Allow me to introduce myself.....

Apparently because I have posted recently a few of you think I am new to
this board.
I'm not. I have been lurking in the wings stealing what wisdom I can for
several years.

Maybe a short introduction is in order...

I was raised in Anchorage, Alaska. My father put a spin rod and bobber in my
hand at age 5-6 and then a friend of his gave me my first flyrod,( a big,
heavy, awkward fiberglass job with a cheap Mitchell reel), at age 11. I have
never looked back.

I have moved to places just to be able to learn and fish new water. Hell, I
dated a girl once just because she had a home near the Clearwater, ( a
trophy Grayling fishery), and broke up with her at the end of summer because
the fishing dropped off.

For awhile I was a dry fly elitist. I have tempered that opinion somewhat.
Years of counseling finally paid off. I no longer have the urge to pee on
guys that cast nymphs.

At one point I worked for Jim Barchi and Scott Rods when they were still at
the end of the road in Berkeley, CA. (George Bush Sr. has a rod that I
helped build.)
I started out wrapping guides and moved
up to the coating room before leaving. While there I was able to build quite
a nice collection of Scott Rods and Gunnison reals. (they had a nice trade
agreement).

After returning to Alaska I joined a friend in managing a rod shop that used
to be located up at Lake Otis & Tudor. I also taught beginning flyfishing
for women for a year or two. Used to hold classes at Cheney lake on Baxter
Road.

Now I am living in Ayer, MA. I am the Parks and Rec. Commissioner here.
Most of my free time is spent sending poppers to Bass who have never
experienced a fly.

My Next Trip??? ...Going to Alaska for 12 days in August.

My Most Memorable Fishing Experience??? ...I have two,
(1) Last summer I was able to take my girlfriends 7 year old boy out for his
first time fishing and watch him catch his first fish. My time in the Navy
and various volunteer things I've done don't compare. THAT was my proudest
moment.
(2)While float tubing a small lake in the Matanuska Valley some years ago I
watched an eagle swoop down out of a tree and pluck a rainbow out of the
water less than 20 ft. from where I was sitting.

So, I am...and shall remain....
--
Ric Hamel
A poor$, poor$ fishing freak living in the GWN

Alaskan420 wrote:
Apparently because I have posted recently a few of you think I am new to
this board.
I'm not. I have been lurking in the wings stealing what wisdom I can for
several years.

Maybe a short introduction is in order...

Interesting bio.

The SWMBO thing annoys me, too, but I figure it's just a joke (a tired
one). I pity the fly fisherman who's that pussy whipped.

"Honey, I'm going fishing. Be back in a few hours."

"Oh no you're not! My mother will be here in fifteen minutes!"

Sound of screen door slamming, truck starting, and gravel flying.

Since you've been lurking for awhile you must know the cast of
characters. There shouldn't be any surprises. My advice: Don't get stuck
on the Wolfgang tarbaby. He'll be all over you like HIV.

Welcome to posting. This place has been getting pretty stale, IMHO. We
need some new blood.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

rw wrote:
The SWMBO thing annoys me, too, but I figure it's just a joke (a tired
one).

It's a literary reference. More of a elitist comment than an admission of
whipitude.
--
Stan Gula
http://gula.org/roffswaps

rw wrote:
snip
Welcome to posting. This place has been getting pretty stale, IMHO. We
need some new blood.

The guy sounds like a putz with a fly fishing resume. I guess
that must sound interesting to a fellow putz but in my opinion
one more putz around here is two putzes too many.

--
Ken Fortenberry

The guy sounds like a putz with a fly fishing resume. I guess
that must sound interesting to a fellow putz but in my opinion
one more putz around here is two putzes too many.

--
Ken Fortenberry

Ken,
I've been reading your diatribes for years now. You are willing to
put yours and your brides safety on the line to stop hate, pain and
suffering caused by others but you have no compunctions against causing
it yourself.
A man steps in, offers a hand of friendship and you spit in that
hand. You know, that's exactly the kind of behaviour that causes those
wars you protest. People respect a person that lives by the ideals
they profess. You, on the other hand, are a "poser," hypocritical and
lacking the integrity of the core causes you ostensibly support.
I know you don't care if you gain my respect. I'm just trying to
figure out how you can ever respect yourself, look yourself in the
mirror. That attack on someone who works for the public good, was
unwarrented and mean spirited. If you are going to hold folks to
higher values, try living by those values yourself.
Frank Reid

Frank Reid wrote:
snip
A man steps in, offers a hand of friendship and you spit in that
hand. ...

Are we reading the same newsgroup ? In the newsgroup I'm reading
the putz calling himself Ric Hamel called me an ignorant canoeist
wannabe. Not exactly what I would call a "hand of friendship".
More like a putz. I calls 'em as I sees 'em Frank, if you don't
like it, tough ****. But spare me your ****in' sanctimony.

--
Ken Fortenberry

Ken Fortenberry wrote:
Frank Reid wrote:
snip
A man steps in, offers a hand of friendship and you spit in that
hand. ...

Are we reading the same newsgroup ? In the newsgroup I'm reading
the putz calling himself Ric Hamel called me an ignorant canoeist
wannabe. Not exactly what I would call a "hand of friendship".
More like a putz. I calls 'em as I sees 'em Frank, if you don't
like it, tough ****. But spare me your ****in' sanctimony.

And when you catch up on your roff reading I'll be expecting
a heartfelt apology. ;-)

--
Ken Fortenberry

"Ken Fortenberry" wrote in message
news
Frank Reid wrote:
snip
A man steps in, offers a hand of friendship and you spit in that
hand. ...

Are we reading the same newsgroup ? In the newsgroup I'm reading
the putz calling himself Ric Hamel called me an ignorant canoeist
wannabe.

You mean you don't own a handmade woodstrip Old Towne (sic) canoe?

So, are we gonna meet up in Maine this summer, Ken?

--riverman

"Alaskan420" wrote in message
news:hJWig.240$2R.201@trndny02...
Now I am living in Ayer, MA. I am the Parks and Rec. Commissioner here.


This Ayer,MA?

http://www.ayer.ma.us/departments_parks.html

--riverman

riverman wrote:
"Ken Fortenberry" wrote:
Are we reading the same newsgroup ? In the newsgroup I'm reading
the putz calling himself Ric Hamel called me an ignorant canoeist
wannabe.

You mean you don't own a handmade woodstrip Old Towne (sic) canoe?

So, are we gonna meet up in Maine this summer, Ken?

No, my oldest niece changed those plans for us. She decided
to get married so the trip to Maine became the trip to
Asheville. Kristine liked Asheville so much my trips to
Bryson City will likely become trips to Asheville as well.
Goodbye Graham County, hello Shining Rock Wilderness.

--
Ken Fortenberry