Dave and Senior - A 2023 Reflection

Looking back each year is an important way to understand were I was, where I went, and what I’ve learned. While it may sound cliche, it’s a crucial part of living and growing. This year I’d like to put some of my highlights and maybe some challenges down in writing.

The first highlight involves an old friend from college, Dave, and his father, Senior. After college, Dave and I have been on a few trips of our own. We used to load up the car with some of our friends, booze, flies, and a canoe and head to the U.P. for some good ole fashion fun. Time, distance, and building business and families have kept us from some of our old shenanigans, but when he reached out to me to get his dad out on the water I was pumped.

Taking a break on the banks of the river.

This wouldn’t be an old school trip though. Dave’s father, Senior, is no stranger to fly fishing and is a member of some trout clubs in Michigan. What made this trip different, however, was Seniors ongoing recovery from some serious health complications. Dave wanted to reintroduce his dad to fly fishing as part of that recovery. Less than a year ago, Senior had a minor dental procedure which eventually developed into sepsis, a serious blood infection that spread throughout his body. Almost immediately following treatment, Senior suffered a heart attack which landed him in the hospital. They say bad things happen in three’s and while recovering from the heart attack, Senior had a stroke while still in the hospital. His prognosis was not good and the doctors gave him one week to live.

Senior and his family did not accept this and they fought hard during treatment and rehab. He eventually battled out of the hospital and made his way back home. Over time, Dave wanted to get his dad back on the water enjoying something he loved.

Releasing a healthy smallmouth bass.

During our trip, Senior did an great job dusting off the rust and getting the fly out to striking distance. This was his first time targeting smallmouth bass and he had to make adjustments for larger flies. Never once did he complain. It wasn’t long until Senior was getting his line tight and caught some small bass. With vision in only one eye, Senior took direction well when recasting was necessary. As the trip went on, the weather started to turn slightly and rain began to fall. That’s when we had our breakthrough.

Senior with his hard fought smallmouth bass.

Senior placed a perfect cast off the right of the raft and drifted a blue bombshell popper along a rocky underwater drop off. Big droplets of water hit our backs as the wind picked up. I watched as the fly bounced downstream and saw a flash of bronze move upwards from the depths. The fish reached the surface and in one violent motion sucked the fly down and kicked back for bottom. I waited for Senior to set the hook. Then I waited some more. After realizing he didn’t see the fish (blind in one eye), I hollered for him to set the hook. I was quickly accompanied by Dave in yelling at his dad to set for home. After what felt like eternity, Senior set the hook and hung on for the ride. With a little help, Senior was able to wrangle the smallmouth to the net and we got a good look at the fighter.

It was an honor and pleasure sharing this moment with the Dave and his dad, Senior.

It was a fantastic moment to share between father and son. I know what it meant to Dave to get his father back out on the water and I know how accomplished Senior felt in his ongoing fight through rehabilitation. It was an honor to help Dave and his father reconnect and reignite their passion for fly fishing and it was a bonus to help Senior catch his personal best smallmouth. If they say bad things happen in three’s then maybe good things happen in three’s too, because later that day, Dave and his wife welcomed their second child to the Earth and Senior was there to see his grandchild.