What a terrific day we had today working with 12 teenage young ladies from Eagle Village, teaching them how to catch Blue Gill’s with a fly rod. It was hot and humid but that did not deter their exurberance to learn a new craft. (I am a crispy critter!!)
We had a little more help this year thanks to several FAOL members and what a wonderful job they did! Most of the girls were using the fly rod’s (complement’s of Scientific Anglers) like buggy whip’s but once we got them slowed down and into the basic’s they did better.
After lunch Glen Weaver broke out the wader’s and that was a sight to behold!! One young lady with some real potential caught a nice 'gill and promptly fell down!! Yes she went under!! Got right back up but lost the fish!! When she looked back all the adults were holding up 8 to 9 fingers (also poised to go in and get her)!! Olympic material for sure!!
She did it again a little while later and got a lot of 9’s and 10’s this time!! We were about to tie a line to her so we could haul her in next time. Very, Very into flyfishing and no fear!! Understand that at all time these kids were under very close supervision but they also had the oppertunity to push the envelope as well.
For lunch we had Burgers and Hot Dog’s with some of Karla Anderson’s famous potato salad, a fruit salad by Jean DeSavage and desert was Jean’s “To Die For” Browinies!!
It was a Grand Day! Many thank’s to members Bill & Jean DeSavage for comming up from Kalamazoo, mjsmith from Cadillac, Karla Anderson from Evart, Bob Burges from Barryton and a Special thanks to Bob & Barb Hurrell for the use of their pond.
The girls had a lot of fun and learned a lot today When asked “Do you want to do it again” they all said yes!! As I said at the beginning “What a Terrific Day!!”.
Don’t forget the Michigan Fish-In August 14th to the 20th. The Holy Water’s of the Au Sable await you!!
Jack & Cronies,
You have made me proud once again! Hopefully, I can get there next year. Jack, I’ll bet that one gal who decided to swim along with the fish was somethin’ else!
Sounds like you all had a fun & very rewarding day…well deserved!
Mike
You can call me Mike & you can call me Mikey…Just remember that this site’s about sharing!
Good work all. Enjoy your vacation next week, Jack. Take it easy and rest from the good deeds unless you want to rescue Mike from temptation and send all of his Bushmills to me for safekeeping .
It was a lot of fun yesterday and the shouts of excitement…“I caught a fish!”…now will someone take it off for me"… It was a fun and rewarding experience. I spent most of my time under the big willow tree watching so hats off to those in the hot sun with the girls.
What a great day it was. It was hot, but it was great to see the young ladies have so much fun learning to fly fish. I got to practice tieing nail knots, release quite a few fish and help retrieve flies from trees/bushes/weeds. Many thanks to everyone who helped and supported the effort both at the pond and behind the scenes.
Well,
My insteps are fried(between sandal straps) and my knees are too.
However I would not have missed yesterday for anything, we are already looking foward to next years. Any one who has a chance to do either “Eagle Village” or any other Fish-In of a similar vein DO IT you get so much out of it, more than what you put in.
Many Thanks to Jack for organising this.
Bill&Jean DeSavage
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