BETTER TO BE LUCKY?

          My wife is of the opinion that I am the one of the luckiest guys on the planet. This is mostly because she is a planner and I am not. I have always been of the opinion that things will just work out.  Needless to say, this rubs my wife the wrong way. The following story is a case in point.

          It's September in Montana. Our friends Jim and Teresa are in town from Duluth MN, so of course we need to spend at least one day floating the river. We arrived at our starting point, the wind tunnel fishing access known as House of Mystery (the real mystery is why a fish would want to live in so windy a place). We get ready to launch, rig rods, get the beer, etc... Jim, being the visitor, begins fishing first, so I put my rod onto the side of the raft and take the oars.  When one fishes, it is usually the case that where you want to fish is of course the hardest place to get to. This trip is no exception. We head for the gravel bar directly across the river.. rowing directly into the wind.  After a few minutes of casting and no action, I tell Jim to use my rod.  As I look to grab it... it's gone! Oops.  Knew I should have secured it better.  Not an auspicious beginning to our day... giving your rod and reel to the river deity.  Especially since the reel was my favorite and they don't even make them anymore.  

                Side note, not being one to give up so easily, on the advice of a local guide I later grabbed my mask and snorkel, and went on a recovery mission (too bad no pics of that day).  Unfortunately I got nothing but cold... time to officially give up on the reel.

                

        Now onto the reason for this story (donating my rod to the Flathead River is not an example of my luck).  So I went to work one day after the fateful loss of the rod, and my boss Kristin says, "Hey, I got a whole bunch of fishing stuff from my grandpa.. do you want anything?".  I looked through it and, to my joy, there were about 20 fly rods to choose from.  So I picked out a Sage 5 wt and a 10 foot Sage 7 wt (perfect for throwing heavy weight when nymphing  the high water that is Montana in the spring). My luck is slightly turning.   Now I am just out the G Loomis Venture 5 reel.  Oh well.

Maggie looks heavenward in thanks for the Sage 10' 7 WT we received from Kristin.

             A few days later I'm working at the bar and some dude is having a beer and I ask him where he is from (expecting "Anywhere Alberta, Canada"). To my surprise, he says Vancouver (yeah yeah British Columbia. right?). No... Vancouver WASHINGTON. Ok, turns out he works for G Loomis!!  I break down crying how my friend Jim from MN made me lose my rod in the Flathead, and how I didn't care about the Orvis rod (it was probably my sixth replacement they had sent me, shhhh).  But, oh... that Venture 5!  they don't make 'em anymore (more crying).  He says, "Yeah, it's the best $100 reel ever made."  Respecful silent moment for the lost reel followed.  Then, "Hey Clay, I think I can get you one..."  Long story not quite so long,  last week a brand new G Loomis Venture 5 showed up at our house in Lafayette.  So kudos to Greg at G Loomis; my new favorite person in the world!

The  G loomis venture 5,  best $100 reel ever!

                On the same big mail day when my reel arrived,  I also received another package.  This one was our brand new Olympus Tg 820 underwater camera! so look out once I get on the river there will be all sorts of funky pictures posted!

get ready for underwater fun!

Remember you are only as good as your mend.

... and always secure your rod in the boat.