Lee N. with some freshwater poon.
]]>Uncage the Soul shared this note from Frank Moore to all of the contributors to the Mending the Line project.
Dear Friends, those I know personally, and those I hope to see and know soon, so they will become close, loving friends also.
When this trip and filming project first came up I told the people in the production company I did not want them to solicit funding from friends and those who would give out of the goodness of their hearts, but to have Corporate Sponsorship. Their answer, my wife’s, my family, and many friends was, “Just remember one thing, you will be honoring all of those who have served, living and dead, as you retrace your steps through Europe oh so many years ago.” I am so grateful, and yes so humbled, by the response individually from all of you to the call, (I still cannot believe it). Also to American Airlines for flying our son Frank, my wife Jeanne, and I, First Class from Portland to Frankfurt and return (WOW), and Patagonia for their above and beyond contribution to the trip. Mark Hemstreet, Shilo Inns, is donating lodging for us coming and going also. Mark’s uncle, Bob Hemstreet, was in my unit during the war, and probably got as close to Berlin before VE Day as any American Soldier. Many years ago Mark donated a long weekend for a reunion of 75 members of our Unit, including rooms, meals, banquet, and a trip to Lincoln City so those from the east coast could see the Pacific Ocean. I wish we could take each and every one of you with us on this amazing trip, that will take us to Luxembourg, and the American Cemetery there where we will be involved with the Memorial Day celebration, the streams of Normandy and Brittany to bring to life a dream of 70 years, then to June 6 services at the huge cemetery above Omaha Beach for that Memorial, as well as visiting the place where we went over the Dune at Utah Beach. I will be carrying the names of everyone of you with us wherever we go, so THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, and much more, for the gift you have given and are giving to us. Wish I could hug each one of you. With love, Frank Moore
More of the same from the PTTS, a trail of gaffed, dragged and dead tarpon.
LINK (via: Save the Tarpon)
]]>Just because we're idiots doesn't mean you should be too.
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Lee N. with some freshwater poon.
]]>Barry Hilton is a comedian who hails from South Africa.
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From the inbox:
We were out on a local river and when I thought I was snagged I realized I had a monster on. I've caught a lot of big catfish on the fly and this was not feeling like a catfish at all. Not knowing what I had hooked, the fish took me upstream. Despite my efforts of side pressure, the fish was unphased by anything I did. After 15 mins we caught a glimpse of the fish and that's when we saw it was a sturgeon, the shark-like tail was unmistakable. ! I managed to get it in a riffle section where I was able to get my hand on the base of the tail and wrestle the fish briefly. The fish calmed down and we were able to get a quick pic. Knowing that they are a fish that deserve respect, I made sure to keep the fish in the water and only lift it out for a couple seconds to snap a pic and get it back in the water. We picked off a few lamprey that were attached to help it out and let the beast back on its way. What an experience.
I was drifting a crawfish pattern along the bottom hoping for catfish, bass or carp. I was not expecting a sturgeon to eat my fly. We laid the fish up against my fly rod while in the water and it measured from the butt to just past the second ferrule. Afterwards we measured it at 50-inches!
Cheers,
Nick "Flatlander" Laferriere
FISHBUM Outfitters
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Redington circa 1996.
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