Author Archives: Craig

While my father liked the idea of fly fishing, he never really had the patience or fine motor skills to become a proficient fly fisherman.  Subsequently, I learned mostly on my own.  Though I’m decent at it, I’ve never known the techniques or secrets to becoming a great fly fisherman, let alone, know how to teach them to my son. 

 That all changed this past fall when we hired a guide, Steve Brown, for the first time.  While not inexpensive, it was well worth the money and taught both of us some lessons which we have continued to apply.  In addition, the excitement of seeing my son catch the Colorado trifecta (Rainbow, Cut Throat and Brooke), as well as, share in the fun of male jocularity with Steve and his many great stories of life and fishing was a great bonding experience for us. 

 We hope you enjoy this clip of fishing off Lizard Head Pass just outside of Telluride, Colorado.  We never did catch a Brown trout but caught a whole lot of fun and excitement.  As for Steve, guess who got him into the love of fly fishing?  His dad of course!

One of the advantages of my career choice is being able to watch various trends rise and fall with each generation.  Over the past 15 years, I’ve loved observing an increase in social action among high school and college students.  In addition to the Green movement, many high schools are requiring community service as part of their students’ commitment to National Honor Society.

Recently, I had the privilege of joining Alex and three of his friends from the National Honor Society for a day of seed planting and raking in a burn area outside of Boulder, CO.  Along with a whole lot of fun and laughter, we all walked away with sore muscles and a profound appreciation for the power of fire.  The scale of devastation was only matched by the stories of loss from the homeowners we met.  For the four young men, it’s a memory that will last a long time and one that will guide their outdoor choices (this fire was started by man) and desire to help those who have suffered loss.

Doing volunteer work with your kids no matter what age is one of the greatest adventures you can have and one that will pay off for years to come.  You are experiencing great times together and planting values that will grow for generations.  On this trip, we got to meet Senator Mark Udall of Colorado.  He spoke with the boys about America’s history of volunteerism and how charitable action is the backbone of our Country.  Enjoy the film, get involved and have a whole lot of fun!