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LS, Very nice story. Thanks. For all you young, and not so young fathers, and mothers out there.. This is why you fish, ski, hunt, whatever you need to do to with your kids. It's incredibly important, especially when they are teenager stupid! DBT, Thanks for that, but no way he'd be sitting on the rock watching. He's always working his way upstream ahead of me looking for more fish wondering why he never tried out this fly fishing game! (I've agreed with you once already this year. That was my quota.) Rev. Bob, She is a keeper.

Told a bit of this on the memorable trips of 2007 post, but here as Paul Harvey says is the rest of the story: I don't know exactly when my father got his first cell phone, but I would guess in 2000 or so. Guess he figured he should join the 21st century. Like many of his generation, I think he was a little afraid of it. He would leave it off most of the time to limit useage and it must have taken him 6 months to figure out how to set up voice mail and check messages. I might be exaggerating, but just a bit. What I remember most about my dad and the cell was him calling me during fishing trips. He always called when he knew I was fishing. Now, almost all of my fishing was wading flats and reefs, and I almost never took my cell into the water because saltwater and cellphones are a poor combination, as I have learned much to my chagrin too many times in the past. So when I came back to the boat from a wade and picked up the phone there were always a number of missed calls and at least one voice message, almost always exactly like this: Hey Rick, this is Richard, your father. Just calling to see how you're doing. Give me a call when you get a chance. Thank you. Goodbye. He always would identify himself as "Richard, your father". Like I wouldn't be able to identify him by if he just called himself Richard. Or my father. Or just by his voice. I found that hysterical for some reason. And he always said Thank You at the end. I found it all very formal. It was his way of living a bit vicariously through us (he always called my brothers as well) while he was working. The phone calls almost always came from the shrimp boat because if he wasn't working, he would be fishing with you. The calls themselves were pretty routine: How many, how big, where, using what; you all know, just standard fishing conversation. He would give advice on where to go, or what to try next if you weren't doing any good and wish you luck. I came to count on and look forward to the calls, especially when I was doing well. One thing I have learned is that a son never tires of bragging a bit to his dad. When he was dying, I realized that not only was I not going to get to fish with him again, he was not ever going to call me when I was fishing again. I told my wife how much I was going to miss those calls, and how hard my next fishing trip would be. So on my first fishing trip after he died, my wife called me at about 8 am to ask me how the fishing was going. I will never forget her doing that. It would be difficult to describe how much that meant to me. I'm not going to say I miss the calls more than fishing with him because that wouldn't be true. I miss fishing with him more. But not by much I don't think. I want to call him after every trip, and I probably always will.

I thought you rubbed them in maggots? Or was that Glenbow?

For the past several years, I have taken a saltwater trip with a bunch of friends. We usually fish for 3 or 4 days, and it is always a blast, regardless of how good the fishing is. The trip takes place in May, and the planning begins in Jan. So while this may seem a bit early to ask this question, I need to decide which trip I plan to take, my yearly Texas trip, or... I am thinking of organizing a trip to fish the FTR from Grande Prairie to as far down as we can get in 1 week. My only requirement is to fish the Little Smoky for Grayling (I actually caught my first flowing water fish on the Smoky, a small pike) and the Kakwa (I caught my first cuttie there back when I lived in GP before I took up fly fishing). My plan is to take my tent trailer and 2 or 3 others for the trailer. Does anyone have a feel for how many is too many? I thought that since there is tons of accessible water, you could probably get away with 2 groups (up to 8 people) if you planned the trip correctly (2 vehicles, 4 per vehicle, fish in pairs upstream/downstream etc.) Any ideas as to when would be best? I would like to do it as late as possible (once school starts) but could maybe do it as early as July. August is probably out. So any suggestions as to when, logistics, number of people, etc. would be appreciated.

Very sorry to hear about your friend Gary, but at least you get to cherish your last trip together. I can't really remember my last trip with my best fishing buddy, who just happened to be my father, because I always just expected there to be more. Wish I could remember it. I very specifically remember the first trip without him. I had told my wife during the week he died that one of the things I would miss most was his phone calls asking me how the fishing was going. During my first fishing trip after the funeral, my wife called to ask how the fishing was going. That's a wife! Anyway, thanks Gary for letting me remember that. My most memorable trip this year was my first day fishing saltwater with a fly rod and toward the end of the day landing a 25" Redfish. Told the story here more than once, but I'll never forget the feeling of that strike as long as I live. I don't think I've ever been more nervous/exhilarated fighting a fish. I remember he almost got me to my backing (remember this is still water) and how I just wanted to get one good look at him. Landing him was icing on the cake. I can only hope this year is as memorable. But since I know how many new friends I've made because of this website it can't help but be. Looking forward to it!

The funniest part of the trip with MTB was that after all the driving, the wind and rain, high muddy water, the one fish we caught (ok, I caught) was about a mile from my house! I'd give precise directions, but I wouldn't want a pile of people there this spring.....

I got a pm from a friend this morning asking if a spot he knows I fish has been productive recently. I sent him a reply telling him yes, and specifically where. Nown I got this on my blackberry, and the screens are a bit different. When I send the reply I realize, to my horror, that I had replied TO A POST, not his PM. I erased it as fast asa I could. Now, if it was just me fishing there I wouldn't care. But I know several other people who do and its out of respect for them that I erased it. Personally, I think its a big river with lots of places to catch fish. I've caught at least one fish at every spot I've been to this winter. That's not because I'm woth a flip at this, its because this river is so prolific.

Oops

Anybody else notice that squirrel fisherman #2 winds his reels from the top just like TM and MTB? He must be a highly advanced squirrel fisherman!

Happy New Year Rob! I'll second that offer to fish anytime you come to Calgary. We can let TM fish all the outer water with his big stick while we pick off all the fish closer to shore. And thanks for that reminder of the dangers of driving in the mountains in the winter. I'm taking the family to Panorama early tomorrow morning and will be sure to keep the speed reasonable to conditions.

Nice fish. What does that red thing in the second picture do?

I like the rakish cut of my hat. Loyaleddie, I'm sure you can get one of those bags at Walmart.

My year of firsts: First Bull, late winter Crowsnest: First Red on the Fly, Port Mansfield, Texas late May: First spring day on the Crow: First camping trip with the family on the Livingstone, July: First day with my Olympus underwater, Livingstone, August: First fish I've ever seen flipping off a fisherman, Bow River, August First 20" Chaparral Night Rainbow, Bow River, September First 20+ Brown (actually, first 20+ period with a fly rod). Bad picture, but I was new. Blow River, April

localanglr, Put one on the other day for the first time, given to me by a friend to demo. I would say size 14. It lasted 2 casts before something big broke it off. Those look great!

DBT, I don't think it's the first time is it? The first time is always the best!

DBT, I'm pretty much with you on that one. I listened to it and thought: "Yawn"

For a gag, my wife bought me some bright red Stanfield one piece Long underwear. Made me model them xmas morning and everything. Much to her surprise, I make them bad boys look good! Now I can only wear them on Wed. nights..... On a serious note, I wore them fishing today. Nice and toasty warm!

Gave it a shot, but seems to be some sort of grey or green shirt in the way. Maybe next time

Well heck, I saw that (well the mouth nose and eye part anyway) but when everyone started pointing at little reflections and parts of leaves I just figgered I was being simplistic. She kinda reminds me of: So the Easter Island Lady in the Lake!

Ed playing guitar and LK with yet another big fish. Nice pics everyone!

LS, I had to rub my eyes on one of those. Was that you with a trout?

Hey Don, You really didn't see anything at all, did you? Just a little power of persuasion.....

I don't know that we would be able to afford the power bill. She claims she has to shock me quite often.

My wife tried one on me. She says it didn't work.

His ass is MINE!