My thanks for all the articles

[sagefisher]

My thanks for all the articles.

Great photo album covering the 2007 Idaho Fish In, didn't realize that SuperCaster wore such a good looking outfit. Thanks for sharing the fun everyone had. I will try to arrange my schedule so I can attend the 2009 fish in, but this year is out. I have already organized a group for a Montana trip this fall.

JC, I really liked your Oranges Are For Christmas article, what part of Montana did you move to when you were a kid?

I release virtually every fish I catch. I don't begrudge someone if they want to keep an occasional fish. If the fish came from most of our lakes it is a stocker anyway and will be replaced. For the most part, none of our rivers are stocked with trout, so those fish are all wild. I really appreciate seeing trout released in the rivers. If a person does want to keep one then make it a smaller sized one, leave the breeders there to repopulate the stream.

Rick, thanks for sharing your Sowbug experiences and photos with us. I would like to make it down there some year.

Neil, I always love reading any article about Montana, I love that state. The rule you used, 'knowledge +experience = opportunity' is very true. Last year at the FFF Conclave in Livingston, the rivers were running way too warm for safe fishing. However, up in the mountains there was a small stream running cool and clean and the Yellowstone Cutthroats were eager to take a dry. That was fun.

Ladyfisher has a good article on positive thinking. That is very important in everyday living, the power of positive thinking. In the past, I have been able to get people to do a 180 in the job they were doing, going from mediocre to really good just by getting them to think in a positive manner. If you know someone who walks around with a cloud over their heads, get them to start thinking differently and that cloud will evaporate and show the sun that was always there for the viewing.

However, I suspect that sometimes fish also utilize the power of positive thinking and remain elusive. Maybe two positives neutralize each other? If that is the case, try a different fly.

Larry ---sagefisher---