those who don't understand it's intrinsic value and are unable to appreciate
the legacy that comes with it. Since my dad's death, it has bothered me a
lot. I have my own health problems that have been limiting me of late...and
I worry. I recall a story by Nick Lyons (a true one, I believe) in which he
tells about the death of a fly fisherman. Nick Lyons was called upon by the
man's daughter to look over the fly fishing equipment left by her father and
determine what, if anything, had value. He did just that...and recalls his
first visit to the daughter's apartment where she lived with her boyfriend
and children. As he entered the apartment, he saw the kids using the tips
from some high quality bamboo rods as "swords" for sword fighting games. It
was a sad read as it was obvious that this gal's father was passionate about
his fly fishing...and had some very fine equipment. The true value of what
he had was lost by the daughter as she was looking to sell it for what she
could get out of it in cold cash. While my daughter will love and cherish
many of the things I leave her, including my favorite rods, reels etc...it's
still not the same. I don't want my favorite rod, for instance, to die the
slow death of inertia. I live in a very remote area in California near the
Oregon border in a beautiful spot in a forest on the banks of the Smith
River. I have thought about finding a young boy/man with a passion for the
sport but lacking equipment and/or a "teacher"...and a fly fishing
companion. Thoughts? Suggestions?

Earlier in my life, I thought that I'd never have too much fly fishing gear.
I have now found that you can only use so much...and that most of the old
equipment does the job just fine. I have some old bamboo rods that I still
love to use...and they are relics of the past now. I have finally stopped
chasing technology and have chosen not to buy the "newer, bigger better"
mousetrap. Nostalgia and memories are more important to me. My dad's
favorite steelhead rod for instance, will always fish better for me than
anything I could ever buy. And a sip of Brandy from my dad's old flask will
always taste good to me...and I'm really not a Brandy drinker (although I
can think of some cold Winter mornings when out steelhead fishing when the
warmth from the Brandy kept me fishing a bit longer). I've also found that
a well chewed and sparsely tied Gray Hackle Yellow Body will catch just as
much as any number of flies that I've tied over the years...if fished
correctly. As an aside, I tied flies (commercially during my college days)
to sell to fisherman and made them works of art. They sold well. However,
my dad tied flies that caught fish. I look at them now and see why...as
they are truly "buggy" looking. He tied with a rough hand but he knew what
caught fish. Even before his death, on our last fishing trip together when
he was 85 years old, he still outfished me. I did everything right...but he
caught the fish. I can still recall the twinkle in his eye when he caught
the only large trout of the day. He said nothing...but he didn't have to.
A photo of my dad catching his last fish is attached...although I don't know
if photos can be posted in this Group or not.

Again...regarding my roomful of equipment, I don't need most of it...just my
favorite rods/reels and the keepsakes. I need to think about what to do
with those things I don't need. Besides, it's about the environs in which
trout are found and the art of fly fishing...not about having the newest
mousetrap. My father found solace from life's stresses in his fly
fishing...as have I. Such solace does not require a room full of equipment.
I think of most importance to all of us and future generations is the
preservation of the environment that supports quiet moments on the stream
where memories can be built. We have lost so much over the years in that
regard. I grew up on the banks of the Eel River in California and watched
the slow demise of that river. It is, by the way, where we'll be scattering
my dad's ashes at the end of this month...when he and I fished the Eel using
our Halloween Comets (with the long, black marabou tails) and seldom were
skunked. I will wade out into the Eel river at the confluence of the Van
Duzen, release the ashes of a really good fly fisherman and then cast a line
with his favorite steelhead rod. And I will thank him for all that he's
given me.

Enough nostalgia. What to do with so much equipment is where I started.
Maybe a fly fishing club or ??

Barry

While I am fortunate enough to have two flyfishing sons to leave my
ridiculously large gear collection to, I understand and sympathize with your
plight, as a couple of flyfishing friends of my dad and me had no such legacy
in their lives.

I suggest you put the gear up for sale in a forum that will reasonably assure
you that folks that care about flyfishing will buy it and appreciate it.

Then I would donate the proceeds to a worthy charity in your father's name,
thus accomplishing two noble acts in one fell swoop.

cheers, and thanks for sharing what must be a difficult time for you...

/daytripper

Too Much Equipment and other musings...(long)
 

On Mon, 04 Oct 2004 19:35:40 GMT, "Barry" wrote:


Enough nostalgia.

The nostalgia, made for a very nice read.

What to do with so much equipment is where I started.
Maybe a fly fishing club or ??

I think Tripper's suggestion of of selling it then donating the money is
a good idea. People tend to value things they paid for more highly than
things that were given to them for free by a stranger.

Willi

Too Much Equipment and other musings...(long)
 

daytripper wrote in message
I suggest you put the gear up for sale in a forum that will reasonably assure
you that folks that care about flyfishing will buy it and appreciate it.
Then I would donate the proceeds to a worthy charity in your father's name,
thus accomplishing two noble acts in one fell swoop.
cheers, and thanks for sharing what must be a difficult time for you...

I have a similar problem, and gave all my fly tying equipment and
materials to a local boy scout troop. The fragile stuff I'll leave to
a nephew-in-law, who is drowning in his own gear, but will at least
treat if kindly.

Too Much Equipment and other musings...(long)
 

daytripper wrote in message
I suggest you put the gear up for sale in a forum that will reasonably assure
you that folks that care about flyfishing will buy it and appreciate it.
Then I would donate the proceeds to a worthy charity in your father's name,
thus accomplishing two noble acts in one fell swoop.
cheers, and thanks for sharing what must be a difficult time for you...

I have a similar problem, and gave all my fly tying equipment and
materials to a local boy scout troop. The fragile stuff I'll leave to
a nephew-in-law, who is drowning in his own gear, but will at least
treat if kindly.

Too Much Equipment and other musings...(long)
 

On Mon, 04 Oct 2004 19:35:40 GMT, "Barry"
wrote:

Nice stuff snipped)

Enough nostalgia. What to do with so much equipment is where I started.
Maybe a fly fishing club or ??

There were some good suggestions.

You might want to do some 'random acts of kindness.' Take along some
extra stuff each time you fish and hand it out as you see fit or leave
it in an obvious spot near the parking area with a note saying it's
for whoever finds it? For the latter you have to give up entirely on
control of the stuff and of ever being thanked for it.

Cyli
r.bc: vixen. Minnow goddess. Speaker to squirrels.
Often taunted by trout.

http://www.visi.com/~cyli

Too Much Equipment and other musings...(long)
 

Willi & Sue wrote:

People tend to value things they paid for more highly than
things that were given to them for free by a stranger.


yet another characterisic revealing the limits of many human animals, imo.

jeff

Too Much Equipment and other musings...(long)
 

Jeff Miller wrote:



Willi & Sue wrote:


People tend to value things they paid for more highly than things that
were given to them for free by a stranger.


yet another characterisic revealing the limits of many human animals, imo.

jeff


I agree, but I think it's true none the less at least in a capitalistic
society. It's alot easier to rate or value an object based on how much
it costs rather than based on the intrinsic quality of the object.

Willi

Too Much Equipment and other musings...(long)
 

Tontine.

john (I've mentioned it before)



"Barry" wrote in message
ink.net...
I spent over fifty years fly fishing with my dad before he died about
three
months ago. Both of us collected a lot of fly fishing gear over that
period
of time. When I inherited my dad's equipment, I found my den looking like
a
small tackle shop. I've also found that I really don't need all of that
equipment. I have a question and ask for some suggestions from the Group.
I have one child, a daughter, who has chosen not to have children. There
are no other males in the family who have an interest in fly fishing. My
daughter and sister have no interest...and my one nephew appears to be
going
in another direction with his dad. Which leads me to something that my
dad
and I discussed at one time and that is the "legacy" of our passion for
fly
fishing. It seems so wrong to leave such a collection of fine equipment
to
those who don't understand it's intrinsic value and are unable to
appreciate
the legacy that comes with it. Since my dad's death, it has bothered me a
lot. I have my own health problems that have been limiting me of
late...and
I worry. I recall a story by Nick Lyons (a true one, I believe) in which
he
tells about the death of a fly fisherman. Nick Lyons was called upon by
the
man's daughter to look over the fly fishing equipment left by her father
and
determine what, if anything, had value. He did just that...and recalls
his
first visit to the daughter's apartment where she lived with her boyfriend
and children. As he entered the apartment, he saw the kids using the tips
from some high quality bamboo rods as "swords" for sword fighting games.
It
was a sad read as it was obvious that this gal's father was passionate
about
his fly fishing...and had some very fine equipment. The true value of
what
he had was lost by the daughter as she was looking to sell it for what she
could get out of it in cold cash. While my daughter will love and cherish
many of the things I leave her, including my favorite rods, reels
etc...it's
still not the same. I don't want my favorite rod, for instance, to die
the
slow death of inertia. I live in a very remote area in California near
the
Oregon border in a beautiful spot in a forest on the banks of the Smith
River. I have thought about finding a young boy/man with a passion for
the
sport but lacking equipment and/or a "teacher"...and a fly fishing
companion. Thoughts? Suggestions?

Earlier in my life, I thought that I'd never have too much fly fishing
gear.
I have now found that you can only use so much...and that most of the old
equipment does the job just fine. I have some old bamboo rods that I
still
love to use...and they are relics of the past now. I have finally stopped
chasing technology and have chosen not to buy the "newer, bigger better"
mousetrap. Nostalgia and memories are more important to me. My dad's
favorite steelhead rod for instance, will always fish better for me than
anything I could ever buy. And a sip of Brandy from my dad's old flask
will
always taste good to me...and I'm really not a Brandy drinker (although I
can think of some cold Winter mornings when out steelhead fishing when the
warmth from the Brandy kept me fishing a bit longer). I've also found
that
a well chewed and sparsely tied Gray Hackle Yellow Body will catch just as
much as any number of flies that I've tied over the years...if fished
correctly. As an aside, I tied flies (commercially during my college
days)
to sell to fisherman and made them works of art. They sold well.
However,
my dad tied flies that caught fish. I look at them now and see why...as
they are truly "buggy" looking. He tied with a rough hand but he knew
what
caught fish. Even before his death, on our last fishing trip together
when
he was 85 years old, he still outfished me. I did everything right...but
he
caught the fish. I can still recall the twinkle in his eye when he caught
the only large trout of the day. He said nothing...but he didn't have to.
A photo of my dad catching his last fish is attached...although I don't
know
if photos can be posted in this Group or not.

Again...regarding my roomful of equipment, I don't need most of it...just
my
favorite rods/reels and the keepsakes. I need to think about what to do
with those things I don't need. Besides, it's about the environs in which
trout are found and the art of fly fishing...not about having the newest
mousetrap. My father found solace from life's stresses in his fly
fishing...as have I. Such solace does not require a room full of
equipment.
I think of most importance to all of us and future generations is the
preservation of the environment that supports quiet moments on the stream
where memories can be built. We have lost so much over the years in that
regard. I grew up on the banks of the Eel River in California and watched
the slow demise of that river. It is, by the way, where we'll be
scattering
my dad's ashes at the end of this month...when he and I fished the Eel
using
our Halloween Comets (with the long, black marabou tails) and seldom were
skunked. I will wade out into the Eel river at the confluence of the Van
Duzen, release the ashes of a really good fly fisherman and then cast a
line
with his favorite steelhead rod. And I will thank him for all that he's
given me.

Enough nostalgia. What to do with so much equipment is where I started.
Maybe a fly fishing club or ??

Barry

Too Much Equipment and other musings...(long)
 

Tontine.

john (I've mentioned it before)



"Barry" wrote in message
ink.net...
I spent over fifty years fly fishing with my dad before he died about
three
months ago. Both of us collected a lot of fly fishing gear over that
period
of time. When I inherited my dad's equipment, I found my den looking like
a
small tackle shop. I've also found that I really don't need all of that
equipment. I have a question and ask for some suggestions from the Group.
I have one child, a daughter, who has chosen not to have children. There
are no other males in the family who have an interest in fly fishing. My
daughter and sister have no interest...and my one nephew appears to be
going
in another direction with his dad. Which leads me to something that my
dad
and I discussed at one time and that is the "legacy" of our passion for
fly
fishing. It seems so wrong to leave such a collection of fine equipment
to
those who don't understand it's intrinsic value and are unable to
appreciate
the legacy that comes with it. Since my dad's death, it has bothered me a
lot. I have my own health problems that have been limiting me of
late...and
I worry. I recall a story by Nick Lyons (a true one, I believe) in which
he
tells about the death of a fly fisherman. Nick Lyons was called upon by
the
man's daughter to look over the fly fishing equipment left by her father
and
determine what, if anything, had value. He did just that...and recalls
his
first visit to the daughter's apartment where she lived with her boyfriend
and children. As he entered the apartment, he saw the kids using the tips
from some high quality bamboo rods as "swords" for sword fighting games.
It
was a sad read as it was obvious that this gal's father was passionate
about
his fly fishing...and had some very fine equipment. The true value of
what
he had was lost by the daughter as she was looking to sell it for what she
could get out of it in cold cash. While my daughter will love and cherish
many of the things I leave her, including my favorite rods, reels
etc...it's
still not the same. I don't want my favorite rod, for instance, to die
the
slow death of inertia. I live in a very remote area in California near
the
Oregon border in a beautiful spot in a forest on the banks of the Smith
River. I have thought about finding a young boy/man with a passion for
the
sport but lacking equipment and/or a "teacher"...and a fly fishing
companion. Thoughts? Suggestions?

Earlier in my life, I thought that I'd never have too much fly fishing
gear.
I have now found that you can only use so much...and that most of the old
equipment does the job just fine. I have some old bamboo rods that I
still
love to use...and they are relics of the past now. I have finally stopped
chasing technology and have chosen not to buy the "newer, bigger better"
mousetrap. Nostalgia and memories are more important to me. My dad's
favorite steelhead rod for instance, will always fish better for me than
anything I could ever buy. And a sip of Brandy from my dad's old flask
will
always taste good to me...and I'm really not a Brandy drinker (although I
can think of some cold Winter mornings when out steelhead fishing when the
warmth from the Brandy kept me fishing a bit longer). I've also found
that
a well chewed and sparsely tied Gray Hackle Yellow Body will catch just as
much as any number of flies that I've tied over the years...if fished
correctly. As an aside, I tied flies (commercially during my college
days)
to sell to fisherman and made them works of art. They sold well.
However,
my dad tied flies that caught fish. I look at them now and see why...as
they are truly "buggy" looking. He tied with a rough hand but he knew
what
caught fish. Even before his death, on our last fishing trip together
when
he was 85 years old, he still outfished me. I did everything right...but
he
caught the fish. I can still recall the twinkle in his eye when he caught
the only large trout of the day. He said nothing...but he didn't have to.
A photo of my dad catching his last fish is attached...although I don't
know
if photos can be posted in this Group or not.

Again...regarding my roomful of equipment, I don't need most of it...just
my
favorite rods/reels and the keepsakes. I need to think about what to do
with those things I don't need. Besides, it's about the environs in which
trout are found and the art of fly fishing...not about having the newest
mousetrap. My father found solace from life's stresses in his fly
fishing...as have I. Such solace does not require a room full of
equipment.
I think of most importance to all of us and future generations is the
preservation of the environment that supports quiet moments on the stream
where memories can be built. We have lost so much over the years in that
regard. I grew up on the banks of the Eel River in California and watched
the slow demise of that river. It is, by the way, where we'll be
scattering
my dad's ashes at the end of this month...when he and I fished the Eel
using
our Halloween Comets (with the long, black marabou tails) and seldom were
skunked. I will wade out into the Eel river at the confluence of the Van
Duzen, release the ashes of a really good fly fisherman and then cast a
line
with his favorite steelhead rod. And I will thank him for all that he's
given me.

Enough nostalgia. What to do with so much equipment is where I started.
Maybe a fly fishing club or ??

Barry