A Farewell

As I expect 99 % of the fly fishing world knows by now, Colorado author John Gierach passed away on October 3rd. He was one of our most prolific and popular fly fishing authors over the past thirty-odd years. He told great stories while telling the truth.

Like many of us, I was surprised when I saw the news posted on the Classic Flyrod Forum in early October. I paid my respects in my own private way, taking out my copy of his book “Fishing Bamboo” the following Sunday morning before daybreak, and reading it once more cover to cover. I followed up by sending an email message to his longtime friend, rodmaker Mike Clark, to express my personal condolences on the loss of his dear friend. I have purchased a couple of consignment rods from Mike over the years and ordered several signed copies of John’s new releases from the rod shop. I feel for Mike and Kathy Jensen, good people, working their way through a very difficult time.

My copy of “Fishing Bamboo” is my third. My first paperback was a gift from my friend, rodmaker Wyatt Dietrich. Eventually I donated that to the Catskill Museum upon acquiring a hardback copy, finally coming full circle with another donation to the Museum by way of purchasing a signed, slip cased limited edition via auction at the Catskill Rodmakers Gathering. I believe that is the only book I have owned in triplicate, some testament to how much I have enjoyed it.

I have most of John Gierach’s books and have re-read a few of them in recent weeks. I always felt I would have liked to meet him, talk a little fishing and a bit about bamboo, but we never crossed paths. I did make the acquaintance of a few of his friends along the way. I spent half a day with A.K. Best more than thirty years ago, enjoying a class he gave at the first Fly Tyers Symposium held in Somerset, Pennsylvania, and Ed Engle gave a talk at one of the Fly Fishing Shows in New Jersey years back. I shook his hand and spoke briefly after his presentation.

I had plans to meet Mike Clark in 2015 when I committed to make a trip to Lyons, Colorado that summer for the Granger rod gathering he hosts on the St. Vrain Creek. (The first rod I bought from Mike was a seven-foot Granger). I feel sure Gierach would have been there, perhaps all of those gentlemen in the photo above, but that was the year I unexpectedly placed a bid to meet my maker. Open heart surgery and recovery therefrom made solo fishing in the Rocky Mountains impossible, and the stars have never quite aligned since then.

So, I have begun my winter reading somewhat early this year, revisiting Gierach’s tales as I work through my annual withdrawal from the rivers of my heart. I recall there’s at least one story of a fishing trip East to fish Pennsylvania waters, though I have not come across it in a few years. I’ll find it if I keep working my way through his titles.

John was a decade older than I, and I am pleased that he had a good, long run doing what he loved best; fly fishing for trout and writing about it. It is clear that he understood the magic of the time we are gifted along bright water, just as I do, and he shared that well. Farewell John, I expect you will enjoy fishing all of those cold, windy, rainy Blue-winged olive days even more now, without your spirit ever feeling the chill.