Inside the mind of Paul Bloch
Do you ever feel the urge to do something different with your life? Are you unhappy because your hard work and dedication only lead you to inherit a time constricting lifestyle? Did too many river days keep you from graduating college in the amount of time it takes a rainbow trout to go from its alevin stage to its death of old age? (Tell me how old I think a rainbows maximum average age is, and you win this weeks trivia.)
Both of these routes lead down paths filled with ups and downs. I am one to think that happiness is the most telling measure of wealth, thus I enjoy being one of those 'too many river days’ people. It’s often because of the 'hard work and dedication’ people or the HWADP, that the 'too many river days’ people or the TMRDP have jobs. If it weren’t for the HWADP I would not be selling as many high end rods, waders, or fly tying hooks for that matter. This may result in the fly shop ceasing to exist, causing me to become an 'every day on the river’ person. I have been an EDOTRP, and believe me, I was fortunate to be able to do it, and will never regret a river mile of it. To shorten this bantering, I would like to thank the HWADP for creating a job for me, which in turn enables me to drift off into a little blue ribbon fairy land, even when I am at work. After all, my job requires that I know the river, its people, and the many tools we use to trick trout and hundreds of species of other fish.
I feel privileged to be able to fish the Missouri many times a week, often out of my South Fork Skiff. I love this old, bare bones, lightweight rig as much as my Subaru likes it. The Forester used to drag a Lavro-ouch. Not to get sidetracked, but the skiff is excellent for 3, perfect for 2, and superb for 1. I dunk the grey ghost 2-3 times a week, and she always repays me with comfort and performance. I have never rowed a boat with as much control and ease as the grey ghost.
Like I was saying, I am privileged to fish the Mo-blah blah blah. But hear me out. Fishing and interacting amongst fly fishing personalities such as-
Fred Teleen, the fishiest guy out there-is there a fishier girl?
Bob Keith, Montana fly wrapper of the decade-is he?
Stan from Belt, king of beers-and micro dry dropper rigs.
Dave Campbell, still can’t keep him off the river- twice.
Dave Bloom, like his flies a lot-try the rainbow dubbed weight fly, they ate it, and it gets your natural in the feeding lane.
Mark Reisler, obviously knows what fish are thinking-enough said.
Brian Neilson, as immature as me-but has guided this river 17 years.
Mike Bushly, the surface ninja-I’m glad I am not a trout that likes to eat dries.
Sam Wike, hobo spey fly guru- I think he swung a Permit on this fly.
The list is endless.
-really helps me to appreciate fishing even much more than I did before I started working within the fishing industry. Many people told me I would burn out, but it has actually fueled my inner sickness to fish every chance I get. I have no control over this, but I know the people in the list above share this sickness, which helps me sleep at night. Thanks for all the good stories, and please come by the shop to either teach, learn, or tell jokes. The first person to tell a joke in the shop in the morning gets a free cup of cowboy coffee on Potato. Coffee on at 7:30 A.M. Don’t miss out.