{Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Dan

I was in the gathering at Whitlow’s tonight and despite all the wonderful and fully deserved words about Dan, something was missed.  For those who don’t know me, I am forever honored by being hired by Dan to work with him at Orvis and I spend a lot of time volunteering with Project Healing Waters.

 

Tonight  I was talking with Carl Smolka (one of the most competent fly fishers in the area) about Dan and he pointed out that if you go to a meeting of TU, it is filled with old, white men (like Carl and me), and not too filled.  Very few show up to a meeting, yet this is the organization which is probably responsible for keeping fly fishing for trout alive in the US!

 

If you go to trout streams around the US, you will primarily see old men doing the fishing.  In the store, while mostly old men come in to shop the fishing equipment,  many, many young people – men and women - come in, talk about fishing with their fathers in their youth and wanting to pick it up.  Dan reels them in, not in a sales sense, but brings them into the sport.  Orvis’s 101 classes do the same thing, but Dan brings them back.  It is remarkable to witness.  TPFR is filled with young people, men and women, having fun, fishing and enjoying each other.  This is due to Dan.  Dan’s genius started Beer Tie, a great event, the second Monday of every month.  Many of you have bonded and become great friends through these Mondays.  We have kids and women come into the shop – not for the clothes, but for fly fishing.  A demographic which is new and they are not always coming in with their fathers, but sometimes with their mothers and sometimes alone – and, yes, the demographic is not only white.  Dan has done this.  He has expanded fly fishing beyond its history.

 

So, all of this is to say the we will miss Dan greatly – in the shop, but also in the DC fly fishing community.  So, here’s to Dan - and the equally remarkable, Melody – May the road always rise to your feet, the wind always be at your back, the sun in your face and love for each other be in your hearts, and may God hold you in the palm of his hand forever.

 

Al