April 2007 President's Message

By: Todd Fleming
Alamo Fly Fishers – President 2007

Recently I attended the funeral of my great-uncle – Joe Bailey Fleming – my grandfather’s brother. He was 94, and his mind was sharp and active right up until his death. He was the last Fleming of his generation. It was a generation that lived one hundred years from the birth of the first sibling to the death of the last. I hope I have inherited some of those genes for long life, but it also reminded me that none of us will live forever. A lifetime to a child may seem like forever, but for those of us who have experienced the birth and death of friends and love ones, we know our time on earth is finite and relatively short. We enter this world with nothing and we leave with nothing; and we are dependent upon others for everything in between. A lifetime is long enough to make a difference, and short enough to stay focused on our goals. A lifetime should be lived to its fullest. Every day is precious and should not be wasted.

None of us will live forever. But each of us has been given a life, and it is up to us to decide how we live that life. If our life is to be memorable, it must be memorable for those who come after us. If it is only memorable to ourselves, then that memory will die when we die. To be remembered we must share our life and our knowledge with others, and we better make it interesting too! We had no control over the beginning of our life, and we have almost no control over the end. But it is the part in between that you can control, and decide to make memorable for others.

Bud PriddyThe Alamo Fly Fishers is a successful club because it is dynamic. It is dynamic because we have a mix of people of different ages and experience levels. Our club is over twenty years old, and some of the founding members are no longer with us. Names like Bud Priddy and David Young are still remembered and talked about today because of the things they did when they were active in this club. They shared their love of the outdoors and fly fishing with others, and asked for nothing in return. Their dream was for everyone to experience the same pleasures they had. If they were able to show you something that you didn’t know, or teach you something new, they wanted you to pay that debt forward. They wanted you to share that knowledge with others to make them more successful.

My message to you is to share the things you know. Take time to meet others with similar interests, and share with them the things that you have learned. It could be a technique or skill that was taught to you by others, or maybe it is the result of your own experiences and research. Teach your kids, and show your friends how to be successful at whatever they do. You will be remembered for the experiences you shared with them.

Last weekend was the David Young Memorial White Bass Outing to Colorado Bend State Park on the Colorado River above Lake Buchanan. I have heard that the white bass spawn was one of David Young’s favorite fly fishing outings. Colorado Bend is a primitive State Park, and usually has one of the best white bass runs in the state. David Young and a small group of fly fishermen started camping and fishing there many years ago. This traditional spring time outing has since turned into one of our club’s most popular group outings. It is popular, of course, because of the large numbers of white bass in the river, but it is also popular because it is a natural group outing, and the subsequent camaraderie is unequaled. The remoteness of the location lends it to being a good group outing destination. Once you get there, you usually stay for all the activities – camping, eating, and fishing. After spending a couple of days with the same group of people, you can’t help but know them better!

When I first started going on this group outing to Colorado Bend, I went mainly for the fishing. I have since discovered the joy of the group. The evening group gatherings start with cooking and eating dinner, and continue with visiting and telling stories around a campfire well into the night. These camping type outings require more planning and preparation, but they are also the most fun and memorable. Part of the charm is the group dynamics. Everyone is willing to share whatever they have brought for the benefit of the group. Whether planned or not, most meals usually end up being group endeavors. I think most people are surprised at how well we eat on these outings! If you decide to participate in one of these group outings, be prepared to learn about more than fishing, cooking, and camping. These outings are inherently filled with unexpected rewarding experiences. Nature provides many of these intangible rewards, but you will also learn things about others, and from others, that you would never find out elsewhere.

It is shared experiences like those at Colorado Bend that add to making our lives memorable. Take the time now to share your life, and your knowledge and experiences with others. It is these actions that will make our lives more memorable – even after our life on earth has ended.

Now, I think it is time to go fishing!