Monday, July 25, 2011

Guide Posts

One of the cool things about fishing out of Three Rivers Lodge was the "Newfie" guides.  They ranged from mid-20s to early 50s in age.  Some had guided there 7 or 8 years, a couple only 3 or 4 weeks.  All were good natured and real outdoorsmen.  They had different personalities, but all enjoyed good conversation (mostly about hunting and fishing) and a good quip or joke.  All came from Newfoundland and all were professional guides - although most spent more time over the years guiding bear and moose hunts than ferrying brook trout sports.  Byron is a guide with minimal experience guiding for large brook trout, but is accomplished in the way of the woods and water.  He was pretty quiet until we got him talking about his family, especially his son who is taking up fly fishing.  One of my buddies Jerry was guided by Byron and he quipped that he had read that the guides in camp were accomplished outdoorsmen and were capable of carrying out a client on their back if necessary. He asked Byron if he thought he could carry him out.  Byron thought for a minute and slowly replied, "I believe I could, but I would have to quarter you first!"  A comedian is born.
These are the two fish I caught on consecutive casts at 2nd Rapids about an hour before I got "The Big One."




 I spend nearly a hundred days a year on the water and I had a hard time keeping up with our guides.   On our last day of fishing at the Fifth Rapids fly-out camp Jerry and Harry were guided by Quinton and Randy and I had Byron.  Quinton is a big strapping guy in his 20s - probably 6' 2" and over 200 pounds and he can wade those rivers like a walk on the beach.  He thought nothing of quickly wading across the river to help Byron net one of our fish and after weighing, measuring and tagging it, hustle back across to help Jerry or Harry land a fish. Here is Jerry with a nice fish at Fifth Rapids being helped by Quinton.
In addition to being all around great guys, some of the guides had other talents. One of the guides we enjoyed most was young Jordan Locke. He was probably the most accomplished fly fishing guide, hardest working (although all of them worked hard) and best singer. Best singer?!? After dinner on our last night we gathered in the lodge great room for some entertainment.
I guess I'll have to take guitar lessons to keep my clients entertained!

9 comments:

  1. I was just surfing around, and I just found your blog. It is a small world. On Friday, July 8th I was sitting on the porch of the Guide's Camp, waiting to load up in the Otter for the trip back to Wabush. I was a quest at the Three River's Lodge the week before you. Although we didn't really speak, I nodded as I passed you guys. From Reading your blog, your experience was very similar to mine. That is a wonderful trip for sure.
    Tony Wheeler
    Charleston, West Virginia

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Tony,
    Welcome aboard! Wow that is a coincidence. On my way up the boardwalk I shook hands and met a guy named Rodger. At first I thought he was one of the staff, but he told me he had been there the previous week and was leaving. Was he in your group?
    Feel free to chime in with any comments or feedback.
    Gerry

    ReplyDelete
  3. There were only four us in camp prior to your week. None of us knew each other, and we were all from different places. I fished with Roger several times, and we had several long talks about fly fishing around the world. He is a very interesting guy, and he really gets around in the North Lands. He was Ungava Bay for Arctic Char just last week. As for me I am having to adjust to fly fishing for smallmouth bass again. It is tough to get over catching 7 pound brookies in Labrador.

    Tony Wheeler

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh and by the way you can read my lenthy 8 part trip report on wvangler.com at

    http://wvangler.websitetoolbox.com/?forum=12072

    See Fishing Reports Labrador (Part I) through Part (VIII)

    You will see that our trips were very similar.

    Tony

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Gerry....Jan here from the group up in TRL. I love the blog and the video...how fun to see it all again. What a week we had........it took a while for all of it to sink in.
    I was actually fished out after leaving...will pick up a rod this weekend again.
    Good to hear from you.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Jan, can you send me your and Dave's email addresses? I have a lot of pics of him from Rick's Run.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Gerry-
    We will have to get video of you with a ukulele on the Newfound with clients...

    -Eric

    ReplyDelete
  8. Eric, I have been known to serenade clients from the back of the canoe on a certain wild trout pond during the hex hatch. Sadly, none have returned as repeat customers.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Why am I picture "Oh sole meooooo"?

    Gonna get you an italian gondola instead of a canoe.
    -Eric

    ReplyDelete