Great piece Ralph. Thanks for submitting it. I'm reminded of the first time I took Dad's rod & reel fishing after his passing in 1999. I wasn't fly fishing, but trolling heavy pop-gear for trout. I was fishing Silver Lake, a lake that was one of our favorite places to fish when I was much younger. I trolled over a submerges island and hooked and landed an 18-20 inch Brown Trout. Dad used to call them Loch Lavens. When I landed the fish, I said out loud, "How's that Dad?" Then I heard his voice say, "That's good son, do it again." So I turned the boat around and trolled back over the same submerged island. This time I hooked and landed another fish. This one was a cookie cutter of the first, but a Rainbow this time. This time I said out loud, "That's enough Dad, I'm going home." Then I heard him say, "You done good."
Thank you Mr. Long, for the tear in my eye, and the very pleasant memory of pleasing my Dad.