Matthew Buchanan Brown, one of my Texas fishing buddies, arrived Saturday July 8. When we met his incoming flight, the first words out of his mouth were, "When are we going fishing?" Matthew, age five, is a fifty-pound bundle of little-boy curiosity and angling enthusiasm. He caught his first fish last year, a four-inch sunfish from Duck Harbor Pond. Later that day he took two yellow perch from Lake Superior.

Matthew's desire to go fishing knows no bounds. However, fishing for Matthew means a number of different activities. If, after three casts no fish are hooked, Matthew decides to skip rocks across the river. It is only reluctantly that he will agree not to skip rocks where Papa Clem has just cast the bait. It is an unwritten rule that no little boy can go fishing without getting his clothing wet. At least the socks and sneakers, maybe also the pants, unless Papa Clem is quick enough to snatch him back to dry land. Then there are the insects he finds on the underwater rocks. Do they bite? Do the trout eat them? What do they taste like? Can I eat them? Why aren't the trout eating our worm? Hoo Boy! One needs a quick and encyclopedic mind to keep one step ahead of, "Matthew the Questioner."

The following fish tale occurred on a tributary of the Delaware that normally would be far too warm to fish by the middle of July. Surprisingly, the temperature at noon on July 12 was only 66 degrees. The very cool nights were undoubtedly a factor in the temperature being so trout friendly. I stationed Matthew on the gravel strand and began to shop our worm around in the nearby currents. Aha! The tiny bobber goes under and moves off upstream. I strike the fish and quickly step to the dry shore, hollering, "Matthew we have a fish."

Skipping stones is forgotten. Matthew takes the rod from my hands and begins to slowly reel in the prize. Every pull, jump and tug by the fish brings a shriek of excitement from the little fellow. I scoop the trout up with my hands and Matthew admires his catch, stroking it once, gently, while his mom takes a picture of the moment of triumph. I cut the line close to the hook and return the eleven-inch brown to the water. The fish lies quietly for some moments, then darts away into the current. "Wow," says Matthew, "did you see him scoot?"

Some fifteen minutes later a really good fish gobbles the worm. I quickly hand the rod to Matthew but when he tries to reel it in he cannot turn the handle. The fish is too strong. The little fellow grunts, raises the rod tip and gets the fish to come his way. He cranks the reel handle as best he can but the fish makes a sudden dash upstream. The taut line is strained and then snaps. Disappointment spreads over Matthew's face. "He got away Papa Clem.''

I tell him that even the best fishermen lose a big fish now and then and that we might even hook that fish again the next time we fish this pool.

"OK, Papa Clem, but is it all right if I skip some rocks now?"

"Absolutely Matthew, absolutely."

	Contributed photo by Annie Williams The Willow Planters: Front row-Barb Fullerton, Don Hamilton, Tim Singler, Jim Graham and Galen Wilkens. Back Row-Betty and Kurt Jellett, Jim Asselstine and "The Tangler," Ed Graham. (Click for larger image)

On June 10 the Upper Delaware Chapter of Trout Unlimited planted 1,000 "Streamco" willows along the banks of the North Branch of Callicoon Creek. Thanks to the great turnout, the work was accomplished in only one hour and ten minutes. Eight guys and three dolls participated in this effort. In the last four years the chapter has planted 6,000 willows and 1,000 silky dogwoods, split equally between Hankins Brook and the North Branch. Occasionally, I am asked why we bother to take the time to do these plantings. When I recently mentioned this to my friend Don Beier, he thought for a moment, then suggested, "Why don't you steal an old album title from the Moody Blues band? Tell the doubters that the work is being done 'for our children's children's children." Not bad, Mr. Beier, not bad.

On July 24, 25, 26 and 27 the Upper Delaware Chapter will again run a fly fishing and fly tying program for local girls and boys at the Callicoon Community Center. For additional information contact Maureen Cookingham at 845/252-3675.