President's Message - February 2009: "Legacy"
By Rob Burlingame, AFF President 2009
We have gracefully entered that phase of the year when we are reminded of the joys of South Texas weather patterns. This week alone, we saw temperatures plunge from 70 degrees at mid day to freezing at night. The focus of this season turns to trout fishing the Guadalupe and to impromptu trips to the coast on warm days following the cold fronts passing through. Soon, the weather will begin to warm, wild flowers will start to bloom and we will finally get to chase the white bass on their annual spawning run. Now, if we could only get a little rain to help the river levels rise and flows improve.
It is also the time of year when I seem to spend more time reflecting on the events of the past year and look forward to what this year will hold. As I reflect, I can’t help but remember the people in my life that have made the most impact, often with the smallest of gestures. Many of you reading this article fall into that category, with everything from stream side lessons, fly tying advice, casting tips and “on the job” redfish training! While some things may seem miniscule at the time, you may never know the impact they have on those around you. The list of my “heroes” is too long to mention here, but I do want to share a short story about my first casting lesson.
Somewhere around 12 years old, our family took a summer trip into New Mexico and Colorado to visit a few relatives. One of the stops was at “Grandpa Tony’s” house in Chama, New Mexico. While he was not a blood relative of mine, his willingness to share his talents always made him feel like a grandpa to me. With his house located close to the Chama River and his deeply ingrained love of fly fishing, our stops at his house always meant we were going to fish at some point. So this year we were prepared. Armed with our brand new fiberglass rods, line and a few of our first attempts at fly tying, we were ready to go! Except, none of us knew how to cast, which presented an obvious problem. So, there was Grandpa Tony to the rescue. After a few minutes of crude instruction, he pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket, grabbed it in the center to form a “tent” and placed it on the ground about 30 feet from me. He then turned and said, “I am heading inside. I will take you fishing when you can pick that up with your fly.” As you can imagine, I was shocked, not to mention a little overwhelmed by the challenge. So, for the next hour or so, there I was, trying to catch the “hanky fish” which seemed to be getting farther away with each attempted cast. What started out as flailing slowly turned into controlled flailing and eventually crude loops. Then, all at once, the miracle happened. The fly connected and the handkerchief lifted off the ground. I don’t have to tell you the excitement I felt as I dropped the rod and ran inside to spread the news. Through a hidden grin, his only words were “I knew you could do it!” and we spent the rest of the afternoon pulling native trout out of pristine waters.
While the methodology of the lesson was a little crude, it is something that has stayed with me to this day. I have since had to learn better casting techniques, but his lesson was much more than casting a fly. He taught me, through a small amount of encouragement, the reward for persistence and ingrained a deep love for fly fishing within me. In my life, that is his legacy.
There are many members within our club with their own legacies. Some members are still very active and still building their legacy. Others have passed on and are fishing far better waters. I only wish I could have known some of the AFF legends. As springtime and summer approach, we honor two of our great members with the Bud Priddy One Fly and the David Young White Bass Outing. While both of these men have long passed, their names and their memories are a constant within the club. Our members each have their own fond memories from an outing, a short lesson or perhaps their friendship and willingness to share the sport. No matter the reason, these gentlemen have left a tremendous legacy and a perpetual impact.
Moving to today the question becomes, “What will be your legacy?” Always remember that this club belongs to everyone in it. It is a shared responsibility for all of us to make the club even better than it is today. I challenge each of you to find something you are good at and share it with others. Challenge yourself to build a legacy. Take a new member under your wing and pass to them your favorite aspect of the sport. The excitement is contagious when you are there to share a new angler’s “first”! Take a friend fishing and teach them something new you’ve discovered. Share your suggestions with the club officers on how we can do things better. No matter how young or how old, we are all still learning! By sharing your knowledge and love of fly fishing, you will be amazed at how much you will learn through the process yourself!