Pia’s tale

“And a little child shall lead them.”

—Isaiah 11:6

On Sunday, May 25th, the Upper Delaware Chapter of Trout Unlimited was exhibiting at the Callicoon Farmers’ Market. A wee lassie about eight years old, named Pia Roels, approached our table. She carefully examined the pretty, small wooden trout carved by artist Lou Trowbridge. After examining them, she proudly announced to all of us, “At our school we raised trout.”

“Really,” said I.

“Yes,” said she. “Mrs. Rowe, our teacher at the Phoenicia Elementary School, taught us to care for them. This Tuesday we are going to release them into the river.”

“What stream is that?” I asked.

“The big Esopus Creek,” she replied. A sorrowful look passed over her face as she told us, “Some of them died.”

“Why was that?” I wondered.

The learned little lady promptly replied, “Too much ammonia in the water.”

Her brother Loic, a kindergartner, told us proudly that next year he would be in first grade, “with the big kids.” He expressed the desire that his class might also have the opportunity to raise trout. Little Pia Roels has gained knowledge in second grade that she will remember for the rest of her life. To wit, bad stuff in the water causes trout to die. What a great object lesson for the future protectors of our brooks and rivers.

Three cheers for Joan Stoliar, who, as director of Theodore Gordon Flyfishers more than 20 years ago, conceived of the program known as “Trout In The Classroom.” Mrs. Stoliar nurtured her idea through its early years and lived to see it expand through the entire Northeast. How delighted she would have been to hear young Pia Roels describe what she had learned while raising her trout. Hats off to Mrs. Rowe for taking the time to guide the children through this experience. Trout cannot survive without clean water. The same standard applies to human beings.

The answer to last column’s quiz question, as to the identity of the author of the line “fly fishing is to bait fishing as seduction is to rape,” is John Voelker, aka Robert Traver. His favorite fishing hole was named Frenchman’s Pond. To those who phoned in with the correct answers, your poorly tied flies are on the way.

Friday, June 6, the Tangler tied flies along with dozens of experts at the Theodore Gordon Clearwater Junction tying celebration. There was a logical reason for my being asked to tie at this prestigious event: in order to appreciate the difference between experts and the rest of us, it is necessary to have one fly tier present who ties with 10 thumbs. Saturday evening at the TGF Conservation Dinner, Barb and I had hoped to be arguing over which one of us held the winning ticket for the lovely bamboo fly rod that Mike Canazon graciously donated for this event. We did not win it, but it was a great evening spent with old and new friends.

This past week, a tiny brook trout and a 13-inch brown trout each ate one of my flies. To their chagrin, these fish learned they had made a grave error. Albeit with a sore jaw, both of these fish are once again feeding in the Willowemoc, though a bit more cautiously.