Newfie June - Still Waters Run Deep

I recently caught a re-run of the movie "A River Runs Through It" on television. I had forgotten what a nice movie it is and even though I had seen it before, I sat to watch it beginning to end.

I live in Alberta so the scenery struck me first…as it was filmed not far from Calgary. What I like most about it, though, are the beautiful scenes of one of the characters standing in a quiet pool of a river, fly-fishing. It brings back such wonderful memories of my father, as he dearly loved the sport of fly-fishing. I often went bait fishing with my Dad but he never did try to teach me the art of using the fly rod and reel. When you see someone who is skillful at it, gently swishing the line in and out, making the fly gracefully dance across the top of the water, you really appreciate the use of the word "art" to describe it.

Ragged River is a tributary of the mighty Exploits River - one of the best Atlantic Salmon rivers in the island of Newfoundland. On one of our summer excursions to the Ragged River, I went along to watch my Dad fish early one morning. After an hour or so with not a bite, he told me he was going to change his position and go stand near a quiet pool at the side of the river, which had fallen into the shade of a big tree as the sun climbed up in the sky. I was curious as to why that pool was any better than where he was fishing now. He reminded me of the expression "still waters run deep". He said that fish liked to be cool on a hot day, and they would seek out these cool, still eddies to rest in the shade.

Sure enough, he moved down a ways, closer to the pool. He skillfully cast his line out over the calm area and got a strike right away. It took him over an hour to eventually land that fish. Anyone who has ever had an Atlantic salmon on their line will know why. These spunky creatures put up quite a fight! By the time Dad landed it, he had walked about a mile up the river, playing out line as the fish ran with it and steadily reeling it back in when the fish stopped to rest. I will always remember the look of excitement on his face as he played that fish.

My husband was lucky enough to have been invited along one summer with my Dad and brother to try his hand at the art of fly fishing. Of course, they went to Aspen Cove, to fish the Ragged River, where the best fishing spots were to be found. That year, unfortunately, the salmon were so scarce, none of them got a bite. My husband, however, did take along his camera. He got a shot of my father, in his breast waders and gear, casting his line. It is the only picture of my Dad fishing that anyone in the family has, so it became quite precious, especially after Dad's sudden death. I printed off an enlarged copy for each of my brothers and sisters. One of my nephews had the picture put on a T-shirt with the caption reading: "God does not subtract from man his time spent fishing." It was perfect as I am sure that's when my father was closest to God.

I want to learn the sport someday to see if I can find the peace and tranquility that my father found when on the rivers. Maybe I'll even get "home" and go to Aspen Cove and fish the Ragged River. If there is anywhere on this Earth that my father's spirit can be found, I am sure it is there.

Peace be With You,
Newfie June


© Newfie June




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