I'm back from Sun Valley. The American Cancer Soiciety runs a summercamp for kids with cancer or other life threatening illness in the mountains north of Sun Valley, Camp Rainbow Gold. This is my 8th year volunteering. I've organized fishing day for the younger campers every year. I get an ulcer every year too, worrying someone is not going to catch thier fish. Not too much to worry about this year. All thirty of the kids that wanted to fish caught something.




Here is Crystal and her first fish ever. She caught another right after this pic was taken.


The stringer only has 2 of Sabrinas' fish on it. She took honors for catching the most fish on a single outing ever..16 trout in one hour and twenty minutes of fishing. One of the guides that volunteered his time was baiting for her but she was doing her own hooksets and reeling them in herself. One of the hottest rods I've seen anywhere. She couldn't wait to tell Mom and Dad about it.

The little guy in the wheelchair had a grin from ear to ear the whole time. Until he had to leave. He started to cry. "But I don't want to leave. I'm catching fish."
Little man I know just how you feel.


And the littlest girls were the best. After we reeled in a fish I would ask them if they were done. They would just smile and shake thier heads 'no'.


I lost count after 140 trout were landed in two days. I figure about 200 were landed. We kept some for the BBQ, released a bunch more.
First time I've had professional help. Had 5 flyfishing guides from Lost River Outfitters volunteer their services. One of them even gave away a client so he could help out both days.
Thanks to Luke, Patty, Dan, and the beautiful Erica for helping the kids thread a few worms.

Also thanks to Silver Creek Outfitters for donating 10 dozen worms and the use of 40 spincasting outfits.

8 kids caught their first fish this last week, including one adult camp counselor. There have been a few kids in the past which this camp provided the only chance they ever had to catch fish before they died. There are no more important weeks in the year for me then this one.


I'd like to purchase rods/reels for the camp so I don't have to recondition 25-30 rods every year, and still hope none go 'bad'. It kills me when sticky drags or bad line costs some little camper a fish. Anybody have any connections with Sportsmans Warehouse, GI Joes, Cabela's or some other big sporting goods store that might cut me a deal? Or any ideas on how we could get 40 new spincast outfits for the camp?

That is very cool beyond words V-hawk!

My hat is off to you!!! You're a great guy. There is a seat in my boat any time for you.

That is to cool!!
I have a new found respect for you!!!

You might ask Jenni over at ifish about new setups. They had some deal going for a while (still might for all I know) for underprivelaged kids on the north coast and people would donate tackel for it. She might know something.

Or start writing letters to corporate offices. I'd hit Wal-Mart, Fred Meyer, GI Joes, Sportco, Sportsmens Warehouse, Cabelas, Bass Pro shops. I think they'd be more willing to donate something than a small guy. I think the small guy would be more likely too but it hits pocketbook alot harder than a huge corporation that can use is it as a tax writeoff.

Pretty nice!

It's a terrific reminder of how good the rest of us have it and makes some of (most of) the squabbles on the board look pretty stupid by comparison.

I'd be willing to bet that's quite possibly the kids highlite for the year. Looks like a first class operation.

Kudos!!!!!!!!

Just ask next time? I'd gladly donate for 1 of the 40 rods. I'd be willing to be that out of the 5,000 or so registered people on this board, 40 of us would be willing to donate for a great cause!

Put me on the short list of donors for next year!

Thanks for sharing Hawk.

In high school I TA'd for a class of grade school special needs kids. I realized then that I didn't have what it takes to do what you do. I'm very appreciative of the work you do as a professional and a volunteer! Keep up the good work!

Thanks Parker, KK, AuntyM, BB, and everyone. I'd love to be able to set up something so board members could contribute. I like the paypal idea. Any equipment purchased would need to be shipped to the Boise American Cancer Society office. I would prefer to make a bulk purchase of rods so that they are all the same make/model. Makes repair cheaper and easier for me.

Couple more thingsbefore I head out to do some beer drinking and sing a little karoake. I'm not any different then most of the people on this board. As soon as I mentioned there was a need board members immediately offered assistance. If any of you want to volunteer your time next year contact the Boise office of the American Cancer Society. They are especially short of male volunteers. We get all kinds of guys that help out, from fighter pilots to actors. Even had one of the actors from 90210, Jason Priestly, helping set up camp.

Anybody want to call me so we could discuss the details? I'm not an expert at collecting donations.
Please send me a private message or email me at vhawk29@hotmail.com, and I'll give you my phone number.

That's mighty big of you Vince, keep up the good work!

vhawk,
Get me some spec's on the gear your lookin for and I'll get the boy's on the peninsula ta throw in a doz or so of ready to go gear.

I think I speak for most of us here, thanks for your efforts!!

God bless you for the work you have done and are doing.

Put me on your list also. I would be glad to donate a set-up or two.

Thanks for sharing!

Sign me up! I can part with a rod or two.
Neal

Vince,

Same here. Just tell me if you want cash or what you need.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

vhawk29,
You might want to talk to Terry Rudnick at WDFW/State Parks. He might know his Idaho counterpart. This year we had new gear for our local 5th grade outdoor camp.:applause:

If this works out I'll have a printer make some 'Piscatorial Pursuits' stickers and place them on the rods after we buy them, and then add the name of the donor of the rod. Or if any of you are good with your computer printer and can do it let me know.


It is very very cool of all of you to be helping out.


I've also contacted a Gyotaku artist from BC. I'd like her to help out next year. I'm going to be trying to find someone who can help us with this in our artshack.

Gyotaku art

I'd like for any of the very young kids, or those who are very sick to be able to have a fish ink done. Would be a beautiful momento of the time they spent at camp. If your not familiar with this type of artwork check out the link above.

Hey Vhawk, you might try Gary at G.Loomis, they would probably donate to this cause, They do alot like that, also I would be interested in helping out with the camp if you need more volunteers. Keep It up, I guess liberals ain't that bad=) FS

Slab,

IDFG has donated the use of thier rods in many previous years. Silver Creek Outfitters has been letting us borrow theirs for free over the last 4 years. Problem is that I end up spending about 6-8 hours each year reconditioning 40 fouled up reels, and then hand them back to whoever owns them. And even then I can't put new line or grease on 40 reels with only a few hours before we go fish. And as far as I can remember I'm the only one who can completely break down a reel and put it back together in working order.t sucks alot of my time to do it at camp. I'd rather be out with one of the kids bike riding, kite flying, shooting arrows or teaching them how to play poker. I don't just organize the fishing trip, I also am lead cabin counselor for one of the 5 boys cabins.

I'm looking for decent gear, that can be used just for camp, and that I can do the maintaince on long before the kids come in by bus or AngelFlight.
I might fool you into thinking I'm a nice guy, but its no sacrifice for me to fish with the kids.


If you want to know about a real hero, Dr Dave MCclusky started this camp 23 years ago. He's a general surgeon out of Twin Falls Idaho. He had a very sick child tell him how he would love to go to camp and have fun like other kids. So the good docter raised the money himself and started this camp. Here's a personal story for you:

I boarded my flight out at SeaTac airport on Aug 5th to go to Boise. The fellow next to me is a jewler from Olympia, John Conglin. We got to chatting and I mentioned what I was doing. He told me his wife had breast cancer a few years ago and almost died. He said he was living near Twin Falls at the time. I mentioned that our founder, Dr Dave, was a doc in Twin Falls. His eyes watered up and he said to me "Because of that man, my daughters still have a mother." He went on to tell me that Dr Dave basically treated her for free.
Two strangers sitting next to each other on a plane. Each of us has had our lives impacted by a single man over 500 miles away.

Hold on to your money. I've found someone on Ebay who will be setting up a dutch auction. He has eagle claw combos that will be going for about $14. Which is alot better then then asking $25. I'll be picking up shipping costs.
I'll post the link when he gets it up.

Send me an email and I'll get back in touch with you.

vhawk29@hotmail.com


Also Mya DeRyan has offered to come to Sun Valley and help the kids do fish prints from ink. She's offered to even cut mattes and help frame them.
Its going to be an awesome year to look forward to.

Japanese Fish Art Link


Tight Lines,

Vince

VHawk,
I sent you an e-mail about this. Several of us live over here, and could help in many ways...