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I have retired
Just wanted to let all of you know I have retired completely.
Conranch Hackle no longer exists.
The new Owner of my birds is Lars Benson of Clearwater Hackle.
I understand that he will join FAOL as a New Sponsor soon.
208-512-1705 larsbenson@hotmail.com
http://www.clearwaterhackle.com/
He does have the birds all set up at his place and has undergone one successful period
of breeding. He does have inventory at this time. I am sure you will have the same high quality
dry fly and wet fly quality hackle that you have had from Conranch for the past 15 years.
I am also positive that you will also get the same top notch customer service.
His inventory of hackle may be a bit limited at this time but know he has a good offering of JV hens, and some very good Dry Fly stock. His new web site will be up and running shortly.
He is a New Member of FAOL. Please give him the same welcome and support that you all have given Liz & I over the years.
I have been retained as a consultant so know the same top quality hackle will continue.
I will remain as Admin for FAOL.
Respectfully
Denny
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Hope you have additional time on the water, Denny.
Thanks!!
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Definately sorry to hear you no longer will be running Conranch but, be assured I understand about retirement. Congratulations and may you have plenty of time on the water as well as some quality time with the mrs.
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Sucks that I'm not buying Hackle from you, but it'll be the same Hackle as before.
Congrats on the retirement Denny.
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Congratulations on your retirement. Glad to hear your stock is in good hands. Hope you get to spend as much time on the water as you want.
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Denny,
Good for you! Now you can devote more time to fishing and rod building. Enjoy your retirement and make sure to take good care of your health.
CONGRATULATIONS!!! ENJOY LIFE!
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Denny,
I hope you enjoy your retirement. Thanks for providing a great product over the years and for all the work you do here to keep this site so successful.
Regards,
Scott
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Denny;
Still using some JV hens I got from you a few years ago. Makes great soft hackle. One is a color I never saw anywhere else.
Thanks and good luck
Peter
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My very best wishes for you, Denny. Enjoy your new era of freedom :cool:
Please pass on my regards to Liz also.
Cheers,
Hans W
your Lowlander pal
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Congratulations! We will miss Conranch but, we're glad you are hanging out here.
Thanks for all of your work with the birds and the BBS.
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Congratulations, although I doubt anybody can beat your customer service
all the best to you
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Enjoy your retirement.You thought you were busy before!!Ray
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Denny, after 7 months of retirement I tell people it is the gift of time. Enjoy.
Mike
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congratulations Denny, your kindness and reliability will be missed. Enjoy your new life. Best wishes !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I managed to reach the golden age of 65, back in 1998. Had the opportunity to get my flock of genetic birds a year before. I had been involved with this flock for a very long time so was not new to what was involved.
I have enjoyed breeding these beautiful birds and if it had not been for liz and these past 6 years, Kenny. I would not have been able to handle it. I have had the wonderful opportunity to get to travel and fish places that I would never have been able to, because of the birds.
I came on board FAOL as a Sponsor but realized I wanted to be a part of the "People" side of Fly Fishing, more than Sponsor. I took on the chores of Chat room Host and sat in the chair for 12 years on Sunday night, 6 to 8 Pacific.
I have enjoyed all of it, even doing chores when it got down to -0 and had to thaw out frozen water. Fish Ins way too many to count.
For me it has not been just the birds but the people. Friends, not just customers is what is precious to me.
As I turn over a new page in my life I am enjoying more overnight outings. Yes, I do miss the birds at times but am enjoying a FULL retirement.
As many of you know I am first a trout bum, tier, rod maker, grouchy ole man. I started both fly fishing and tying at the age of 10. I am still learning and if I ever get it all figured out I will quit.
I want to thank all of you for the support you have given us over the years.
I did a lot of investigation and put a lot of thought into allowing the birds to go to into new hands.
Lars & his wife Sarah along with four Super Children (who are very precious to me) are the new Owners. They live in the outback of Idaho. Hopefully all of you will give them the support You have given me. Lars is continuing using my feed formula which is directly responsible for the high barb count I have reached. Feed prices (grain) continue to rise.
Please support Clearwater Hackle.
Thanks
Denny
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Denny, I hope that you will still post and hang out here. I have enjoyed using your hackle and hope to continue to enjoy using hackle from your line of birds. I hope that you get to enjoy yourself and do a lot of fishing, tying, and enjoying life.
Regards,
Ed
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Denny, I hope you have a long and happy retirement. I'm afraid if I quit acting like I'm working they will bury me. I hope you are able to do the things being a chicken wrangler kept you from doing. Raising any kind of animals is very demanding, dumb animals want to be fed regularly among other things. Congratulations and have fun!!
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Denny:
Thank you for providing us fly tyers an excellent product at a very fair price for so many years. Your customer service was the best! Enjoy retirement and your additionl time on the water and whatever adventures you wish to pursue. I look forward to supporting Lars and Clearwater Hackle with their new venture.
Bob Widmaier :)
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Denny, good for you...and thanks for every thing. You helped me immensely when I first started motorized furling.
I have been retired for some time now and remember when I first did people would ask me "What do you do with your time?" and I would say to them " You know when I get up in the morning I realize there is nothing I have to do ...and then by the end of the day I realize I only got it half done."
Enjoy.....
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Denny,
Congratulations. Not that you weren't, but have even more fun.
Fond Regards,
Allan
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Hello everyone,
This is my first post on FAOL, and I have been impressed reading through the forum as to the quality of materials and members found here.
As Denny Conrad has said, we took over his flock of genetic hackle birds. He has been a good friend and mentor. He was right when he told us that the birds will change our lives. They have, but for the better. I?ve been both raising birds and fishing since I was a boy, and love both. Started fly fishing as a teenager. I have enjoyed fishing many streams, rivers, lakes, and two oceans, and look forward to many more trips. My kids and I (and even my wife at times) love to fish. Our three year old son is ?hooked? and loves fishing more than most adults. He can?t stop talking about it! :D
We?re committed to the same level of service Denny has given, as well as to continue his legacy of quality feathers. We?re also excited about developing some more colors to offer you. We have inventory available now, and will have more in a couple of weeks when we begin our processing. Our website will be fully up and running soon.
Lars Benson
Owner of Clearwater Hackle
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Congratulations Denny, I hope you and the wife enjoy the golden years ahead.
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Denny, Thanks for all you have done for fly fishing in general and for your help in keeping this website what it is today. Lars, welcome aboard. Please let us know when your website is up and running...I'll look forward to bookmarking it. Jim
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CONGRATULATIONS, DENNY!
I'm happy that you're retiring but also a little sad that I won't be dealing with Conranch any more. But it's high time you got out and had some fun, so GO HAVE FUN! That's an ORDER!!!:grin: Al Fish
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Lots and lots of fun on the water, Denny!
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Denny, a very happy, healthy and long retirement to you and yours.
Mr. Benson, I wish all the best in your endeavors and pray you prosper to your retirement.
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Congrats, Denny!!! Now send me directions to your place so I can visit you to make sure you are properly enjoying your retirement. We'll be visiting our new granddaughter in Portland on a regular basis, so stopping by your place is definitely in the cards. What exit do I take coming from Boise?
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Congratulatiuon on your retirement. I can tell you that it was great fun setting at Sowbug one evening and hear you talking about hackle.
Hope you get out fishing often.
Rick
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Denny, congrats on your retirement. You had some wonderful birds, and great service. Thank you for all you've done. Now get some fishing in. :-)
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Denny,
Congratulations on your new chapter in your book of life. I wish you all the best and enjoyment that will come with it. Years ago I called on you for help with feathers for soft hackle flies. You suggested JV hens and with that I purchased 2. You mailed them out before I even sent the money and said let the feathers and the check pass in the mail. I knew right then and there that this is someone I want to deal with. Again, congratulations and all the best in your retirement.
Lars,
Glad to have you on board.
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Denny, congratulations, hope you find lots of time to fish, and perhaps some warm places to fish in
Eric
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Denny,
Congratulations on your retirement! Enjoy it! Tie some flies, build some rods, go fishing! (Hope you kept some great hackle!)
Now that you no longer sell hackle, I am happy that I got to purchase some of your hackle, and it's neat to have Conranch Hackle in the container with the rest of my hackle, especially now that you have retired. It was really neat to talk with you and I much appreciated the advise and great service you gave when I bought the hackle.
I want to thank you for a sacrifice you made for fly tiers. You could have sold all of your saddles to hair dressers when the craze for fashion fly tying feathers was on, and instead you chose to serve the fly tying and fly fishing community. I know that you could have made more money selling the feathers to those folks but you didn't. Thank you. Not everyone did that.
Thanks and regards,
Gandolf
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Congrats Denny!!!
You more than deserve it!!!!!!!! Get out and have fun on the water!!!!!!!!!
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Denny,
The DVD went out Monday. He may get it today. You might check with him.
Thanks.
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Lars, to you and yours, welcome to the FAOL Family. The changing of the guard, so to speak, will be a little strange for a while, but I'm sure that Denny has picked a worthy successor for Conranch. Thanks for coming on board and enjoy yourself here. Take care, John.