Today I couldn't help but think of my old friend Jack Scifres. Three years ago today I lost the best fishing partner a person could have. Jack was a man of few words and when we went fishing....we did exactly that. Fish! Often times the fishing outing would consist of very few words. The time that stands out the most was a day we decided to go up to Boones Pond and fish for crappie. We took Jack's boat and began fishing the back stretch looking for crappie. Jack said we just needed to find one and when we did we would find a bunch. We came up on some heavy structure and Jack suggested I cast up into the wood as tight as possible. Immediately following that statement I hooked into our first crappie....I yelled "Got one!" Jack smiled and made his cast also producing a fish.....he yelled" Got one!" and that was just the beginning of our game! Several hours of nothing else said except" GOT ONE." Between the "got one" yells there was total silence.
We fished well into the sunset. I have never forgotten that day with Jack! Later I realized Jack was a true friend. He cared about the important things but didn't disturb a perfect fishing moment with idle chat.
Jack was the most generous, kind hearted man I have ever known. If he liked you, he let you know it and if he didn't like you, he let everyone know it.
Fortunately for me, Jack liked me. He was responsible for giving me the confidence to pursue all the fishing I have done. He publicly stated he was going to teach me everything he knew about fly fishing and fly tying before he died, and at times I felt like he was giving me a crash course but I didn't dare complain. He supported the idea about the club and went out of his way to help every way possible.
Jack was a simple man but a man of principle. He was transparent and it was very clear that he wasn't going to put up with anything he didn't want to be a part of.
I bonded with Jack for whatever reason...one reason was because of how supportive he was to women fishing and tying flies. He genuinely welcomed everyone to the sport of fly fishing. It didn't matter to him who or what you were, if you wanted to fish he would help you. This type of mentoring is hard to come by, especially from a man of his generation. Jack was a lot like my dad...a true sportsman. A person who gets as much enjoyment from watching someone else succeed as he did from personal success. A person who unselfishly offers the good fishing hole to someone less experienced or maybe less fortunate.
A person of integrity....a friend you can count on that won't let you down.
Sadly, I lost both my Father and Jack within a year's time and even though my mind is flooded with fond memories, things have never been the same.
On this painful day, the anniversary of my loss, I am reminded of his demeanor and I am so grateful to have had him as a friend. I think of him often and wish he was here to hear my fishing stories, to tie flies with him again, and to wet a line with him once more.
We fished well into the sunset. I have never forgotten that day with Jack! Later I realized Jack was a true friend. He cared about the important things but didn't disturb a perfect fishing moment with idle chat.
Jack was the most generous, kind hearted man I have ever known. If he liked you, he let you know it and if he didn't like you, he let everyone know it.
Fortunately for me, Jack liked me. He was responsible for giving me the confidence to pursue all the fishing I have done. He publicly stated he was going to teach me everything he knew about fly fishing and fly tying before he died, and at times I felt like he was giving me a crash course but I didn't dare complain. He supported the idea about the club and went out of his way to help every way possible.
Jack was a simple man but a man of principle. He was transparent and it was very clear that he wasn't going to put up with anything he didn't want to be a part of.
I bonded with Jack for whatever reason...one reason was because of how supportive he was to women fishing and tying flies. He genuinely welcomed everyone to the sport of fly fishing. It didn't matter to him who or what you were, if you wanted to fish he would help you. This type of mentoring is hard to come by, especially from a man of his generation. Jack was a lot like my dad...a true sportsman. A person who gets as much enjoyment from watching someone else succeed as he did from personal success. A person who unselfishly offers the good fishing hole to someone less experienced or maybe less fortunate.
A person of integrity....a friend you can count on that won't let you down.
Sadly, I lost both my Father and Jack within a year's time and even though my mind is flooded with fond memories, things have never been the same.
On this painful day, the anniversary of my loss, I am reminded of his demeanor and I am so grateful to have had him as a friend. I think of him often and wish he was here to hear my fishing stories, to tie flies with him again, and to wet a line with him once more.
I wish I had taken the time to tell him how much I enjoyed having him as a fishing partner, but I guess somehow in all that silence he must of known.
I hope he is throwing the most perfect loops to bluegill as big as dinner plates, all rising to his orange rubber spider!
I hope he is throwing the most perfect loops to bluegill as big as dinner plates, all rising to his orange rubber spider!
If you are lucky enough to have a great fishing buddy...take a moment to tell him or her.
