On Sept 29, 2013 I lost my father to lung cancer. In addition to being my father and a man I deeply respected he was my number one hunting and fishing buddy. He taught me how to tie on a fish hook, cast a spinner, catch a fish, track a deer, pack out an elk. We hunted and fished all over North America and made a couple of trips to Africa together. We had a lot of hunting and fishing trips planned for when I retired from active duty. He died 7 months before I retired. A large part of me died with him for a long time.



This weekend I headed up to the high country in Colorado to do some quiet reflection on the 10th anniversary of his passing. Pop lived in CO his whole life and had a real passion for fishing for trout way up high in his float tube. I have the same passion. So I spent some good time on the water of one of my favorite lakes. Winter is coming and you can feel it in the air above 9000 ft. The fish were feeding heavily and everything I tossed got at least some action but a simple black jig was the best on this day.


None of the fish were huge. 12 to 15 inches for the most part with a couple a little bigger and a couple a little smaller and they were all solid fish in really good shape. I finished out the day with 26 fish, all released to fight another day. As the sun set I cooked venison steak with potatoes and onions for supper over a campfire and watched the stars come to life in the darkening sky. After a few hours warming in front of the fire I drowned it out with a few buckets of water and fell asleep in my tent as the coyotes howled in the distance.

It was a good weekend. I wish Pop could have been there with me in person rather than just in memory. Value your loved ones, your time with them is short.

Cheer's Y'All

Great post Flags. I know the feeling very well. I was lost my dad years ago and was his hutting buddy all throughout my life. My dad had a quail lease and I hunted with him for years. We had four bird dogs. I think of my day everyday and I thank God that he gave me two of the best parents a person could ever have. My dad's memories will always be with me and I am sure your memories that you have of your dad will always be with you as well. We can both be very proud of our dads.

Great writeup Flaggs and nice tribute/obit.

Great pictures and memories. Thanks for sharing.

Great Memories for sure. Good post and thanks for sharing.