Posted: Aug 26, 2004  15:33

By Uncle Bud

If you were anywhere between the Naples General Store and Snow Creek Falls area between 9 a.m. and 10:40 a.m. yesterday, you would have sworn that a remake of the Keystone Cops was being filmed.

Not true! The comedy of errors began with an informal inter-office email/memo on Monday advising the entire crew at Woodbury Reports, Inc. that the office was shutting down all day on Tuesday to take a day trip to Roman Nose Lake #3 to stock it with fish.

Memo directed that we all meet at the Naples General Store at 9 a.m., and marry up with two independent writers (Ruralnorthwest.com’s new and already famous fly fishing writer, Slim Pickens and the equally famous historian writer Ellen Larsen, who had to cancel due to guests at her B&B.) From there, we were to convoy to the Roman Nose area.

The plot thickens…

Uncle Bud and his bride get up at 5:30 a.m. and take off to the Sandpoint Hatchery to pick up 3,600 cutthroat fry for stocking in Roman Nose #3. All goes well at the hatchery … fish are packed into two transport bladders and packed in ice to keep them in the 49-52 degree range until we get to the lake. Two other volunteer crews were picking up fish for mountain-lake stocking so we were delayed slightly as we waited our turn to receive fish.

Being a schedule freak, Uncle Bud had programmed in a stop at Starbuck’s … cancelled in favor of the wife’s demand we stop at Safeway for some bread (name I can never pronounce.) Schedule adjusted to keep peace in the family, Uncle Bud set the new Sandpoint Hatchery – Naples General Store land speed record as his snooty digital clock clicked from 8:59 to 9 a.m. just as he and a cloud of dust came to rest in front of the Naples General Store.

Where are the troops? The plot gets even thicker…

Spotted Slim Pickens pickup truck and was honored to meet our new fly fishing writer and guru for the first time in person. O.k., so far it is Slim, my bride, my schnauzer … but no office staff. It is 9:15 and counting…

About this time, a large light blue ford pickup arrives in yet another cloud of dust … it is Teri at the wheel and Amber hanging out the window waving with Teri’s daughter Lynnea in the middle. “Where is everybody?” demands Amber. (Amber is our office “demander”.) I introduce handsome Slim to the ladies to get them off my case.

About 9:35 Kristie and Kathy show up with “Little Sis” buckled in the rear seat. “Where is Lon and Denise?” I inquire. “They will meet us at the junction.” “Which junction?” … vacant stare for a few moments then a classic Kristie response, “Well, if they are not at the first junction, then they’ll be at the second junction.” (We are getting closer as there are only 47 odd road “junctions” between the Naples General Store and Roman Nose.)

Kathy tells us that Ellen won’t be joining us as she was swamped with guests at her B&B in Rathdrum. (Ellen will never know how much fun she missed.) “Are we ready to go to the junction?” “Nope, have to buy some cokes and stuff.” It is 9:45.

Finally we’re off to the “junction” to meet up with Lon and Denise Woodbury, our publisher and co-owners of Woodbury Reports, Inc. We stop at the first “junction” (County Road 13 and F.S. 417) … no Lon and Denise. Kristie gives us the “maybe."

“Well, maybe they are delayed as mom had to pick up the meat.” (This was a potluck operation with the owners supplying the meat course.) And my favorite “maybe” …
“Maybe they are at the “other” junction.” Another roadside meeting is called.

We send Uncle Bud on ahead to the “other” junction to see if Lon and Denise are there. If they are, Uncle Bud is to return and let us know. Cell phones? This is not a cell phone crowd … we like to shout and scream at one another.

Can we release them now?

The Cutthroat Fry are released and adapting to their new environment.

"Sure enough, Lon and Denise are patiently waiting at the “other” junction. I simply tell them you “don’t want to hear about it” and turn around and go back to junction number one to get the crew. In the interim, a suspicious looking green pickup starts tagging along. As it turns out, it was Kristie’s hubby Phillip wondering why we were zooming back and forth.

Two cars and three trucks finally marry up with Lon and Denise. “How come we have so many vehicles?” “Boss, let’s just go.” And go we did, the 11 miles up the side of the Selkirks belonged to the Woodbury Reports convoy.

Upon arrival at Roman Nose #3, the first order of business was to place the transport bladders in the lake so the water in the bladder is brought within a 10-degree variance to the lake water temperature.

It was a pretty cold day up there so we did not have to wait long for the right temperature ranges to release the cutthroat fry. (Lake temp. was 62 at the surface and the same at 3’ depth.)

Someday Little Sister will see this picture and hear the story.

First boat ride for the third generation; Melanie Henley cruises Roman Nose #3 with her mom, Kristie and dad, Phillip.

Here are three generations of the Lon and Denise Woodbury clan opening and releasing a transport bladder that contains approximately 1,800 cutthroat fry. Kristie opened the second bladder a few minutes later. Mortality rate: two. Another successful stocking of our mountain lakes by volunteers.

The gang's all here and chowing down.

The rest of the crew was eating and trying to stay warm. It was cold up there and Kathy’s blanket was looking better to me every minute. Stoic fishermen that they are, both Slim and Lon dazzled us with some fly-casting. No fish, but we all were in awe of the distance our “pro” Slim can send a fly. The entire gang watches intently as the cutthroat are introduced to their new home.")

Teri and Kathy also fished … Kathy with sixteen pounds of lead and a bobber the size of a basketball. Teri borrowed my rig and spin cast a yellow Mepps.

About 1:30 p.m. another rainsquall hit us, and this one was cold! Well, fish are stocked and safe so the job was successfully completed. Consensus was to pack up and find some coffee … fast. The crew set a record in breaking camp.

The entire crew was invited to the Woodbury’s home for coffee and an office round table discussion. (Lon likes to listen to his “troops” share ideas.) We discussed a wide range of issues but always seemed to come back to two subjects … youth and the economy. None of us had met Slim before in person so it was a bonus in having him there to hear his tales of teaching and of course, fly-fishing.

It was a long cold day. Do it again? With this bunch … in a heartbeat.