There are good guides, bad guides,
young guides and old guides but few good old salmon guides.
These individuals are a treasure like a favorite hat, or a favorite rod
always leaving a pleasant taste in the mouth even after a hard day on
the water with no fish. They are always professional. Everything
is in order. Your gear is left with them and they check it before
you arrive. The boat is just so. If you are old and decrepit they
are never impatient with you. The phrase "no problem" slides off
their tongue like honey. They take pride in their work even though
guiding is a part-time thing for them.
All of the guides have some knowledge of the river but its nice to
see someone who has loved and fished the river for sixty years
or so and catch a glimpse of that love in his eye on occasion.
What a fine thing.
A week or so with a salmon guide requires more than a wife could
provide. He will console you on your stupid losses, and there will
be some. Give you hope for the future and try to lead you down the
"right" path. All the while making you think you are the smartest
"sport" he has guided in the last fifty ears or so. When a stupid fly
is tied on the comment "that looks like a killer" is uttered with hope
and when it doesn't perform "maybe you could try a better fly."
This of course referred to the big three - The Mickey Finn, The
Black Ghost, and The Golden Eagle.
They want the sport to succeed. It hurts them when it doesn't happen.
I think they are innately very privately proud people. Always a little
at a distance but always ready to assist in any way he can.
It's a pleasure to have a man fish you on the section of the river he's
known and loved for sixty years or more.
Meet Elmer Silliker, (298 Northwest Rd, Exmoor N.B. E9E 1L3,) my
guide on the Miramichi. Elmer if you read this - Thanks for laughing
at my stories - and your four horse motor did fine - never give in to the
urge to run and gun. I'm taking your advise and walking more.
If my ship comes in, I hope to do it again. ~ Old Rupe
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