Losses to the cane community

[HERMES2069]

I haven’t been on Clarks regularly as I used to, but I came back to just browse around and I was really struck by the amount of Rod makers, enthusiasts of cane that have passed away this year. I just came on here because I’m getting in the mood to start building some more Rods and was sad to say the people I knew that passed

[PYochim]

The death rate among all of us approaches 100%.

[GerardH]

I was only a lurker during the Clark's days but had several personal friends who were bamboo enthusiasts who posted regularly here, so some of the names were familiar that have been popping up in recent threads announcing their passing.

Those aforementioned friends who were/are posters here are almost all in their late 60s to mid-70s...I treasure everyday I get to interact with them whether on a stream, by a campfire, at a bamboo gathering, or simply exchanging IM's on social media. Getting into the backing on the fly reel of life....

[Holland]

"Getting into the backing on the fly reel of life..."

Nice.

[Brian K. Shaffer]

Agreed - this year was especially tough
______

wow GH that is profound
____________________________________________________

did you just make that up ? that is a book title

[Hellmtflies]

Yup, we're all on the back nine.

[Hanksforkstalker]

On the back nine and approaching that last bend in the river.

[BigTJ]

Yup, we're all on the back nine.

I may be on the back 9 but I’m on the 11th with four balls in play at the same time!!!

John

[bamboo rodley]

I threw my clubs in the pond after the 6th hole and took up fly fishing. Figured if I was going to be in the water so often, I might as well get some waders and go for it.

It will be interesting to see what happens in ten years or so when everyone starts selling off their collections. Not that mine is worth much, but I know there are quite a few members with very nice rod collections.

[oldschoolcane]

Sad to see those that have passed on. Every day is a gift.

[gt05254]

I had a job for a few years that enabled me to rub shoulders and get to know on a first name basis many of the "legends" of fly fishing. I remember board meetings at that place where the members over 65 far outnumbered those fellows under 65. At any given time, I think half of the men at the table had prostate cancer in one stage or another. Yes, that board was entirely male, with the exception, for a time, of Pam Bates. I owe her bigtime for introducing me to Atlantic salmon fishing; I'm building our camp right now not 1/2 mile from where I first stepped into the Miramichi. My three salmon fly angling mentors, Keith Fulsher, Charlie Krom and Bob Warren have all passed on.

On a weekly basis I see that someone in the list of people that I grew to know, and usually like, has passed on. Gives a 74 year old (that would be me) pause.
Gary