Why Do I Fish?

I met John Voelker, AKA Robert Traver, in the mid 1970’s. At that time he was a retired State of Michigan Supreme Court Justice, distinguished attorney and fly-fishing author. I was a Michigan policeman, soon to become the new Police Chief of West Yellowstone, Montana.

John’s books hold a place of honor in my library. Books like; “Trout Madness” and “Trout Magic”. So does his “Testament of a Fisherman”. In these crazy times it seems everything runs faster: grow your business, consume more, buy more, get the biggest-fastest computers-UTVs and ATVs so you can ride to the tops of the wildest-steepest mountains. We’re buried in information and misinformation that we devour from our cell phones and devices. I admit, I fish to get most of the taste of it out of my mouth.

John and I communicated back then thru the US Mail trading weekly fishing reports, fly patterns and criminal court news from Yellowstone. I was excited to find a couple beaver ponds in Yellowstone Park that held Labrador size brook trout, and since John always told me he wanted to catch a 4 pound brookie on a fly I invited him to come to Yellowstone for a week of fishing. I’ll never forget his letter in response, “With gasoline approaching the price of good bourbon, and because I’m afraid of flying, please send photos”. I sent John several big brook trout pictures that year. Sadly a few years later John passed away.  I had many of his letters and Christmas Cards in my collection and the best place for them, I figured, was to donate them to Montana State University Library’s Angling Collection where they are to this day.

Do me, your kids and grandkids a huge favor. If you love Yellowstone. If you enjoy the wildlife-wild places-wild and native trout PLEASE read the attached then donate whatever you can to the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. The Park and surrounding ecosystem and its wild inhabitants need our help NOW more than ever before. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your kids and grandkids will thank you too.

THE EVER-CHANGING YELLOWSTONE WORLD

Migrating elk herd.

In this post you will find a link to a short video done by our good friend, Rick Reese. For over forty years Rick has been a leader protecting and preserving Yellowstone country’s wild resources. We’ve worked with him on matters in and out of Yellowstone National Park.

Rick, Jackie and I worked with Greater Yellowstone Coalition making sure elk, grizzly and black bears, wolverine, pronghorn and other public wildlife have unimpeded migration corridors to travel to and from summer/winter range, hibernation and denning areas and breeding grounds.

Most recently we worked with Rick on the Olliffe Ranch /Trust for Public Land conservation easement forever opening over 1,600 acres of land and a mile of Madison River to the public for hunting and fishing, hiking and birdwatching. This gorgeous landscape protects the second longest pronghorn migration corridor in the US as well as valuable grizzly, wolverine, wild and native trout, bighorn sheep and elk migration corridors and winter wildlife habitat. Make sure you watch this link and read this short introduction from Rick below.

• The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem then and now.

  In 1982 a small group of folks from Montana, Idaho and Wyoming  began planning for the creation a new conservation organization we called the"Greater Yellowstone Coalition". In the autumn of 1982 I put together a "Slide Show" to introduce audiences to the concept of a "Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem", and in the following four years, the show was seen by nearly 300 audiences throughout the region. 

  Thirty  years after the creation of the show, I decided to "modernize" it a bit including a new five minute introduction (with the vital technical assistance of Bozemanite Sam Lowe Anker). View this artifact from the earliest days of the Greater Yellow Coalition.

  —Rick ReeseMarch 14, 2020

Long winter, snow shoes still needed.

A bronze bison statue sits on our dining room sideboard with the inscription, “Jackie and Craig Mathews-with gratitude for over 20 years of support-Greater Yellowstone Coalition”. We are proud of the honor, but even prouder to count Rick Reese as a friend.

In these troubled times I hope viewing the link highlighting GYC and Rick’s role in Yellowstone country can bring solace and relief knowing that this ecosystem has been, and will be protected by the unselfish and effective heroes like Rick and groups like GYC.

We can by assured Yellowstone country will be here unimpaired for future generations to enjoy through continued hard work. It is up to us to support them as best we can. Thank you for thinking of them. I’ll see you soon in Yellowstone.

Rainbow/Cutthroat hybrid.