I miss Al Campbell, even up to today. I did the whole 60 part series of his Beginner's, Intermediate, and Advance Fly Tying Lessons. I send Al every fly pattern that was part of his fly tying series.

It was Al Campbell that helped me build my first fly rod.

I got to fish with Al Campbell for three days at the Black Hills Fish-In. The last time I was with Al Campbell was at the 2003 Idaho Fish In. Al Campbell had his fly tying box across from me in the Rumpus Room, when we were dressing fly patterns for the next days fishing. Al Campbell took Cole Martin a high school student from Great Falls MT, who was in my Beginner's Only Fly Swap that year, fishing on the Upper Selway. Al never opened his fly rod case, instead help mentor Cole Martin who caught all the trout that day.

It was Al Campbell that helped me build my first fly rod.

Al Campbell's Field Editor column was a great help to me.

Al Campbell was my mentor, and only after his death, did I find out that I was 5 years older than Al.

I miss Al, but in a special way Al has not really left us. All his articles are in the archives of FAOL, and they are also on my home computer.

~Parnelli