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MRO Chronicle #2:
The Year in Review- 2003
by Brian Flechsig
December 18, 2003……….as I sit and begin to write this, (what seems to be an impossible task), I am looking at a CNN headline announcing that today is Keith Richards birthday. Tonight, in his monologue Jay Leno announced it also……. he said “and had he lived, he would have been 60”. Keith Richards is 60!
Despite the sheer miracle-worth-mentioning of this feat alone, you will see how this ties into the “Year in Review” here in a bit.
Mad River Outfitters is now entering it’s 10th year in business. Sometimes almost as hard to imagine as Keith Richards turning 60! It has been a great ride so far with a lot more to come I am sure. A ton of hard work, many lucky breaks, some great friends, great trips and most of all great memories………mostly great.
When folks began requesting that we begin writing a “Chronicle” of our trips and adventures, it sure made sense. We had certainly thought of it before, but just never seemed to find the time, or the inspiration. I can clearly remember when I finished writing “Fly Fisher’s Guide to the Mad River”, I said that I wouldn’t write again for a long time………so far….that’s been true. We’ll see how it goes here.
I know that the requests have also been inspired by “Nick’s Journal” which we have had on the website for about a year and a half. Nick Robertson was an employee of the store for all of 2002 and he was also a young budding novelist. Nick began keeping a journal of his adventures and posted them on the site. The hits on the Journal pages were pretty impressive! Folks really enjoyed reading about his excursions. Nick was a great employee, and a great fisherman to boot! He is now living in Chicago and doing well……at least that’s what the last postcard said!
The problem that I am having with doing this is……there have been so many great trips, so many fun times, so many crazy events and special guests……it doesn’t seem fair to start now and leave all of those out!
Someone recently suggested that we start with a “Year-in-Review” type of format and go from there. When I thought about it for a short minute, I couldn’t think of a more dramatic year in my career/life. If there was a time to start writing again, this was a perfect opportunity.
Then I started jotting down some notes, and realized that I could write a book on 2003 alone! I simply can’t remember a year that I experienced such highs and lows…….both personally and professionally…………2003 will definitely be remembered.
Basically, for the first part of the year, 2003 really stunk!
I spent New Years Eve and day at my folks house in Cincinnati and drove home that evening…….had to be at work on the 2nd. When I got home there was a message from Michael Bennett! Always love to hear his voice. He said that if I was looking for him the next few days, he would be in the hospital having some surgery. He said to call Jerry for more details.
Didn’t think much of it really.
Michael was first and foremost a great friend. All-in-all, in the short eight years that I knew him, he was probably one of my best friends. He was also a guide for Mad River Outfitters and worked in conjunction with Jerry Darkes. He was one of the best steelhead guides you could have ever fished with! He was also one of the most “beautiful” human beings that I have ever met.
Michael was a psychologist and soon became affectionately known as “Dr. Steelhead”. I believe that Jerry coined the phrase in an article he wrote about Michael in Midwest Fly Fishing magazine a few years back. The name stuck! He also helped us with several of our videos and even appeared in “Carpin’”. There is so much that I could say about him, but words don’t really seem to do justice.
Very long story short…….(I told you I could write a book, just wait)
The next day I spoke to Jerry, my birthday mind you……..”Malignant tumor in his stomach…..not good man”.
Michael died on May 9th. Cancer got him quick….and he went well.
He really wanted to go bonefishing before he died. In fact, the last time I spoke with him he was inquiring about trip insurance….he was trying to put a group together to get down to the Bahamas.
Jerry and John Gillette took half of his ashes to Long Island and spread them over a favorite haunt. We put the rest of his ashes in Elk Creek on November 2nd in a beautiful ceremony led by his wife Suzie.
I simply can’t put into words how much he will be missed.
Shortly after the 1st of the year, Jim Lenardson, who had been working for us for almost three years, decided it was time to move on. He had become a big part of what we were doing and where were going. I wasn’t exactly sure how to proceed. Then, a week later, Nick headed for Chicago. Staffing is always a problem, but now it was a real problem.
We had a couple of shows coming up and were heading to Andros Island on the bonefish trip. Not, to mention we had a store to run. Guide season was right around the corner……what the hell were we going to do?
Somehow, we pulled it off though! Business was even booming and somehow we managed….even going through a few employees.
One bright spot of early 2003 that is definitely worth mentioning was the big bone on Andros. I have been fishing for bones for many years and never dreamed of catching a fish like that. What a thrill!
Luckily though, Jim Lenardson stuck around town and has been working part time as well as helping out on classes and such. I would foresee that he will be an employee and guide for the shop for a long time. He has become a great friend and to be honest, that usually doesn’t happen with ex-employees.
On top of this crap going on, the weather just stunk! It just kept snowing. Steelhead fishing was out of the question until mid-March. That didn’t help. Tarpon trips were even tough! Neil and I got down to Key West the 1st of April and it was warmer in Columbus than it was in the Keys! The wind blew for three days straight and we never set foot on Bruce’s boat. The black cloud wouldn’t leave!
I did finally have a few decent trips, landing a few fish and getting to fish with my dad, but it was not what it had been in years past. Even the Hendrickson hatch on the Mad seemed mediocre, at least to me.
I remember saying that 2003 “Just sucks!”.
In January I went up to Cleveland for the NCFF 1st annual Fly Tying Expo. I had gone up the night before and spent the night with Jerry. We went over to see Michael. That night my new red lab Moose, I guess he was about three months old then, had to go out at about 4 a.m. I got up and let him and Bear out Jerry’s front door. I turned around and used the facilities myself, which were just right by the front door. By the time I got back to the front door, Moose and Bear were nowhere to be seen!
Very long story short, I spent about three hours walking around a Strongsville neighborhood in two feet of snow looking for my dogs! I was out of my mind. Don’t know whether it was anger, fear, disgust or a combination of all three and more.
Jerry eventually woke up and helped me search for about the last hour-and-a-half of the fiasco! We drove around and around, walked around and around…..it was crazy. I was walking through peoples back yards blowing a dog whistle at 6:00 in the morning!
We had to be at the show around 8:00!!
I had to take a break……I had been at it for over three hours………no sign of dogs. I was probably just shy of breaking down in tears.
I went downstairs and laid on the couch, telling Jerry to get ready for the show, and that I would keep looking after a quick rest. There was no way I could go to the show and leave them out there.
Jerry had suggested that we call the police. Just as I was closing my eyes on the downstairs couch I heard him on the phone.
He told the operator that we had lost two Labrador retrievers and she asked “Is one named Bear and the other a little puppy?”
I know he was probably almost as relived as me when I heard the one-sided conversation.
They had traveled almost a mile and a half……..I don’t know how Moose even did it!
Some lady, kind lady mind you, had her dog out in her back yard and Bear came running up to her, with Moose close behind. She took them in and called the police.
We made it to the show……late…….but we made it!
I don’t think I had ever been so relieved……until May that is.
Michael died on a Friday I believe. His funeral was on Monday.
I got back to work on Tuesday and the sun was shining. I had hope! Maybe that black cloud would finally leave.
There were a few teenagers in the store that day and they were quite taken with Moose. He is a good looking boy! I remember one of the kids saying to me, “I have always wanted a red lab but have never been able to find one”. I remember walking into the back room for a minute or two. When I came back out front, I asked Mark if he saw Moose. Somehow I sensed that something was wrong.
He was gone!
Within minutes we were all outside, scanning the sidewalks and parking lot. Everywhere.
There was no sign of him!
After we had a chance to think about what had just happened, we agreed that someone must have taken him. Otherwise, we would have seen him somewhere. Puppies just don’t take off running and don’t stop. They stop and smell, stop and say hi. Especially with the nose that dog has. He couldn’t have gotten completely out of sight in that amount of time.
The next two days were simply spent searching for Moose. Business was on hold, at least for me. The cops were on the lookout. We put up signs. We called and visited every animal shelter in town. I called vets, his breeder Sally Bell, and everybody I could think of that might help. Sally had wondered if we had any connections at the Columbus Dispatch. “Rare Red Lab Stolen” was her best advice. I got on the phone.
I called Bill Wolf and left him a message. Then I dialed up Marshall Hood who has been a friend of the store and has written several great pieces on us for the Dispatch. I had also sent press releases to the major television stations in town.
Later that evening, we had two television crews in the store as well as a Dispatch photographer. Marshall had called back and was on the story and two stories ran on the evening news.
That evening I remember telling my mother that I had lost faith in humanity!
Earlier in the year, someone had stolen a bamboo rod and an Abel reel. (We think we know who you are by the way!) We had also noticed some other petty theft. A small retail store can have a tough time absorbing loss like that. But now……..they took my dog! If this is how it was going to be………if people just felt they could come in and take my stuff……..I didn’t want to do this anymore.
That night was grueling! I didn’t know if I could mentally handle losing two of my best friends in one week! Another very low point.
The next morning there was a ¼ page story on Moose and his disappearance in the Columbus Dispatch. We had offered a substantial reward and also said that there would be no questions asked. The response was absolutely overwhelming!
I got to the store a few minutes before 10:00 a.m. and the phone was ringing when I walked in. It was a woman and she said that she had my dog. Her son was waiting outside the front door to tell us the same news! Wow!
Her daughter had found Moose in the plaza that day. They turned down the reward money, and we didn’t ask many questions. We do know that there was a period of a few hours that he is not accountable for. Best we can figure is that someone picked him up, got scared, and dumped him off later. I do not think that the girl or her family were up to anything. Not to be rude, but I really didn’t care at that point. I was just relieved that he was O.K. Really huge thanks to Marshall Hood and the Columbus dispatch. It’s good to have friends!
Quite a few folks later joked that we had staged the whole thing. A media event to get some press. We did get press……but not the kind that we really like. I would have surely traded those few days for some peace and quiet. Fact is, my dog was gone and I was scared to death. I did everything I knew of to get him back. ……..I got him back………
But we have had some fun since then with “The Conspiracy Theory”!People still stop in to see the “Famous Dog”!
The real story here was that my faith in humanity had been quickly restored. I couldn’t help but think that Michael had something to do with all of this!
Due to the article in the Dispatch, the phone at the store rang off the hook. People that we didn’t even know were calling, even stopping in, telling us that they were thinking of us and that they hoped he would be found safe. Several folks stopped in and offered money to go towards the reward. One woman called crying and told my mother the story of her lost dog. People offered to help look for him. I got e-mails from animal shelters that offered up advice. I felt like George Bailey in “It’s a Wonderful Life”! Wow!
Faith in humanity restored! I realized that for every bad apple there are thousands of good ones. Out of all of the people that come in Mad River Outfitters, there are always a few bad ones………..but they don’t ruin the whole thing. Good timing in getting my head screwed back on straight, I was about to embark on two of the best months of my life!
Dave Whitlock has always been a fly fishing hero of mine, as long as I can remember. Somehow, we have become great friends. He and his wife Emily have become like family to me and I cherish them. It is always an honor to be in his presence and better yet to fish with him! He makes me a better angler, and a better person. Emily is a sheer delight also!
Dave and Emily arrived on the 3rd of July and after a quick “hugs and hellos”, we headed out to the Wilds.
I had been talking this place up, and knew that the king of largemouth on a fly would be in heaven. I had also been raving about it to another famous bass angler and fly tyer, Chris Helm. Earlier in the year, at the NCFF Expo, I had invited Chris along on this 4th of July excursion with Dave.
When we got there, Chris was out on the boat with Jim Andrix and head guide George Russomanno was hanging around the lodge. I could see the excitement in George’s body language when we pulled up. Dave does that to people.
We spent and wonderful day and a half exploring the Wilds. Seemed like so little time, with so much to do, but we had a good time relaxing and fishing with some great company. Before we left, Emily, Chris and Jim took a tour and got to see the operation and the animals. It was a great time and Dave and Emily really wanted to come back and stay longer next time. I just knew that would be the response.
We really have to thank the Wilds for making this possible and taking great care of the Whitlocks while they were there.
Friday evening we left the property, had a nice dinner in Zanesville, and I got Dave and Emily to a hotel room near the store.
On Saturday, Dave taught a fly tying class in the morning and then hung out in the store meeting and greeting the rest of the day. This is always a wonderful event at the store. Emily was whisked off to the “Big Bass Club” by my parents to teach a “Women’s Fly Fishing Clinic”. This was a huge success. Emily did a great job and the gals had a grand time. Seems as if some great friendships were made that day and we look forward to having Emily back! That evening we all met back at the store and Dave and Emily did a slide show on New Zealand. What a great day!
A few years earlier, Dave and I had fished at the Lakes for Carp and wound up filming a good part of the “Carpin’” video out there. He really wanted Emily to experience carp on a mulberry! The carp fishing over there is really second to none during June and July.
I met them at their hotel on Sunday morning and we had breakfast, then they followed me out to Urbana.
On the way, Emily wanted to stop at a berry patch she had seen on the drive the day before. I never thought that I would enjoy picking berries so much! I guess when you are doing it alongside one of your all-time heroes it makes it tons more fun! Never thought I would enjoy tea at noon until I had it with Mick Jagger either (we’ll get to that).
Emily got her carp and we had a great time despite the fact that my boat battery ran out just after lunch. While I was working on a solution, Dave and Emily took a nap on the picnic tables. About the time that I got the battery out of my car and rigged it to work on the boat, the sky darkened and a thunderstorm moved in. Our fishing for the day, and our “yearly visit” were over. We hugged, said our goodbyes and they were off to Arkansas.
What a great visit………and helpful visit! Dave had just a few weeks earlier filmed a Walker’s Cay Chronicles on the White River in Arkansas near his home. He has also filmed several other episodes including one in Montana at Jay Burgin’s Five Rivers Lodge and one on Carp fishing in the Great Lakes. He spent several days giving me advice and preparing me for what to expect when filming the show. He was like a proud father coaching his kid for T-ball! I was honored and grateful for his help. It did make a difference and I did a better job because of him.
The Walker’s Cay Chronicles is historically the highest rated outdoors show on ESPN, averaging around one million viewers per week. It is regarded by ESPN’s programming department as the finest fly fishing show ever made.
In my industry, this has to be “The Holy Grail”.
Flip Pallot has always been a hero of mine also. Over the years, we shared many friends. Jim Teeny is like a brother to me, and he and Flip are also very close. Dave Whitlock, Lefty Kreh and others had always told me that Flip and I needed to get together. I can remember when I took Lefty to the “Big Bass” lakes and we showed him the carp fishing, he said that Flip needed to get over there and film a show. He said that he’d talk to him, but that I should contact him also.
I didn’t meet Flip until a few years later. We had corresponded by fax off-and-on for over a year. Finally, we set a date.
On June 1st of 2002, Flip came to Columbus and did a talk at the shop. I had just come from Key West where I had landed my first tarpon over 100 lbs alongside Jim Teeny. We had a lot to talk about!
It was by far the highest attended event that we have put on! It was a great couple of days and we learned a lot from the man. During his short visit, we had some time to talk about the fishing in the area. Once we got to the Wilds, Flip was in! He said that he’d call to schedule filming within the week. He did.
We filmed the show at the Wilds from July 12th through the 15th. Flip, Bob and Rick arrived at the shop on Friday the 11th and we headed out. They left on the morning of the 16th and drove from the Wilds to the Columbus airport.
What an experience! There is so much to tell in this story, so many emotions………. it is evident to me now that I do need to write a Chronicle of this alone. From having all of our gear stolen on Saturday night, to hooking a bass over 10lbs, to unexpectedly playing and recording a bluegrass tune for the show after Flip and I rehearsing for 15 minutes! I will get to work on this and get it up on the site soon!
I saw Flip in Denver at the Fly Tackle Dealer Show in September. There was a crowd around him and I tried to sneak by as to not bug him, but before I knew it he was in my path with hand extended. First thing he said was “How was Amsterdam?”
He did tell me that I was going to be very proud of the show when I saw it!
On a weird side note, it turns out that after Flip got back from Ohio, got deathly ill. He told me there were a few days that he couldn’t even put his pants on. I believe he made a few trips to the hospital. Several filmings were cancelled including on that he was doing with Dave and Emily in Maine. He said that they never really figured out what was wrong with him but speculated that it was West Nile virus. Weird. He had definitely lost some weight but said that he was feeling better. He is doing fine now.
Flip will be back in early July of 2004 to film a Carpin’ episode with us.
I have been a fan of the Rolling Stones since 1980, bordering “fanatic”. I have now seen them 38 times, in many states, and now countries.
In January, when final European dates had been set for the “Licks” tour, I was presented an opportunity to buy a “travel package” to one of several European cities. The choice for me was between England or Amsterdam……I jumped on Amsterdam!
I had never been to Europe.
On Wednesday, August 13th, I boarded a plane at JFK airport headed to Schipol airport in the Netherlands. I was being put up for a week, had great tickets to see the Stones three times, once in an arena, once in a small theater and once in Ajax stadium. I also had VIP backstage passes. Was this a dream?
Obviously, I could write a book on this trip alone as well, but right now it still seems almost too personal, too surreal to delve into.
O.K…….very long story short-
The VIP room turned out to be kind of a joke…..completely separate from the band……..so I had to get to work.
The first night, while we were waiting to get in a back door, one advantage of the VIP pass, we saw Charlie Watts entering the building. As he came past us he did shake a few hands and said hello. As he shook my hand I remember telling him “Have a good show”. He nodded.
I had also found out that Ronnie Wood was having a showing of his art at a gallery in town. First chance I got I headed over. I quickly made contact with the owner and asked if Ronnie had been around. He told me that he had been at a party the night before with him and that he may be around on Tuesday.
The night before I left on the trip, my friend Steven Moc, from the band Ma Rainy (that I sit in with from time-to-time), had called to wish me well. He said, “Give Ronnie a hug for me!”
I called the gallery on Tuesday around 11:00 and the owner told me that Ronnie would be by around 2:00. Again…..long story short………but I gave him a hug and told him it was from my friend Steven in the states. He was bigger than life, despite his 28” waist. One of the greatest thrills of my life. I have always been a huge Ronnie fan. He’s so cool!
One of the guys that I befriended on the trip had made it all the way backstage on the night of the theater show. He did talk briefly with Mick Jagger and found out that he had been having “High Tea” with his family at the hotel they were staying at. One of the first things that I did when I got to my hotel was to drill the staff on where the Stones were staying. The Amstel Hotel, right down the street. Any good stalker knows what to do!
Monday, we were at the Amstel Hotel for High Tea, and there he was. He was sitting at a long table with his daughter Elizabeth and son James. There were only a few other people around.
He seemed to recognize my friend, and also may have noticed his “Stones Tongue” tie that he had on. Mick motioned to us and said “Have a seat”. I was trembling, and thought for sure that I would pass out. Things got blurry.
I do remember him introducing his kids to us, then talking mostly about the show the night before. Many folks had said it may have been one of the best Stones shows ever and Mick seemed to agree. They played some songs that I never imagined I’d hear them do live, much less in a 1,500 seat theater!
He seemed high on the music. I was surprised by this. I had always heard that he was quite aloof and rarely talked about what he did for a living. He was smiling and talking about the Stones. I remember trying to study his face, even his hands, without being too obvious. I felt the same way when Eric Clapton came into Mad River Outfitters. Trying to get as much a memory out of the situation without seeming pathetic!
I was in heaven for about 20 minutes………I drank tea with Mick Jagger! I am sure that I will be telling my grand kids about this. Mick attended the London school of economics and basically runs the entire Rolling Stones “operation”.He is one hell of a businessman, not to mention an incredible artist. He has been a huge influence and inspiration in my life and my career! He turned 60 just three weeks before I met him.
I never ran into Keith. Maybe a good thing, he would have probably scared me.
Mick did point up to a hotel room that he said was Keith’s. There was a skull and crossbones banner draped over the balcony…..go figure. Mick made a comment that Keith doesn’t wake before sound check and rarely goes to bed before the sun comes up. He said it lovingly though.
While I was in Holland I did have a chance to fish too. I had hooked up with this guy on the internet and found out that they had some fantastic carp around. He had pictures of some monster fish. I took the train to Bussum, Holland and this guy, who turned out to be quite the character, picked me up and showed me around for a day. We fished four different spots, he with his spinning rod and bread, me with my flyrod. We didn’t catch any carp but I did cath a perch like fish and a tench. I did get a lot of attention with the long rod though, I guess not many people in Holland have ever seen one!
The remainder of 2003 has been borderline excellent as well……..with a few bumps.
The Montana trip was a great success, the Abaco bonefish trip was a raging success. Mark Dougherty and I had one day that we figured we had seen way over 3,000 bonefish. No kidding!
We have had one of the best fall steelhead seasons in years!
We ended the event and trip season this year with a visit from Davy Wotton. Davy is quickly becoming a good friend and I look forward to spending more time with him. We are working on a trip to the White River in Arkansas with him sometime in the Fall of next year. He is one of the most talented anglers and fly tyers that I have ever met.
Despite my father having a little “heart attack” event, and myslef being deathly ill with the flu for about three weeks here, during the holiday season mind you, 2003 will end on a good note. My dad is back to normal and probably better off, nonetheless a scary event. Once I get a day or two to rest after the holidays I should be fine too.
The economy seems to be turning around, eh? Business looks to be signifigantly up for the holidays and we have big plans for 2004.
A new store sometime in the spring, most likely right around the 1st of April. New employees, Bill Conlon and Steve Wilburn will be a great help to me in the running of this operation. They will allow me to focus on promoting, selling, teaching, guiding and maybe writing, maybe making a few new videos………….the things that I should be doing instead of spending hours on the computer. My life is about to change.
I will never forget 2003………for obvious reasons……..and more that I haven’t written here. The highs and lows are almost un-imaginable as I look back. I am looking forward to 2004!
As I sit and wrap this up, it is now 2004 and….my 35th birthday. I just had a wonderful dinner with my parents and my two nephews, Jake and Dylan, aged six and three. I just adore them. There was a time when I never imagined I’d make it to 30! I’m glad that I did. If Keith Richards is 60, mathematically I should live to be 126!
Michael, Dave, Flip, Charlie, Ronnie, Mick, Keith, Dylan and Jake………it all adds up to inspiration.
I am looking forward to 2004…………. and beyond!
Thanks for your support over the years and we truly appreciate your business and I appreciate you taking the time to read my ramblings. Hopefully….there will be more!
Happy New Year!
Brian Flechsig, January 2nd 2004
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