In by PM to me:
I am not sure if you have heard of the passing of another eastern Washington fishing buddy, but thought I would share the news with you. Earl Dunlap of Soap Lake, who could be seen almost every day on the lakes in the area in his float tube and his cigar, passed away this week. He was found along Rocky Ford where he fished daily in the winter.
Earl was always generous to people new to the area. And he sure liked to talk.
I did not “know” the man, LF as a friend per se’, but I had met him, (twice) and on the very creek you say they found him on, the first time. (Rocky Ford). You mention “his cigar” and that was the funny part of meeting him the first time, two years ago.
Bishop and I were fishing The Ford and as we walked along, we suddenly saw this “smoke cloud”, billowing out from the bulrushes that line a lot of Rocky Ford’s banks. Being summer at the time and very, very, dry “SMOKE in any form” of course, startled us from the fire aspect.
As we actually RAN to find the source of the smoke, we parted the tall weeds and there, standing quietly, almost obscured by the smoke from his cigar, was Earl!! (we learned, after introducing ourselves and apologizing for interrupting his serenity!!).
He was extremely forgiving of our “blunder”, very, very, funny and a real delight to talk to and exchange “Rocky Ford secrets” with.
A year or so, later, I was alone and ran into him again on a small lake in the Banks Lake chain of lakes. I was totally blown away, because, after our probably hour’s worth of meeting, nearly a year previous, (YES! he LOVED to TALK!!!), he not only remembered my first name, but also, my last!! And, even asked me “Where’s Bishop, today? You two, not fishing together this time?”
That was my only two meetings with the man, but after talking in fly shops in the area, and other fly fishers, I came to learn he was quite a popular man with almost all of the locals in the area and I can see why!!
Sorry, to hear, that he’s passed.
Sorry to hear that LF. Many was the time my brothers and I observed him on the creek and stop for a little creek clutch. I only pray it was an easy transition from one little piece of Heaven to another.