A short notice trip to Montauk for Vince “Chappy” Stanley to graduate him after a two-year wait happened this past Monday.  And not only “Chappy” graduated but so did Jim Craig. What??? Vince is a retired chaplain from the St Louis County jail so he’s worked with people just like our wacky group.

Matt, Kenny Klimes, Jim Craig joined Vince for his graduation trip. But this trip had a special twist as Jim Craig was checking out as a FATC Instructor. Although Jim has been with us a little over two years, he has embraced the FATC and its mission with full vigor. He has fished Yellowstone, Colorado, Wyoming, Michigan, Canada and most of Missouri. So, Jim was also on the spot as Kenny was checking out Jim who was checking out Vince.

Montauk was relatively empty, and we had the entire area basically to ourselves.  The water was slightly higher and faster than normal but easily fishable.  Jim started Vince out in the area between the boulder and the dam. He taught the basic techniques to get Vince started. After a few “misses” the guys went to lunch and started the afternoon at the top of the fly fishing only area.  Here Vince started tagging fish and worked hard on his dead drifting technique. Jim, on the other hand, did well and received glowing marks from Kenny until he lost the biggest fish of the day for Kenny. His “terrible” net job busted off the big rainbow. But begging for mercy Kenny forgave him (not).

Everyone caught fish and it seemed the “hottest” time was between 12:30pm and 2:30pm as the temperatures warmed and several small BWO and midge hatches broke out.  The guys finished around 4:30pm and headed to Hicks BBQ in Cuba to initiate Vince with the “famous Ory’s Spud dinner”. BUT he declined – what??? I guess we’ll have to get him next time.