Fly Fishing Friends
A Photo Essay
Page 4
A Celebration
of Friends and Great Times
Here during the middle of the night are two of
the finest fishermen and nicest people you'd ever meet, Garret
Mortensen and Tommy Thomas both departed and sadly missed. The
Letort Picnic was one of the greatest places that showed the
absolute companionship of fly anglers. The picnic often lasted
til after midnight because everything was so interesting.
The late
Garrett Mortensen and the late Tommy Thomas. Garrett was
a fishing companion of late Charlie Fox, Ross Trimmer,
and others. They would fish for salmon with dry fly
together long before it became popular. Garrett was
instrumental in fighting to stop the destruction of Big
Spring. He was a class act.
My friend the late Gene Utech was the last of a
breed. He was the classic wet fly fisherman. He was one of my
best friends and the time we spent together will not be
forgotten. He could take a joke with the best of them. We had a
wonderful time together. Here he ties one of his famous wet fly
rigs.
The late Gene Utech and
his lovely wife Jannette prepare for the evening hatch. Gene
was a fishing buddy of Charlie, Tommy, Ross and others. Gene
was one of the best wet fly anglers around. I met him night
fishing 30 years ago on the Yellow Breeches. He was one of my
dearest fishing buddies and he will be sadly
missed.
Some people seem to defy time and Rossy Trimmer
was one of them. He lived to be 97 and chewed 4 to 5 packs of
Mail Pouch chewing tobacco per day. An unbelievable fly
fishermen and one of the most endearing people I have ever
met.
The late Ross Trimmer and the late Irv
Swope at the Regulars´ Picnic. Irv, the consummate fly
angler and photographer, has appeared in thousands of
publications....thanks to his buddy Lefty Kreh. Irv
always found his photo in places Lefty forgot to tell him
about it.
Isn't this what fly fishing is all about.
Tying a fly and catching a fish. Here my friend Bill
Finney ties a super drake nymph while Al Lowry looks on.
Those were just great times.
Al Lowery
looks on as Bill Finney ties the next great secret
pattern. Tie it and then go try it! I hope too many
people don´t find out about this stuff.
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