It’s a sad day for all of Boulder that one of our own past away on September 18th.  Gordon Wickstrom was 88 and was a native Boulderite who lead a full and storied life across many rivers.

I was hoping that the cancer treatments he was given would be successful but, alas that was never to be.

Gordon grew up in Boulder, going through all the public schools here and then on to a number of colleges and was Professor of Theater at Franklin & Marshall College. He went on to achieve his Ph.D at Stanford University as he continued in everything theater. Over the years, he directed over 100 plays including directing and acting at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. Gordon loved Shakespeare and played the role of King Lear a number of times.

We all knew Gordon, “as one” with the English language, and he was forever fun to be around. When he and his wife, Betty, moved back to Boulder after his retirement, Gordon became a Boulder Flycaster and was a member until his death. Gordon wrote two angling books; “Notes from an Old Fly Book” and “Late in an Angler’s Life”. I had Gordon sign both my copies. He made many contributions to the distinguished The American Fly Fisher, which is the journal of the American Museum Fly Fishing.

My connection to Gordon began many years ago when my father and Gordon’s father were business associates. My dad owned a coffee shop/drive inn called Bushes Drive Inn and Gordon’s father, Percy Wickstrom, owned Boulder City Bakery where my dad bought all his bakery goods. I was too young to remember much about both the bakery and Gordon, but in later years, we shared many memories of those times growing up in Boulder. That Boulder childhood connection carried on as the years became decades.

I remember when Gordon gave a speech to Boulder Flycasters when we dedicated the Boulder Flycasters Memorial Park (just past the tunnel, up Boulder Canyon). He was a superb speaker with his deep voice and commanding stage presence.

Gordon was the only one I ever knew that could tie a fly without a vice and he demonstrated it to me on more than one occasion . . . Amazing!  Gordon just loved to fish and his uncle gave him a bamboo fly rod as his first fishing rod.  He just loved to fly fish and his books showed that, and we shared one lake that he called ghost lake just north of Boulder . . . the lake dried up in the late ’60’s making it true to its name. The DOW stocked it for a number of years and my dad took me there often.

Gordon was a collector of all things fishing. He was the first person I went to when the Boulder Library asked Boulder Flycasters Board to prepare a history of fly fishing in the Boulder area. He contributed so many interesting fishing items that we weren’t able to show everything.   Gordon got into the internet with his monthly and/or weekly blogs the Boulder Creek Angler. If you go to: http://bouldercreekangler.blogspot.com he posted his last essay, “The Fisherman” written on September 5, 2014. In it he wrote on . . . “all matters of art, life, love and angling” and I believe he lived by those words.

If one could describe Gordon’s life, it would be about a full a life as anyone I have ever known. I bet he and Betty got more out of the 88 years than anyone could have ever imagined.   I will miss that guy and will never forget him as long as I live!

FYI: His services will be held on Wednesday, September 24th at 12:30 p.m. at Ryssby church at 9000 N. 63, Longmont . . . hope to see you there.

Bob Bush

There will be a charity event for the Casting 4A Cure, A charity dedicated to finding a cure for Rett syndrome, a unique postnatal neurological disorder primarily found in females. http://www.casting4acure.com/

Details:
Date: Thursday Sept 25, 2014
Location – The Tasty Weasel, 1800 Pike Road, Longmont, CO
Expo/Happy Hour: 5:30 –7pm
Showtime 7pm
Price $15 – On Sale at the Tasty Weasel, Online http://tinyurl.com/FlyFilmFoam or at: Laughing Grizzly Fly Shop

10675 Ute Highway, Longmont
Rocky Mountain Anglers
1904 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder
Front Range Anglers
2344 Pearl St., Boulder
You get
(1) Free Beer or Root Beer
(1) Raffle Ticket
(1) Koozie
Seating – we will have about 100 seats on site but we encourage lawn chairs, Camping seats etc
The Bone Wagon will be on site for food.
Films – Will be a mix of F3T content and Never before seen content – this is NOT just the 2014 F3T but another new film about fly fishing.

Today seemed like the perfect time to go clean up the Boulder Flycasters Memorial Park up Boulder Canyon.  The weather was cool and a little cloudy.  Six of us volunteered several hours of our Saturday doing just that (although we didn’t plan on the weather working in our favor). They were Dave Clark, Greg Nelson, Dan Miller, Paul Prentiss, Frank Selto and myself, Marian Clark.

Twice a year the Boulder Flycasters members go up there to cut down the tall grass, pick up trash and limb brush on the trails.  This was my first year as a volunteer and I have to say, I had a lot of fun.  Not only did we get outside in the air and burn a few calories, but we also did a good thing by cleaning up the park for the public to enjoy.

If you have never been there, it’s just past the first tunnel on Highway 7 headed towards Nederland and on the left side of the road.  They even have two nice benches facing the river great for picnicking.  Looks like the fishing would be good there too.

This is something I would encourage people to join in on for our future meets.  While we were working, a nice Asian couple with their children stopped by to see the river.  I really got a sense of pride in knowing that people stop by routinely, even from other cultures. We also witnessed a dad and his son come by with a fishing rod.

We hauled out a large trash bag full of trash and weeds.

It wonderful to belong to such a worthy organization who cares and are conscientious about the health of our rivers, streams and forests, and are willing to give up their personal time to keep our lands beautiful for all to enjoy.

Thanks Boulder Flycasters for staying on top of it!

Posted by Marian Clark, Member, Boulder Flycasters

When: May 7, 2014 6:30 pm

Where: Upslope’s Flatirons Tasting Room

1898 S Flatiron Ct., Boulder, Colorado

On Wednesday, May 7th, Reid Baker, Guide Manager for Freestone Outfitters in Denver will be the guest speaker at The Boulder Flycaster’s Monthly Meeting. Reid will be presenting on “Streamer Technique in Colorado and Beyond”. The idea: big flies, big grabs, big fish. If you’ve only thought streamer fishing involved cast and strip, you’ll benefit from Reid’s informative presentation that works on almost any fish, anywhere. Growing up on the trout and steelhead waters of Oregon, many of Reid’s earliest memories revolve around fly fishing trips with his father. Since becoming a professional guide, he has come to understand how much he truly lives to watch his infectious excitement for the sport rub off on others. When not guiding, he travels the world, fly rod in hand, constantly amazed by the remarkable people and places fishing has shown him. Freestone Outfitters is Denver’s Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide Service, specializing in public and trophy private water on the South Platte and Colorado River Drainages.

When: April 2, 6:30 PM

Where: Upslope Tasting Room

Flatiron Park

1898 S. Flatiron Court Boulder, CO 80301

The key to mastering the rivers full of selective trout is technique. “Technical water” mastery begins and ends with select and purposeful fly fishing practices. Join Duane Redford as he breaks down the techniques used to pick up selectively feeding, highly pressured fish. In this presentation you will learn to “crack the code” using nymphing and dry-double drop techniques wrapped around a systematic approach designed to enhance every outing.

Duane Redford, a professional fly fishing guide with Flies n Lies in Deckers Colorado, spends the majority of his days guiding on the South Platte River below Deckers. He began his fly fishing career fishing the Rocky Mountain West, and has been toting a fly rod for better than four decades.

When:   March 27, 2014, 7PM
Where:  Boulder Theater
2032 14th St, Boulder, CO
www.bouldertheater.com
Get your Tickets at Local Fly-Shops

  More info on-line here: http://www.flyfilmtour.com

       Stop by at the Boulder Flycasters table before the films.

When:   March 19, 6:00 PM
Where:  Upslope Tasting Room
Flatiron Park
1898 S. Flatiron Court Boulder, CO 80301

Join the National Wildlife Federation, Colorado Trout Unlimited, Boulder Flycasters and local anglers in taking a closer look at the impacts of drought, rising temperatures and extreme weather events on fish and wildlife. The evening will feature a showing of Climate Change in Colorado: Beyond Season’s End followed by a presentation.  This will be great chance to meet like minded sportsmen and women and outdoor enthusiasts, not to mention, your first Beer is compliments of the National Wildlife Federation! 

When:   March 5, 2014 6:00 PM
Where:  Twisted Pine Brewing Co.  3201 Walnut, Boulder CO.

Come join us for a fun fund raising event for the Boulder Flycasters flood recovery project to repair the Boulder Kids Fishing Pond near the Boulder Creek path. At this event we will have a silent auction, and a raffle for some cool fishing gear. Our host for the night is the Twisted Pine Brewery who will be graciously donating 10% of the sales of food and drink to the cause.

Landon Mayer is fly fishing guide in the Florissant, CO area, calling the South Platte River his home waters. He has been guiding on these waters for the past sixteen years, as well as one year in Alaska.

Passion and love for the sport of fly fishing is what motivates Landon. His success in catching trout is fueled by an addiction of pursuing large trout with small flies and lightweight fly-fishing equipment. Landon also displays enthusiasm in teaching and demonstrating his techniques and on-river knowledge to fellow anglers. Through trial/ error and perseverance, he has developed innovative techniques for sighting, hooking, and landing selective trout. He is sharing these techniques and secrets in his books titled “Colorado’s Best Fly Fishing” Stackpole/Headwater Books for 2011, “Sight Fishing for Trout” Stackpole Books new for 2010, “How to Catch the Biggest Trout of Your Life” published by Wild River Press 2007, and his DVD’s “Landing the Trout of Your Life” 2007 and “Weapons of Bass Production” 2008 featuring John Barr produced by Mad Trout Media.

Landon Mayer is a contributing writer for High Country Angler, and Fly Fisherman Magazine he has also been featured major publications such as, Fly Rod and Reel, American Angler, South West Fly Fishing, and Fish and Fly. He currently teaches by guiding, fly-fishing classes, and gives presentations on his techniques. Landon is an ambassador for Simms fly-fishing apparel and is a advisory team member of Simms, Ross Reels, 3M/ Scientific Angler, Smith Optics, Ross World Wide, Fish Pond, Out Cast, and Casio ProTrek watches.

Release Date: 01/15/2014
Contact Information: Hanady Kader, EPA Public Affairs, 206-553-0454, [email protected]

Agency launched study after requests for action to protect Bristol Bay watershed from large-scale mining

(Seattle – Jan. 15, 2014) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today released its final Bristol Bay Assessment describing potential impacts to salmon and ecological resources from proposed large-scale copper and gold mining in Bristol Bay, Alaska. The report, titled “An Assessment of Potential Mining Impacts on Salmon Ecosystems of Bristol Bay, Alaska,” concludes that large-scale mining in the Bristol Bay watershed poses risks to salmon and Alaska Native cultures. Bristol Bay supports the largest sockeye salmon fishery in the world, producing nearly 50 percent of the world’s wild sockeye salmon with runs averaging 37.5 million fish each year.

For more on Bristol Bay and the Pebble Mine go here and here