SEELEY LAKE - Chris Dombrowski will be reading from and discussing his recent book, "Body of Water," Saturday, March 4, at 7 p.m. at the Grizzly Claw Trading Company. Alpine Artisans' Open Book Club sponsors the evening. There is no charge and all are welcome.
Seeley-Swan High School poet Elizabeth Done will be reading her poem, "Rest On Fawn Peak," to open the evening.
A published poet (most recently "Earth Again") and Montana-based fly fishing guide Dombrowski recounts his trip to the Bahamas where he met an aging master guide David Pinder who mentored him on the delicate demands of fly fishing for the elusive bonefish. He is fascinated by the scarcely edible bonefish which one releases within seconds of the catch. They are very challenging prey because they are so difficult to hunt down.
In a lyrical account, Dombrowski links reflections on his experiences fishing for bonefish, the history of the Bahamas, the development of the construction of fly fishing rods and the difference between fishing for sport and for eating. He chronicles the life of David Pinder who has retired from Deep Water Cay fishing lodge where he worked for decades.
With failing eyesight due to cataracts and many years in the glare of the sun on the water, Pinder still has an instinct for where the fish are hiding. Among his many stories, Pinder recalls how he "wore an old baggy jacket so that when they (the guests) would hit me on their back casts, the flies would go in my jacket instead of my skin. The thing was full of holes."
In the context of the history of the Bahamas, Dombrowski discusses the recreational development plans of Paul Valdiek, a wealthy Texan, who with a few partners, bought Deep Water Cay. Valdiek and partners also own the High Lonesome Ranch in Colorado. This leads the author to reflect on where we draw lines regarding local control, development, conservation, habitat destruction, commercialization and public access to wilderness be it in mountain or at sea.
Of special interest to those who fly fish are the detailed accounts of the delicacies of the cast - line weight, lure, fish sighting and cast placement.
This is a beautifully written book. His unique use of words adds depth to his interesting stories.
Dombroski is, indeed, a poet.
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