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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