10 October 2007
Hello all. It has been another month since I last updated the site. I am still deployed, just having finished a circumnavigation of Africa with NATO. Some of you may have seen us in the news - we were the ships off Yemen when a volcano erupted in the Red Sea. However, this site is not about me, but the folks in Iraq. Chris has passed off the school, which is now more of a club than school, to Jeff, who writes:
"With the departure of Chris on 20 September, stewardship of the BSFF has fallen to the likes of me. To dress up the management team, I have enlisted the aid of my neighbor, Dee who claims to know how to tie flies! I look forward to a little mentoring in the hope of learning a bit of this art, at least at the novice level.
Last week, we gathered up the collective possessions of the BSFF and moved them to the the "Juicer". If you look at the attached picture of Chris & I, the Juicer is in the background (name is self explanatory). Anyway, the storage cabinet containing the worldly goods of the BSFF is now under the care and watchful eye of Dee. That also keeps all the gear in very close proximity to two of the lakes here on Camp Victory.
Chris and I had the opportunity to go fishing last Sunday, before he headed home. Although it was not a fly fishing outing, we both had some success. We aren't world class fishermen (well, at least I'm not), but we attracted some noteworthy spectators when three of the visiting Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders watched as we caught of couple of the local carp. We wrapped up the morning at a lake west of the JVB where Chris caught his final fish in Iraq (picture attached for posterity). I think he said it was a 24" asp weighing in right at 10 pounds. He's the pro so it must be true.
These guys are real fishermen! No one is looking at the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders they are looking at Chris' fish!
Note the rifle - can't be too careful with these fish.
The final result
Chris and his last Iraqi fish (sans fly rod)
Outgoing and incoming "Deans" Chris (left) and Jeff (right)
The new "Dean" in action
Jeff is currently working to have Joe Mercurio of the Professional Tarpon Tournament Series come to Camp Victory. That would certainly be a unique opportunity for the guys!
As you can see, the BSFF is going strong as it enters it's third year of existence under its fourth "Dean." The only objective the school ever had was to afford those serving far from home a chance to forget where they are, and get on the water whether they are a seasoned angler or if it is there first time. As long as there are boots on the ground the goal is to keep this going. As long as people like Jeff come along, the dream will live. Don't forget to sign the guest book, if you have not. It is up and running and folks are starting to add their comments. That is it for this update, check in again and see how we are doing.
Fish on! Joel
Copyright © 2007 by Joel Stewart. All rights reserved.
Revised: 05/04/08.
