Well I'm not a fly fisherman but I knew Joe too. I guided him and his good friend Jay Barnes on a coastal river 15 years ago and that was the first time I have ever seen a "rag" He showed me the secret on how to doctor the rag and I still do it that way.We hooked and released 11 Steelhead that day and Joe had 8 of them. Quite a "rag man" he was. I tried to get him over for another round of Steelhead but he just never had the time. I sent him a picture of a couple of native release Steelhead, with a rag hanging out of their mouths, that I framed for him, I hope he had it hung up for anyone to enjoy.
When ever I needed more rag foam I just had to call him and he would send me a great big box full of it. I always tried to pay him for it but he would never take it. I sent him a check and told him to go out and have a dinner on me but he sent it back. "Just enjoy the rags" he would say. Well Joe, I'm still enjoying them 15 years later and hope to be using them 15 more years from now.
I'm gonna miss Joe and I know he is in a better place now. My thoughts are with you, fp