The Prince of Losers

“Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

—George Santayana

The Tangler has one important rule always to observe when fly fishing. The last item to come out of the car prior to fishing is the rod. The first thing to be put away at the end of the day is the rod. This rule is the result of two disastrous experiences.

In the year 1977, Good Friday had proved to be a quiet, uneventful day in my business life. By the late afternoon I felt free to spend an hour or two on the outlet of the AmawaIk reservoir. As usual, I tarried in the stream a bit longer than I had planned. It appeared I would be late for dinner again. Not wishing to risk the wrath of the pretty little lady who cooks at our house, I scurried back to my full-sized Dodge van. I placed the rod on top of the vehicle, changed out of my waders and hopped up into the drivers seat. Somewhere between route 100 and Bedford Hills, the rod slid off of the roof and was never seen again. A bitter lesson, hopefully one I would never forget.

On August 29, 2000, Barb and I were fishing the Beaverkill at Cemetery Pool in the company of a young teenager named Kevin Burke. We had met Kevin while helping to teach a fly-fishing course at the Catskill Fly Fishing Center. Kevin and his mom were spending the summer in Livingston Manor, so we were able to take him along on several of our fishing forays. (Barb and I recently heard from Kevin. He is now attending college and would like to fish with us again. We will see that he is not disappointed). On this day, when it was time to take Kevin home I leaned my rod up against the van in order to take a picture of the young man. Then, off with the waders, into the drivers seat and away we went. It was hours later when I realized the rod was missing. After dark, Barb and I went back with flashlights and searched for the little glass fly rod. It was gone. I had paid dearly for violating my own rule regarding fly rods. Some fly fishers are slow learners, others are beyond hope.

On the 24th of May, this year, Stuart Duffield came up to fish with us. We tried the Willowemoc just above the Catskill Fly Fishing Center. Barb chose not to fish and all Stu and I accomplished was casting practice. After fishing, I laid my rod carefully on top of the canoe racks on our minivan. I changed out of my waders while chattering away, filling Stu in on the great place we were going to eat dinner. That would be the Rainbow Lodge, up toward Walton, NY where the food is wonderful and also inexpensive. After dinner, I planned to purchase some trout pellets and give Stu a look at the large trout that inhabit the lake next to the restaurant. Away we went, through Roscoe, onto the Quickway headed towards Cadosia and Route 268. Suddenly, for no particular reason, a sickening thought hit me. THE ROD. Had I put it away in its case? I pulled over and peered into the mid section of the van. There was the rod tube and the cloth rod sack lying empty. I am the king of stupid, forgetful fools.

Back we raced to the parking lot, praying all the way. As we entered the lot, I hopefully scanned the area where we had been parked. Nothing. A glance to the right found no rod, a look to the left revealed only the gravel-covered parking area. But wait—there, off to the side, lay my rod and reel. A close inspection showed that by a miracle neither the rod or reel had suffered any damage. It is often said that God looks after idiots. I guess I must be a full-time job for the Lord,

Now hear this. On June 10, the Theodore Gordon Flyfishers (TGF) will hold their annual Conservation Dinner in Roscoe, NY at the Rockland House. Cocktail hour is at 6:00, dinner at 7:00 p.m. This year, the Conservation Award will go to Dr. Alan Fried and his wife, Mary. Over the course of their lives, this couple has planted thousands of trees, shrubs and flowers to enhance and beautify the Catskill habitat. Doc and Mary are true heroes of conservation.

In addition, Joan Wulff will receive a lifetime achievement award from TGF. On several occasions, I have been mesmerized while watching this little lady cast a fly line. With effortless grace and perfect timing, she throws a fly line distances that I can only reach in my dreams. This will be a night to remember. Anyone who wishes to honor Doc, Mary and Joan is invited to attend. For additional information call 570/224-6172.