Alaska-bound with old fishing buddy in mind

FISHING —  The trip isn’t until August, but I’ve been sorting through gear I’ll be taking for a float trip with three buddies to fly fish for silver salmon in Alaska.

I’ve been anticipating this trip for more reasons than one.

The last time I did this particular wilderness river, I partnered with my outdoor-pursuits buddy Dick Rivers. We had a fabulous trip.

I remember giving Dick a bad time about the gaudy flies he tied for that trip, warning him in advance that no self-respecting fish would stoop to look at them.

Then he out-fished me two to one.

The day before Dick passed away from a too-young-to-die sickness, he gave me this box of flies left-over from that trip.

I can’t wait to put them to work rekindling a bunch of great memories.