The Color and the Redd

It is with profound sadness that I have said goodbye to my last salmon fishing visitor today. Eddy headed off back to Virginia about 0430, the last of the Marines. I put the Marine Corps Proud Red Flags away in a safe place and then put up my salmon rods for the winter. As I sit here and write and look out at the quarter moon over Lake Michigan, a flood of memories hits me from the journey of the last two weeks. I remember going out on the boat out front of the house and being just as amazed as Colonel Scott W. about the number of salmon jumping around us in 10 to 30 feet of water as we trolled. We didn’t catch anything that morning, but I have to say it was one of the most beautiful and enjoyable moments of fall salmon fishing for me. The wind laid down, the sun came up in it’s glorious fullness---and Scott and I enjoyed the glory of a sunrise on Lake Michigan---all the while listening to our comrades at the river mouth, and seeing them run up and down the beach fishing for the fish going up river.

The shooting was also enlightening. I can’t believe that I can now hit a bulls-eye on a target with a hand gun. I went from hitting the board the target was on with one shot, and the dirt with the other shots---to now hitting the money. Thanks for that Colonel W., I will go back to the range this week with the pistols you arranged for me to shoot and hit a few more centers for my teacher!!!

It was “nagnanimous” to come back to “Camp” by the way Dr. Todd, and have incredible meals waiting for us. I think if Todd decides to give up doctoring, he will give Emeril a run for his money. Did he give us a kick off and change of pace or what? I honestly didn’t know they cut steaks that thick. What was that---almost 3 inches I think. And it was incredibly enjoyable to eat the “maters” and peppers from his very own garden. The kids in town are still talking about the white convertible mustang and the trip to Jeffy’s football game. Thanks for doing that again Doctor! Thanks Todd for freshing up the party and putting up with a bunch of smelly old guys! I now know more about football thanks to Todd than any dumb dad who majored in guitar and girls in high school but never went out for sports.

The salmon cooperated for some of us---most notably Ed, who took back as much fresh and smoked salmon as he wanted. Eddy does like to catch the “bite” at the River Mouth doesn’t he? It’s fun to watch him go!!! Then, there’s Jeffy, who on his first trip to the river at the high gravel, fairly hooked a big king salmon in the mouth on his Grandfather’s Fly Rod and landed it on his first hour on the river. There were many very experienced fishermen with me who didn’t do that this year, so he’s pretty proud of himself. In fact, even those who didn’t catch salmon are pretty happy that happened to Jeffy. The other guys who visited me, Dr. Todd, Mike, Scott, Ron and Ed were a joy and a lot of fun to have around. I was a little anxious about the fireworks off the beach at ONE A.M. at first, but in retrospect realize it didn’t hurt or wake anybody up---and they were quite amazing fireworks.

We all knew that the salmon run was just beginning while they were here. There were scattered fish up on the gravel REDDS, but they were hard to catch, and not the usual number of egg-sucking rainbows present either. I got up early this morning before Church and hit the river, and yes, was dodging salmon around my legs. Sorry guys, you just missed the “mother lode” as Mike said, by a few days. That’s life, always a minute too short I guess. But, that’s one of the reasons I decided to move here---I can watch the fish come up, peak, and fade away and fish when I want to. You’ll just have to come back, and you are invited always, every year, forever if you want to, to help me enjoy and appreciate this incredible water wonderland.

For me, having caught more salmon than I can count, the pinnacle of this year’s fall fishing was Lake Fishing. I had the pleasure to have a “World-Class” Fisherman on my boat, Mike L. Mike helped me go from blue to red in terms of catching fish and “tasting blood”. I have fished with a lot of fishermen, from fishing guides in the Bahamas, Florida Keys to Alaska, but none of them was as knowledgeable and enjoyable to fish with as Mike. For the first time, I watched and saw the water in an entirely new light. In the past, I tried to catch fish and watched the water and if my approach/tackle/technique wasn’t working, I’d start to kick back and call it a day. I resigned myself to the fact that the fish just weren’t biting, and were in deep water somewhere. Mike taught me that the Fish are ALWAYS there and willing, you just have to find them. Water ANYWHERE, even at sewage outflows holds fish. The pics of you catching fish, even trout, in big cities near sewage lines, etc., will always be remembered. You just have to change up, adapt, persevere and you will start catching fish. In fact, I saw him do just that, changing flies and lines and hooking into largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, pike, muskie etc. As the Marines in Red, improvise, adapt, overcome, etc.

For me, this is a profound lesson. I now realize the fish are always there, always eating and living and catchable. They are faithful to their own purpose. As I reflect upon my friends and this incredible fishing trip, I am overwhelmed by their perserverance, friendship and how faithful they are to their purpose and the pursuit of friendship. Ed’s thank-you note that I found this morning to me summed it up—“Semper Fi” my brother, “Semper Fi”. Always faithfull, the fish, the friends. The red blood of my friendship, the red color of the Marine Corps Flag, the fish on the Redd. I am overwhelmed and thankful to the CREATOR above for this time. Thank You, and God Bless, and come on back Marines!!!