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I remember as a kid 'looking up' to several
people. Often people suggested by my dad. These
were the early '40's different times back then.
We didn't have much, but got along. We fished
for perch and hunted pheasants and ducks and we
read magazines. Outdoor Life, Argosy, Field and Stream
and Sports Afield. In them we found the
magic names. The guru's of our times and the
suppliers of stuff we just had to have. If you
didn't re-paint your duck decoys with a kit of
do-it-yourself paints from Herters, well, you
just weren't doing things right.
From special collars for your duck or bird dog,
hunting coats, fishing gear, heck you name it, if
Herters didn't have it, you probably didn't need
it. I would have looked up to Mr. Herter, that
is for sure. And others too. The guys writing
about hunting would have impressed me too. We
had a guy come to our city with a slide show,
filled the big auditorium, Wally Tabor. Big
Game fellow. Wore a belted safari jacket and
a hat with a leopard hat band. Wow, I was
impressed. And Howard Hill with his bows and
arrows, he impressed me.
I now notice one thing they all had in common,
they all were older than I was. Guess that makes
it easier to look up to someone if they are older.
As I drifted somewhat aimlessly through my early
years and survived a few mid-life adventures I
was fortunate to have met and associated with a
great bunch of fellow anglers. As many were about
my age they didn't particularly stand out as gurus,
however, most have matriculated to that high position
these days. It jars me to admit how many I really do
know. And some of them were the truly great men of
our sport.
Now, looking back over some of the years, I get to
wondering where are the great ones of today? The
giants of the sport. The movers and shakers who
will and are forming the perimeters of our ethics
and moires. I think it has to do with age. My age.
The veils and shrouds of times and places past dim
the view from here. Looking back is not easy, hard
to recognize greatness in a youthful package. Would
I notice a college kid producing a book on how to
tie flies like those hatching. Would I even admit
that he may have been one of the true geniuses of
fly-fishing?
If a young author took the sacred name of Trout
and wrote a book by that name would I think well of
him or weep for Ray Bergman? If the same writer
wrote his life memoirs when he was only in his
early twenties, would I say, "full steam ahead,
young-un, go get 'em!" Most likely not. As I said,
hard to see some things from out here on this end.
Lately most of the news I get and talk about with
my buddies is who passed away last week and ain't
it a damn shame. And we are right too, there will
never be guys like them. Their time has come and
gone. New times will call for new names and faces
and they will be there. The problems will demand
answers and there will be those who will fill them
in.
Actually they are there now. They are in each
generation, working their way to the top when
necessary, doing what needs to be done, sometimes
quietly, sometimes with a flair, but, as our sport
demands and offers challenges and opportunities,
so do they rise to take the mantle and the
responsibility as it is offered. There were heros
in my time. Those who did spectacular things, true
giants of the sport. They were needed then and are
needed now; and we have them. They may just be hard
to recognize. You may be fishing with one, or know
one, or know of one, or you, yes you, you may be
one.
Fact is, in someone's eyes, you probably already
are. Think about it. Is there a person who looks
up to you because you can cast a fly rod, or even
just that you fish? Maybe you can write or take
great pictures. Yes, I think there may be a lot
of great and near great in our midst these days.
Take a good look around, change your perspective.
Might surprise yourself who you see. ~ JC
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