For the first time ever, we have an all-veteran group who, in under 48 hours now, will be arriving upon, er, invading, the quietude of Western Montana to kick off Extravaganza 2015. This blessed event is the thirteenth (count ‘em!) annual Extravaganza where folks, now from all over the world, converge to enjoy the flora, fauna and pectorals of this special part of the world. As has been the case from Day One, Year One in 2003, those who have blessed us have received, in return, Montana nicknames that best describe their character and remembrances left behind as they have returned home. Perhaps the greatest compliment to what we do here is that so many of you return year after year to meet, greet, fish and play with us, and such is the case for the returning Magnificent Ones.
Now, over the years, the Ones have had many group names associated with them, most notoriously associated with their uncanny ability to drink more than any two groups following them. In fact, about 10 years ago, the Ones drank so much Napa wine that, literally, I had to have more cases overnighted in to meet the more sane needs of the ensuing groups. The Ones are not to be denied; they are, indeed, Magnificent—check out our 2008 Extravaganza movie on Der Blog where they were featured—and they are indeed zany. Witness two years ago when then Mechanics Bank Chairman of the Board Eddie “Two License” Downer’s wife had innocently bought his guide gag gift for him…a red button that had the letters WTF emblazoned upon it…only to have the guide install the button on his boat and, mid first day, have Two License Eddie drop a being-photographed (rare for him!) caught fish only to have the fish fall on the button and the speaker inside yell out “What The F___!!” Whereupon, in wonderful glory the Ones became thereafter known as the “WTF Ones”—a name that aptly describes them to this day!
So, without further ado, here is the line up [and some background in brackets of the reasoning for their nicknames] of the WTF Ones who, this Saturday, arrive in Missoula, Montana, to open Extravaganza 2015:
Longest in the tooth and most seasoned veteran of the WTF’s is Los Altos, California, C.P.A. John “SOS” Reimann [it seems that John just can’t help from hurting himself or falling in the water wheresoever he fishes with us!] who this year will be fishing with crack Bay Area Umpqua banker Scott “Crack” McAdams [so named not for his banking prowess, but for the fact he wears no underwear under his fishing pants…emphasize butt]. And then there is the long returning Shepard Clan who will be resident as always in our Blackfoot house headed up by patriarch Brian “Moraine” Shepard [so named for his favorite Alaskaganza fishing stream] and sons Josef “Fear The Beard” Shepard [a la his love of the SF Giants] and bro Nicholas “The Czar” Shepard [Russian around be he] who this year will be sporting his brand-new, but Extravaganza-veteran bride Jean “Yellowinski” Prominiski Shepard [yes, she looks great in yellow!]. Also part of the Blackfoot Six are returning father-son combo Mark “Whitey” Handron [so named for his propensity to eschew trout in favor of Rocky Mountain white fish] and “Son of Whitey” Liam Handron—whose smile is one of the most infectious in all of Extravaganza history!
And then along come the returning Downer family (there goes the neighborhood!!)—who will be residing in the main building at Headquarters which we will call the “Upper House” during Group One-- headed by father Eddie “Two License” Downer [it seems that Eddie never can find his fishing license(s) and inevitably has to buy a second] with sons in tow Mech Bank’s Vice Chairman Michael “Big Fish” Downer [yep, look for Michael to post early and often to the Twenty Inch Board], Portland investment advisor Douglas “Sippy Cup” Downer [due to earlier red wine spillages Doug has been sentenced to sippy cups for his Extravaganzas’ durations] and Robert “Quiet One” Downer [thank goodness there is at least one quiet one in this quartet!].
Not to be outdone by the foregoing, the band of veterans continues with multi-multi-year returnee ferrous metal expert Demetry “The Ghost” Kondrasheff [he will catch more twenty-inch fish than the next person but you would never know it!] who this year will be paired up with Pt. Richmond now-retired lawyer Josh “Commie Pinko” Genser [so named for his left of Lenin thinking] and will be side-by-side with the returning veteran pair of “Minnow Mel” McCormack [yep, small fish are his game] and boat mate Chris “Hook ‘Em” Barger [he, too, will be in the running for yellow again this year].
And if that is not enough, the WTF Ones polish themselves with three Rosenbaums and a Winfrey, with a new sidekick arriving early today all the way from Coyhaique, Patagonia Chile: As in Marin County lawyer “Big John” Rosenbaum, accompanied by sons “Big Ben” Rosenbaum (now a college sophomore…Yikes!!) [each named for girth, not finesse] and Adam “Yellow Hat” Rosenbaum [the youngest ever awardee of a Yellow Hat some many years ago now, much to the embarrassment of Da Ones—who are really hard to embarrass, btw] accompanied by last, but not least Marin County roofer “Not to Tarry” Winfrey [who, hands down, each year gets the acknowledgement of the Most Enthusiastic Extravaganzer—a designation given by voice and inflection, not by fishing prowess!].
Rounding out and supplementing the above twenty (count ‘em!) returning WTFers is my newest good friend Eduardo “Pisco Sour” Barrueto who, as I type this note is driving to Headquarters ending his long journey from Patagonia, Chile. Eduardo will be present for all three groups (although, after witnessing the antics of the WTF Ones, I wouldn’t blame him if he cut his trip short!) and, together, we will give you an update on our new joint Chilean venture to build the premier string of fly fishing lodges in “Montana South”.
So there you have it, all, the line-up for Group One, Extravaganza 2015!!!
Bring it on Ones…the wonders of Montana await “y’all”!!
Rock Creek Ron
Now, over the years, the Ones have had many group names associated with them, most notoriously associated with their uncanny ability to drink more than any two groups following them. In fact, about 10 years ago, the Ones drank so much Napa wine that, literally, I had to have more cases overnighted in to meet the more sane needs of the ensuing groups. The Ones are not to be denied; they are, indeed, Magnificent—check out our 2008 Extravaganza movie on Der Blog where they were featured—and they are indeed zany. Witness two years ago when then Mechanics Bank Chairman of the Board Eddie “Two License” Downer’s wife had innocently bought his guide gag gift for him…a red button that had the letters WTF emblazoned upon it…only to have the guide install the button on his boat and, mid first day, have Two License Eddie drop a being-photographed (rare for him!) caught fish only to have the fish fall on the button and the speaker inside yell out “What The F___!!” Whereupon, in wonderful glory the Ones became thereafter known as the “WTF Ones”—a name that aptly describes them to this day!
So, without further ado, here is the line up [and some background in brackets of the reasoning for their nicknames] of the WTF Ones who, this Saturday, arrive in Missoula, Montana, to open Extravaganza 2015:
Longest in the tooth and most seasoned veteran of the WTF’s is Los Altos, California, C.P.A. John “SOS” Reimann [it seems that John just can’t help from hurting himself or falling in the water wheresoever he fishes with us!] who this year will be fishing with crack Bay Area Umpqua banker Scott “Crack” McAdams [so named not for his banking prowess, but for the fact he wears no underwear under his fishing pants…emphasize butt]. And then there is the long returning Shepard Clan who will be resident as always in our Blackfoot house headed up by patriarch Brian “Moraine” Shepard [so named for his favorite Alaskaganza fishing stream] and sons Josef “Fear The Beard” Shepard [a la his love of the SF Giants] and bro Nicholas “The Czar” Shepard [Russian around be he] who this year will be sporting his brand-new, but Extravaganza-veteran bride Jean “Yellowinski” Prominiski Shepard [yes, she looks great in yellow!]. Also part of the Blackfoot Six are returning father-son combo Mark “Whitey” Handron [so named for his propensity to eschew trout in favor of Rocky Mountain white fish] and “Son of Whitey” Liam Handron—whose smile is one of the most infectious in all of Extravaganza history!
And then along come the returning Downer family (there goes the neighborhood!!)—who will be residing in the main building at Headquarters which we will call the “Upper House” during Group One-- headed by father Eddie “Two License” Downer [it seems that Eddie never can find his fishing license(s) and inevitably has to buy a second] with sons in tow Mech Bank’s Vice Chairman Michael “Big Fish” Downer [yep, look for Michael to post early and often to the Twenty Inch Board], Portland investment advisor Douglas “Sippy Cup” Downer [due to earlier red wine spillages Doug has been sentenced to sippy cups for his Extravaganzas’ durations] and Robert “Quiet One” Downer [thank goodness there is at least one quiet one in this quartet!].
Not to be outdone by the foregoing, the band of veterans continues with multi-multi-year returnee ferrous metal expert Demetry “The Ghost” Kondrasheff [he will catch more twenty-inch fish than the next person but you would never know it!] who this year will be paired up with Pt. Richmond now-retired lawyer Josh “Commie Pinko” Genser [so named for his left of Lenin thinking] and will be side-by-side with the returning veteran pair of “Minnow Mel” McCormack [yep, small fish are his game] and boat mate Chris “Hook ‘Em” Barger [he, too, will be in the running for yellow again this year].
And if that is not enough, the WTF Ones polish themselves with three Rosenbaums and a Winfrey, with a new sidekick arriving early today all the way from Coyhaique, Patagonia Chile: As in Marin County lawyer “Big John” Rosenbaum, accompanied by sons “Big Ben” Rosenbaum (now a college sophomore…Yikes!!) [each named for girth, not finesse] and Adam “Yellow Hat” Rosenbaum [the youngest ever awardee of a Yellow Hat some many years ago now, much to the embarrassment of Da Ones—who are really hard to embarrass, btw] accompanied by last, but not least Marin County roofer “Not to Tarry” Winfrey [who, hands down, each year gets the acknowledgement of the Most Enthusiastic Extravaganzer—a designation given by voice and inflection, not by fishing prowess!].
Rounding out and supplementing the above twenty (count ‘em!) returning WTFers is my newest good friend Eduardo “Pisco Sour” Barrueto who, as I type this note is driving to Headquarters ending his long journey from Patagonia, Chile. Eduardo will be present for all three groups (although, after witnessing the antics of the WTF Ones, I wouldn’t blame him if he cut his trip short!) and, together, we will give you an update on our new joint Chilean venture to build the premier string of fly fishing lodges in “Montana South”.
So there you have it, all, the line-up for Group One, Extravaganza 2015!!!
Bring it on Ones…the wonders of Montana await “y’all”!!
Rock Creek Ron
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