church....

I attended church yesterday. one of my choosing another out of respect for some close friends, the Kalmon Family of Hudson WI. The service was to honor the passing of a terrific man, great father, grandfather and and fellow angler, Dennis Kalmon. Dennis had been battling cancer for 5 years, but the aggressive nature of the disease finally took him last weekend. His sons are all good fishing buddies and close friends, and the service was almost an impromptu class reunion in itself. Had a great opportunity to visit with some of my closest friends and fellow anglers, and even caught up on a hot bite or two....He'll be missed on opening day, in the hudson channel drifting nightcrawlers for opening day eye's....

After the ceremony and quick lunch, I attended MY church, the willow river in Hudson. feeling the need to examine my own mortality, the mortality of my father who also struggles with cancer and just life changing so fast these days a couple hours at the alter seemed appropriate. As usual the river rarely lets me down. despite the less than stellar temps, frozen guides and cold feet, I managed to bank one nice brown of about 17" on a deep dredged strip leech...Having admired him for a moment, I thought of Dennis Kalmon, his journey and ties to the natural world..I wished my little brown buddy a good day and headed home to warm feet and a cold PBR...godspeed Dennis.