River Of Endless Dreams
(Beginning of the Fall River Chronicles)

When one of my early literary heroes first arrived at a sportsmen’s paradise of a place (Cuba) where he could indulge his fishing, writing passions to the utmost! Earnest Hemingway probably felt very much like I felt this first morning as I was awakened by the ancient cacophony of several hundred Speckled Geese dropping like ten pound bags of discarded car horns over and over upon a gently meandering Fall River up in Fall River Mills, CA (Shasta County) …

My first morning as an official new riverside resident was splendid and surely an omen of what lay ahead, as I slowly begin to unravel this fabled 17- mile stretch of pure fly fisher heaven. My fellow occupants of the stretch of Lower River where my small but comfortable cabin is situated include a Bald Eagle, hawks and owls, a variety of finches and Robin’s, marmots and riverside creatures of every description. This place exists as if it were first created with fly fishers in mind.

The river meanders at a constant rate and the conditions for endless hatches are everywhere you look. It is humbling to know this place exists almost exactly as it did fifty years ago. No evidence exists of a building boom or main street neon franchises like you see in every town in America. Here in Fall River Mills California its as if Norman Rockwell and the ghosts of past overly contented souls conspired with higher authorities to forever maintain this wonderland of perfect waters that flow at constant predictable speeds while maintaining near perfect year round temperature. I have worked the waters here with one of the true character legends of this sport, the late Walt Powell and quickly became hooked on the beauty of the place and its wildlife diversity.

One of my fly-fishing utopian experiences is about to begin, as I become a new student of the River of Endless Dreams.

Summer homes or rather estates dot the serene green fields where cattle graze and countless hawks own the sky until migrating geese, ducks explode out of nowhere shattering the silence. My mornings will consist of watching the sun come up and the river less then twenty feet from my cabin door gently move as it always has. Then slip into warm clothes and ease the new boat out into the current and head upstream in search big rainbows that average 13-18 inches and occasional fat boy browns. This monthly column will be dedicated to my education on this river and the many other world class fly waters near by that include: Hat Creek, Pit River, Eagle Lake home of trophy size trout is only about an hour away, so many grand choices all within an hour or so.

Fall River Mills California has attracted many sportsmen from Teddy Roosevelt, Clark Gable, Bing Crosby, Clint Eastwood, Walt Powell and now Fletcher Quills best friend! This area is about as holy to fly fishers as the Vatican is to Tony Soprano. In the coming months as my first full spring and summer unwind an education awaits! The trout here hug the edges of the weed beds and wait for emerging nymph larvae or the occasional fat brown may be enticed from the deep cut edges where these elusive creatures dwell. The technique touted as the “ Fall River Twitch “ in which one gently lets out sinking line with a split shot over emerging larvae from up stream is my first lesson to be sure. Stay tuned for the ongoing “ Fall River Chronicles “.

SINGLE FLY PRO AM – FLY FISHING FOR A CURE JUNE 2003

Preparations for the first annual single fly pro am for woman’s breast charities are now moving with the momentum of six serious months of hard work. The three day single fly pro am will consist of 15-25 teams of both seasoned professional fly fisher and an amateur. Each boat will have a guide who will also be an official as he will measure the fish and take photos for verification. On the morning of each of the two days each team will be given three examples of one single pattern for the entire day.

The guide will be the final official call in regard to the rules of the event. All teams will be placed on the Fall River in different beats to be chosen by random draw the night before the event begins. Many media will likely cover this event as the Monterey Herald, Sacramento Bee, Record Searchlight, Mt. Echo and many other area newspapers published announcements. ESPN and Sports illustrated have been informed and may cover the festivities. The list of VIPs fly fishers include Fly Tier/guide extraordinaire jay Fair who rules the kingdom of the mightiest of all California fisheries ‘ Eagle Lake “ A lake that is a natural nursery for overly fat and healthy record breaking trout. A.K. Best who is possibly one of the most widely known stars of the sport. I’m most humbled to have these great sportsmen on board along with my new friend Cliff Sullivan of Orvis/guide fame an accomplished fly-casting instructor. Cliff will be joining our team as a public relations outreach specialist.

My co host Karen Graham ESPN2 fly fishing hostess and Vogue cover model who has established a beloved reputation in the fly fishing community with her many contributions that include working with woman’s groups and now covering the sport globally for ESPN.

It is an honor to have Karen join us in this first event. Karen’s fly show titled “ In Search Of Fly Waters

Can be seen Sundays 9:30am EST on ESPN 2. We are all excited about the event auction and have many people to thank including Randy Johnson a gifted bamboo rod maker who has donated one of his finely made rods for the auction. If you’re interested in finely made Bamboo Randy’s work is excellent contact Randy at Volcano Fly Rods (208)- 296-5802. Our wine distributor is John Gay of Southcorp- USA – (Australian Wines), Beverley Hills designer Timmy Woods donated a one of a kind art fish shaped woman’s purse a true rare art piece worth $500.00. Those interested in donating fly related items to the event auction please contact me via this column or phone (415) 332-3803 Sausalito, California for donation instructions and information. See the front page of my own web sight at www.fallonfly.com for a page dedicated to this exciting event, or call Dianne Lund, Event Producer, at 415-332-3803.

Click Here for this month's story line of

“ ADVENTURES OF FLETCHER QUILL “

ILLUSTRATED BY SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE CARTOONIST PHIL FRANK.