RAW
01-14-2002, 05:32 AM
I knew of Gary LaFontaine through his writings long before I met him in person in 1992. It was the Toro Sportsmen's Show at the Salt Palace. I proudly carried in my copy of "Caddisflies" to get Gary's autograph. I had never had a book autographed before and to this date I only have three: "Caddisflies", "The Dry Fly New Angles", and "Trout Flies Proven Patterns", all LaFontaine books. Gary gladly sighned the book and gave me a dicount on "The Dry Fly." I followed Gary around that day like a small puppy following its new owner.
Gary was scheduled to give a presentation in one of the tents and I went early in hopes of getting a good seat. I was so early that I got there as Gary was setting up and no one else was in the tent. Gary took time to ask me about myself and my fly fishing experiences. To sit and talk one-on-one with a master and an idol was a thrill. At the time I was 33 years old and felt like a teen worshiping a rockstar!
I continued to read all I could of Gary's writings and found pleasure in his "book mailer" newsletter. Gary's zest for life and fly fishing was contagious. He always found humor and expresssed it. Life and fly fishing are suppose to be fun. That's what he taught me. Whenever I started to get a little too serious, I would try to think of Gary and put it all into perspective.
Before the ALS got too advanced, I received another thrill. Gary and Jack Dennis were doing a seminar at Weber State University. After the seminar a group of us were invited to visit with Gary and Jack at Anglers' Inn in Ogden. I rushed over and spent some time visiting and then was invited to go out to dinner with the small group which was left. It was Gary who extended the invitation. I was so excited.
Gary was down to earth and made you feel important. He handled the fame and recognition well.
I have three personally tied patterns from Gary. What a treasure.
Gary will be missed, but his patterns and writings will continue to influence us as we continue to fly fish.
I know that when I fish in Monatana and come around a lonely stretch of water, I will feel Gary there and in my minds eye see him standing in the water playing in a nice fat trout.
Gary was scheduled to give a presentation in one of the tents and I went early in hopes of getting a good seat. I was so early that I got there as Gary was setting up and no one else was in the tent. Gary took time to ask me about myself and my fly fishing experiences. To sit and talk one-on-one with a master and an idol was a thrill. At the time I was 33 years old and felt like a teen worshiping a rockstar!
I continued to read all I could of Gary's writings and found pleasure in his "book mailer" newsletter. Gary's zest for life and fly fishing was contagious. He always found humor and expresssed it. Life and fly fishing are suppose to be fun. That's what he taught me. Whenever I started to get a little too serious, I would try to think of Gary and put it all into perspective.
Before the ALS got too advanced, I received another thrill. Gary and Jack Dennis were doing a seminar at Weber State University. After the seminar a group of us were invited to visit with Gary and Jack at Anglers' Inn in Ogden. I rushed over and spent some time visiting and then was invited to go out to dinner with the small group which was left. It was Gary who extended the invitation. I was so excited.
Gary was down to earth and made you feel important. He handled the fame and recognition well.
I have three personally tied patterns from Gary. What a treasure.
Gary will be missed, but his patterns and writings will continue to influence us as we continue to fly fish.
I know that when I fish in Monatana and come around a lonely stretch of water, I will feel Gary there and in my minds eye see him standing in the water playing in a nice fat trout.