WATER PRAYER

Before I lay me down to sleep each night, I have been saying a prayer for the worlds waters, rivers, oceans, streams. My observations on California’s remaining watersheds health and future is not positive or hopeful. It must be stated many of the same problems exist in other western American rivers and around the world. Water consciousness, respect, stewardship, planning is at a critical stage. Fly fishers are among the first citizens to clearly see, smell, taste, understand the overall condition and immediate problems or attacks local waters must endure. In my fly fisher life water consciousness has become priority one. None of us can any longer afford to stay passive in regard to the health or care of our sovereign waters, be they Swedish, African, German, American or any where on earth. The time has come for a massive collective cry for water respect and international planning void of local politics. In the last twenty five years California and most western American states have been under a state of siege in regard to both poor water management, foreign water invaders such as weeds, snails, mollusks, fish, insects etc. During the last several years, massive fish kills because of water diversions that caused water temperatures to rise and deplete oxygen. Snails that upset rivers and streams natural food chains because they multiply and dominate the biomass. River weeds that have become rapid growers in hot weather have over grown and taken many waters from wild trout and salmon as in the case of the Fall River Levee Break I reported in year.

Fish kills, foreign attacks from snails invading Putah Creek, Fall River’s virulent weed that may spread to other upper Calif rivers. The constant threat of uneducated sportsmen, hunters, boaters, fishers, bird watchers, naturalists, rookie once a year campers. Who unknowingly act as carriers for foreign attackers like snails, weeds, seeds and mud left on boat bottoms ,boots and waders are the number one mode of transport for foreign water attackers. California ranchers and farmers as a group are wonderful custodians of the states water resources. Of course like any other group there are those lazy uneducated who continually allow their contaminated water run off and their cows and live stock to pollute rivers and streams. Thank the gods the over all respect for the states waters is getting better all the time. The fact that water or rather the lack of it has become Californians first taste of the ruinous Oklahoma dust bowl period may be an extreme comparison. Though water wars have begun to flare, serious fish kills may be the tip of the coming disaster if a tough long drought were to occur? Yes, California’s future and the future of all western fly fishers is hanging by a precarious balance. Local and state agencies scream lack of funding, not a priority, no consensus! Those tired old excuses won’t float in the rapidly retreating California water supply.

The kinds of changes a head may include much more restricted use of public waters as a paranoid fear factor takes over. Water in general may become almost as expensive as oil and least likely to be replenished. The global warming fiasco has possibly created an ugly future earth environment where less and less rain along with melting ice burgs completely alter our climate and evaporate many ancient waters. Very doomsday thinking of course and yet constructed upon future models that now exist in the minds of those who ponder such questions.

REALITY CHECK

Brothers and sister’s of the long rod we must begin to face an ugly situation for all fly fishers and those who covet and respect clean water. My eyes can still feel the blinding glare of San Francisco ocean surf circa early 1950s, so white and bright it almost blinded. That whiteness has been long gone along the California coast. Non stop development, careless ranching and farming, global warming, trains running to close to rivers and streams, industrial pollution, pollution form water craft and larger ships. The list of assaulting agents goes on and on as one takes a closer look at our water supply. The blame game isn’t working anymore, it is no longer them against us. In my mind we are all to blame for this long running killing game we have unconsciously perpetuated in the ugly name of progress. Perhaps it will take more than our prayers to change this insanity once and for all. It may be that elected officials who we put in office need to hear a collective outrage at what’s happening to this nations and the worlds waters. The mighty Amazon river is now trying to digest huge quantities of mercury and other chemicals used in mining. China is now killing the spirit of a most powerful river, a dam project is killing the Yangsi river.

A recent scientific study has proclaimed all the oceans are polluted and fish stocks are down across the board. International cruise ships routinely dump refuse near or in harbors and have done this for years. In California coastal rock fish stocks are near depletion and are being watched carefully.

Truly the most distressing fact in this unpleasant new water reality is that everyone of the developing poor nations have no controls whatever over the use and health of local waters. The list could go on until the mind numbs at the scope of neglect which this planets waters have endured since our particular species took charge...

In my mind as someone who has spent much time and thought in regard to the earth’s most precious commodity, we human’s have fowled our nest as no other living creature ever has. We did this damage and now we wait for the next serious fish kill, levee break, species extinction before we wake up and notice the clock stopped ticking. What can be done, is it too late, where do we begin? Perhaps if the school systems in America and around the world were to truly educate youngsters in regard to the damage we have all done and the possible healing that must happen to change the global mentality in regard to our most precious resource.

If any of you reading this monthly column believe in miracles and the power of young minds effecting change? Why not begin a water education program in your school district, why not have kids from rural farming communities come together and research how to clean up local waters fowled by insane ranching farming practices? If anyone out there would like help in getting started with local water awareness programs, I would be honored to help anyone anywhere begin the healing, so in 100 years our son’s and daughter’s may be able to work a #18 Mosquito through a crystal clear stream full of insects and life.

Cecilia “ Pudge” Kleinkauf’s New Book ” Fly Fishing Woman - Explore Alaska”

In the recent past I have had the honor of meeting and writing about Ms. Kleinkauf and her exciting life as one of the most respected woman fly fishers in Alaska. When one thinks about Alaska and the unlimited opportunities that exist for all fly fishers, the image of that grey haired certainly well heeled male standing in perfect waters holding huge salmon or trout usually comes to mind. The reality is woman have become the largest new population in global fly fishing, each year far more ladies are picking up long thin fly rods and becoming most proficient. The question I hear most often is “ Can woman actually learn from other woman.” Yes of course they can, Pudge has been a staunch advocate of woman teaching woman the complexities for many years. In my mind it makes excellent sense and I applaud her energy and true hands on knowledge of the sport and Alaskan waters. “ Fly Fishing Woman” is a wonderful book published by Epicenter Press, edited by Kent Sturgis an Alaskan regional publishing house. When I heard about this book and the fact Pudge wrote it and it’s photo’s shot by Michael DeYoung, I could not wait to review it! First the photo’s are truly sublime, Alaskan colors, great fish shots, shots of woman learning and catching releasing serious fish.

This book from page one contains excellent maps of prime fishing grounds and is quite concise in regard to throwing flies in places like Kodiak Island, The Talachulitna River, Tangle lakes, Brooks River, Aniak River. In the rear section of the book many photos of Alaskan Flies and exactly how to tie them are clearly laid out. What a joy to read this book, I highly recommend anyone interested in Alaskan fly fishing or any woman thinking about getting into the sport cannot go wrong starting with this little treasure.The real essence of “ Fly Fishing Woman” for me is the sincere, caring fashion the book is written. Pudge is already world famous for her Alaskan fly exploits and quite well known in regard to her teaching woman the sport. The grand surprise is the book takes you step by step as students first get on streams and hook up to wild salmon and trout. You feel as if your right there with student and teacher and you can feel the excitement when the first fish is on. Now the best news is after these fish are hooked, Pudge walks her students easily and with humor through all the pitfalls of actually landing and gently releasing fish. I loved reading these anecdotes and looking at the drama on the students face’s, what fun! Those of us who have met Pudge are united in feeling the natural grace and dedication she easily emotes, even if your not a fly fisher her spirit is infectious and the quality of the writing alongside breath taking Alaskan photos make the book a grand gift.

Contact Cecilia “ Pudge “ Kleinkauf in Anchorage Alaska ( 907) 274-7113 or on the web Pudge @ womansflyfishing.net

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“ ADVENTURES OF FLETCHER QUILL “