With Rich behind the wheel, we traveled north forty miles toward the next wild trout. The two lane road turned into a turtleback with no lines. Then another hard left led us onto a gravel road, recently worn and torn by logging trucks and summer storms. The heavy throttle kicked big loose limestone into the wheel wells of the Grand Cherokee, creating enough rat-a-tat-tat to subdue our conversation.
Until then, Rich and I had been debating the intricacies of leaders designed for dry flies. It wasn’t much of a debate, I suppose. At twice my age and three times my own experience with dry flies, Rich was a mentor for me. He talked, and I listened. When I offered my own thoughts, my friend was kind enough to humor my musings about compound leaders and progressive tapers. I was in that stage of learning where I’d read more than I could put to use, while Rich had already fished more than he could ever find the words to tell.
We parked, rigged, walked a long path upstream and then stopped to scan the small creek. We stood together on a wooded shelf that overlooked a gorgeous narrow valley. It was moss-filled with bordering ferns — a lush, wet landscape that looked like a rainforest in the middle of the Pennsylvania backcountry. With a gradient steep enough that clear water bounced from one pocket down into the next, I looked upon a series of minor waterfalls for as far as my eyes could see.
Stunned by the beauty of it all, I fell silent and let time creep along, until the slow motion whitewater of the falls mixed with the endless emerald shades reflecting in the softwater glides. The impenetrable overhead canopy stood guard against the angle of the sun, disguising the true hour of the day. This timeless valley was either daytime or night — with the details of everything in-between insignificant.
I stood still, with the chilly air against my bare skin, vulnerable but peaceful, feeling as though my arms and legs may never move again, even if I tried. Then, suitably mesmerized, I swayed in time with the rhythm of the pine boughs on the northern bank.
Rich’s stare snapped me out of it.
From the corner of my eye, I caught his gaze underneath the twill ball cap, which today read something about a fly shop in Colorado. Rich had an endless supply of fishing hats. And while they were always the neutral colors of tan, gray and olive, the logos and messages changed so often that I’d stopped noticing. I do remember that my favorite of his from years back was a brown cap with the state of Montana embroidered boldly in yellow. Underneath big sky country was a simple message: “Fish Here.” I swear it’s Rich’s hat that sent me to Montana with Dad ten years later. Some things get inside you and stick there like an unrelenting melody that persists until you finally sing it out long enough. When Dad and I did fish Montana, I thought of Rich and his dry flies. . . . Or did I? How could I remember those moments standing in the remarkable rainforest of these Appalachian wilds before it all happened?
His words finalized my jumble of mismatched memories and vanishing moments, pulling me back into some kind of reality.
“Go fishing, Dom. I’ll meet you upstream.”
I swear I heard Rich’s voice. It came somewhere through the fog and above the mist.
I miss you, friend . . .
** For context, here’s another story about my friend, Rich. **
READ: Troutbitten | The Fisherman Is Eternally Hopeful
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Enjoy the day.
Domenick Swentosky
T R O U T B I T T E N
domenick@troutbitten.com
“…my musings about compound leaders and progressive tapers. I was in that stage of learning where I’d read more than I could put to use, while Rich had already fished more than he could ever find the words to tell.” Man, you nailed it. That really resonates with me, and not just for fly fishing.
I can relate to the hats. As I travel over 300 days a year for work and am lucky enough to be able to fish over 150 days a year. I stop at local fly shops buy a hat and a dozen or 2 flies and whatever else I need. And I have amassed over 160 hats from all across the country.
I’m the opposite. I want just one good hat, really. Then I wear it until it falls apart, I lose it, or it stinks so bad that I can’t stand it.
Dom
This is some great writing. Thanks for sharing.
Oh, and I’m with you on the hats.
Thanks, my friend.
I loved these two stories…
Hello,
I would like to comment on the choice of the photograph (not “pic”) accompanying this story.
It certainly conveys the idea of “meet you upstream”. You can tell from the vantage point of looking at the falls that you are facing upstream. The long exposure on the moving water creates the impression of clouds (heaven?). To walk upstream you would have to ascend in elevation towards the unseen (what awaits?), brighter lit area of the landscape. Ascending towards a “light” is often described by people who have had near death experiences.
Pictorially, it is a perfect metaphor for your story. Excellent choice!
Thank you. People rarely notice things like that. But it comes through on a subconscious level, at least, no matter what.
Cheers.
Dom
It’s hard to loose a good friend, wether it be a fishing buddy or a surfer bro. 12 years later it still brings a lump in my throat.
I truly enjoy your articles. You are a good writer Dom.
Best to you,
Jerry
Thank you, Jerry.
Some of the best parts of life are those fond memories that constantly remind us that we have been in some really good places with some really wonderful people. I think it’s important for us all to strive to provide those same kinds of memories for someone else that we care about. Pass it on. Yeah, I miss you Andy… meet you upstream.
Nice.
Wonderful narrative and wonderful imagery!
Thank you.
Dom,
Elegantly written. A walk -n-wade fishing buddy is a true unicorn nowadays. Wish I had one. These pass few years I’ve been creating fishing memories with fur buddy Charlie…., a labradoodle pup with endless energy and a passion for spotting fish. Thank you for sharing your memories. Cheers.
Right on.
I’m not a word person as much as picture first person that fuels the comments. I actually read your posts first … then visualize the photo to get a sense of place. GOOD ON YA ! And keep it up. it’s a great place to start the day. I think I’ll count coup on grayling this afternoon. thanks.
Do it.
You’ve got quite a way with words. I enjoy the more technical and how-to articles but prefer the more literary pieces. This one is so descriptive I could hear the water and smell the greenery. Reminds me of James Lee Burke. Well done.
Thank you, Pete