I've flirted with the idea of having "Guest bloggers" I've recently started to mention it to people and see what I hear back. You are probably thinking "lazy bastard" only been writing again for a month and already trying to pawn it off on someone else. I may deserve that but, the truth be told, upkeep of this thing is a tremendous amount of time and work, if I can have others help keep it on life support when I get too busy . . . . Everyone wins. At present, I'm trying to write at least one or two posts a day and continue to grow my backlog.

One of the people I spoke too about a guest post was "Zach Southgate" I have the honour of calling Zach and his dad Phil friends. Phil owns Midsun Automotive in south Calgary and is one of the kindest, genuine and generous people that I've had the pleasure of meeting. There is not enough room on this page for all the good things I can say about the Southgate family. I’d love to expand on stories of the young bean pole zachery, but this is his post. Much Love fellas.

Ramblings from growing up tying flies

I became addicted to catching anything with fins at a young age and there was nothing that

could stop it. That led me down the path of fly fishing and fly tying which came after fishing. Fly

tying came as a side hobby. The twelve-year-old in me thought that in the long run, fly tying

materials, vices, and time would be cheaper than buying the flies that I liked for 2.50$ a piece.

Thankfully dad thought that a little child labour tying flies was worth it and he picked up my

materials early on and handed me down his old Thompson Model A vice. I had little idea that

there were actually methods developed to lash feathers and fur to a hook. Dad had showed me

the basics so over and over I wrapped orange yarn along the shank of a 1970’s limerick long

shank and wrapped a hackle that had fibers too long for the fly over top of the yarn. These flies

were something that my father and grandfather tied to “nymph” with split shot and a spinning

rod for whitefish, they didn’t float well as a dry fly.

After fishing cutthroat one day with dad, a family friend handed dad and I some flies and said

that if we can, we should replicate them. This is when the Cod Father (Aaron) appeared in my

life, a guy working in the fly shop who showed me how to tie that bushy caddis or stonefly

pattern after picking out the right materials. Little did I know when I started guiding on the

river, Aaron would be working those same stretches (and doing way better than I first did). It

didn’t matter the day, the Cod Father always had my back with his secret talk leaving clients

unaware that he was giving much needed advice.

Life moved forward and I had the pleasure to guide with Aaron once again on the Elk River with

the Elk River Guiding Company. Dad and Aaron also maintained contact throughout the years,

and in the last few they have fished the Elk River and have done some steelhead fishing

together. Without good mentors, my fly tying and fishing may have never progressed to what it

is today. If any of you have the chance, help to teach a youth something they are passionate

about. Thanks to Aaron, my Dad, and others I have been pretty fortunate with those who have

influenced my passion.

I’ve always flirted with the idea of having a tattoo, I just never knew what I would want to keep

permanently. I knew it would be fishing related in some way shape or form. After deliberation I

chatted with Ben Burlock about getting a piece that incorporated some of my favorite

memories and what meant the most to me growing up fly fishing. First off, that bushy dry fly

that was given to me by a family friend and then replicated by Aaron. Second, one of my

favourite sights while floating the Elk River where I guided and in its waters I first learned how

to fly fish. Last, the fish that was always willing to rise and give my fly at least a look. You might

wonder why I’m talking about a tattoo in a blog post… Dad currently reads the blog everyday

from a beach in Costa Rica and he doesn’t know about the tattoo. Well until now!

Take a kid fishing or teach them something that will stay with them forever.

Zach Southgate

WoW.

Phil, hopefully you are able to get your brains back between your ears. At least he did’nt tell you he was pregnant?? I hesitated about being involved in the delivery method of this news, but after reading what he wrote I was not able censor him. Have a great time and chat with you soon. AA