I was glad to read that you and “he who shall not be named” had a good time…I had a nice vist with [name redacted] while I was stayin’ in his home town early this spring…My father passed in 1971, and he is still present in my thoughts, and prayers…I think your on the right track with your statement..”get over a parent’s death as much as try to make peace with it”.. maybe we just learn to live with that hole in our heart/lives…Great post next time you talk to [name redacted] tell him ‘yo’ for me…and that we had a great Mothers day hatach in my valley this year…

Grace and peace
Ben

I’ve grappled with what to do when I catch a non native fish in “my” small stream. It hasn’t ever been officially stocked, and the stretch I fish is fed by 20ft waterfalls and ends at a 60+ft waterfall, so I’m pretty sure they didn’t run up or spill out of the other non stocked ponds, but regardless they’re there. They are naturally reproducing, but it threatens our native brookies. Rainbows, despite being wild, are becoming ever more prevalent in the stream. I am on the fence about whether to remove them or to let them be for the worm anglers and campers to catch and eat. They’re bigger than the brookies in the stream (by an order of magnitude, check my blog to see the photos) so clearly pose a predation threat.

Yes, very nicely done, Tom. My dad died in late 2007, and I can certainly relate to that truism.
I’m currently helping my brother sort of stuff from our parents house, and it was so difficult to throw stuff out (we’re donating what we can).
It becomes easier, of course, but it’s always touched with sadness.
As for his ashes, we’re spreading his on a beach in the Great Barrier Reef (Australia), at the exact spot he spread mum’s ashes all those years ago.
Such is life, eh?

Nicely done Tom. Dad never did travel much, but I know he would have really liked what you have in mind.

The cutts and waters they come from–you just can’t beat it. I’m glad to see others enjoying, and writing about, these little waters and little fish with big color. It is easy to start thinking of such places as “yours” when so few others take the time. Becoming protective is understandable.

-scott c

Thank you for this…………….

“I’ve discovered you don’t get over a parent’s death as much as try to make peace with it, and while time and distance grant you a certain serenity, they don’t insulate you from the random thoughts that surprise you along the way.”