Laowai

My dad passed away earlier this week. I’ve been here in Michigan with my mom and my sister. I’m glad I am close to them now. 

You probably know that my dad was devoted to fishing the rivers around his home. You may not know that he has kept records of each fishing trip for years and years and years. He had these little papers where he recorded all the data. The stack below represents each time he went fishing in 2017. He wrote the weather conditions, the water temp, water clarity, where he caught the fish, which flies he used, what kind and size of fish he caught, insect activity, where he fished… About every third paper he notes that he saw an eagle.

The paper at the bottom was his last fishing trip – on September 14 – looks like it was a clear day and he fished from 9-mile on the Pine River.

It feels interesting, how certain artifacts from a persons life suddenly become so meaningful. These papers, his chain anchor, a sharpening stone from the grandfather that meant so much to him, his fly tying box – all these thing and some more that we will uncover seem very special right now.

Here is a happy photo of my dad where he was most content – on the river. And you can bet there is a bass and panfish data sheet tucked into one of those pockets.