Gang:
This coming Memorial Day Weekend, as I do our final guide assignments, I reach out to remind you veterans and to clue in you rookies out there (as a rookie, it is incumbent that there always be something about which you can say, "Gee, I didn't know about that?!?"), to remind you one and all that, on the first day of fishing for each group, tradition dictates that each boat meet and greet its guide with a "gag gift." Monumental memories in this regard include two great Group Two gifts of last year: Popeye Hamilton's lure-embedded port-a-potty seat and Tom "Aggie" Stallard's Fish-O-Meter—an expandable fish that could be inflated and extended to any desired length!
Other gifts have included self-portrait key chains, elephant dung (canned, that is), Hawaiian shirts (go figure that one out!), a giant squid salt water trolling rig (same), and a legion of wine, booze and, for those who forgot to get their act together, even a freshly purchased GH tee shirt. (Group One's John "Wader' Reimann: No need to bring a[nother] cheapo Channel Lumber 12" ruler again this year [not even a yard stick, mind you!]) Let your imagination be your guide for the gag of gags, for, as tradition further dictates, there will be an appropriate (de minimus) gift for the best gag gift of each Group and, for the first time this year, from the four finalists, the Granddaddy of them all—the Gag Gift of Extravaganza 2008—will be announced by special posting on Der Blog.
Also, remember, as you are beginning to think about your packing list—look for that soon, by the way—to include the recommended minimum of $40/day/person as our 2008 guide tip(s)—and, boy oh boy, are each of them worth it [they get up a 5 a.m. to ready your boat fix/purchase your lunch, and drive to the shop; they then scoop you up at 8 and redeliver you at 6 that same day after a full day in the sun and after cooking you a hot streamside lunch, only to then meet and confer among their fellow souls {recounting, as we do, their events of the day}, restock their flies and scout out your best fishing prospects for the next day, only to do the same all over again the following day, its following day and thereafter—14+ hours each and every one of those days]. Yes, $40/person/boat is a nice way to say thank you—rookies: We always pay in cash at the end of each day (as, often, that is the money that funds your lunch for the next day—hand to mouth!)
We are blessed to have as our guides the best that Western Montana has to offer, so much so that the gag should be on them in style—what a great way to begin it all again this year!!
Best to all now inside of a month from it all,
Rock Creek Ron
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