RAVEN CATCHES THEM ALL!

And the Raven’s brought him bread and flesh in the
Morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he
Drank of the brook.

Old Testament, Genesis, The Bible

In my outdoor life good fortune has allowed me to encounter and spend quality fly fishing time with many outstanding talented guides. Men like Gordo Gracey on the Olympic Peninsula and John Wilson of the famed homestead in remote Alaska called Lake Marie. I first met “ The Raven “ a.k.a. Louie Gonzales at Lake Marie while revisiting this King Salmon fly fisher hot spot where with help of John Wilson I set an unofficial world record for light bamboo fly rods, landing a 34 pound King Salmon with a 5/6 weight Winston Rod Company Bamboo.On the return trip as is usually the case I was turned loose on my own, Louie was my fishing partner rather then guide. It was a fine setup for both of us because instead of holding my hand Louie was free to chase trout, silver salmon, greylings while the two of us had a memorable day.

On the morning the Raven and I left base camp via quad runners and found our completely isolated river boiling with Silver Salmon and hungry trout following along and gorging on fresh salmon eggs. I remember thinking what fun might lie a head that day because the Raven was the real deal when it came to fly fishing and even more important to me that morning he was an intelligent guy with a wonderful sense of humor... By mid morning the Raven had me by ten fish and never let go! We each had a Steller morning of insane steady action that never let up... Twelve noon found us both happy and munching sandwiches while leaning against a fallen log.

Lake Marie Alaska 90 miles inland from Anchorage was and is serious Grizzly Bear country, during my first visit a hungry behemoth attempted to dismantle one young guides small cabin for an opened can of sardines. We encountered 12/14 inch bear tracks coming and going and before the season opened bears had broken into the lodge got in the kitchen flour sack and left very nice flour paw prints all over the large windows inside the lodge. The Wilson brothers John and David left the prints for all of us to savor..

While the Raven and I were lunching, the subject of bears and encounters came up and we both had a tale or two to relate. Of course these stories became more grandiose and chilling as we both attempted to out scare the other! Just as the blood curdling savage beast almost ate me and my dog stuff got real hair raising, a what we imagined seriously big grizzly stepped on and broke a large fallen log or branch near by making a huge crashing sound that elevated me from a sitting position to an airborne posture at least three feet straight up! Well by the time we got back to base camp and I walked into the dining area the Raven had spread the morning’s near NASA like lift off of yours truly and provided all with much hilarity...

The Raven is one of those rare fly fishers who have natural skills and innate sensory feel for the sport and it’s complexities. I had so much fun with Louie and we had a fly fishing day I will never forget, the Raven does catch them all, all the time! Between the both of us over 100 silvers, trout, greyling were played with and gently let go.

These days one can find The Raven either floating or wading his favorite haunts from the Pecos River in New Mexico or telling tall tales and menacing trout at the S Lazy U Trout Club near Creede Colorado. Louie say’s, “ 6 inch Brown Trout or 18 inch Piggyback Rainbows - it’s all good!” From Alaska to the fabled Pecos River, The Raven keeps the Brotherhood of the Long Rod proud of his dedication and respect for the sport. Anyone who throws flies could do worse then spend time in Alaskan wilderness with The Raven...

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“ ADVENTURES OF FLETCHER QUILL “