Auction

Hello!

I know it has been a very long time since anything was posted. We are still working on getting Pete Parker nominated into the International Game Fish Association Hall of Fame, as well as other goings on.

We are FINALLY able to have an auction of some of the fly tying material and a few rods. If you are interested, please check out the auction at Pacific Auctions website or by clicking the link. 

Hope everyone is doing well! More updates as they happen.

~Tight Lines~

Auction Link

Dan Byford

Today is a sad day indeed, for me, and the flyfishing community as a whole.

I just learned that Dan Byford, Pete's best friend, and one time mentor, has passed away. He was struggling with lung cancer, and has lost his battle.

May they meet in Heaven, and turn the place upside down.

Nominating an Icon, still

Please help me in getting Pete nominated into the Hall of Fame....all of them! Here is the letter I have written, and sent, to the the International Game Fish Association, and to the Federation of Fly Fishers. Please, if you can, write them letters as well.

Ralph Morgan “Pete” Parker

Flies and Honors

Pete created the following flies:

Literal Translations; Blue Winged Olive, Helicopter Saltwater Dry Fly, Deer Hair Christmas Tree, and Pete’s Cigar Fly.

Someone asked Pete if there was a way to fish with a dry fly in saltwater. Pete couldn’t think of any “hatch to match,” and the only dry he could think of was when the Helicopter was eaten in Jaws II. So, Pete being the man he was tied several Helicopter Dry Flies. They don’t cast well, but they did eventually become one of his “signature” flies.

In Trey Combs “Flyfishing Bluewater” Pete is credited with several flies: Pete’s Anchovy, Pete’s Flash Chovie, Pete’s Chovie, Pete’s Mackerel, Pete’s Side Popper, and Pete’s Slider.

Pete has been featured in a variety of fly fishing books. A list can be provided upon request.

One of Pete Parker’s most “controversial” flies was definitely his Propeller Cuda Fly. A Saltwater fly, with a propeller on the front, made many people in the fly fishing community jeer, and some cheer, but mostly everyone thought it would be a flop. It turned out to be one of Pete’s most popular and most used flies. It is currently available in the Umpqua catalog.

These are just some of the examples of what Pete created. He was always working on new techniques, new designs, and new ways to throw everyone off guard.

Some of his major accomplishments, in fly fishing specifically, were being a Founder of the Evergreen Trout Unlimited, being a lifelong member of the Federation of Fly Fishers as well as being in their museum, and his three World Records, working with the International Sportsmens Expositions for over 20 years as their Fly Tying Video Theater Director, and being an Alaskan Fishing Guide at the age of 72, at the Good News River Lodge.

Pete was awarded three World Records from the International Game Fish Association, and one Bronze Award. His first IGFA World Record was for a 13lb, 3oz Black Skipjack, caught on November 29, 1992, off the coast of Baja, Mexico.

Only a short year later, on November 28, 1993, Pete caught his second IGFA World Record, a 6lb, 3oz, Pacific Bonito, again in Baja, Mexico.

His final official IGFA World Record, and by far his favorite, was caught April 11, 1996. Pete was fortunate enough to go to one of the places he had dreamed of seeing as a kid, Midway Atoll. Pete was always fascinated with the Battle of Midway, and it was a real honor for him to finally see the sight of the epic battle. While there, he caught a 53lb, 8oz Giant Trevally. This is the record that would also earn him the Third Place for Best Fish of the Year award from IGFA. Of all the fish Pete had ever caught in over 70 years of fishing, this one remained one of his absolute favorites. Pete enjoyed Midway so much; he managed to take me with him a couple of years later, where I was able to catch my IGFA World Record. It used to be an item of contention…his was larger, but my record remained unbroken the longest.

Pete worked with I.S.E for over 20 years, and helped the program to grow from one small theater in an off corner, to one of the main attractions. He organized the “How To” areas, letting the public get hands on help from the Pro’s. Pete also took the show from three venues, Portland, Denver, and San Mateo, up to five! Denver, San Mateo, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, and Phoenix. He also worked on some of the less attended shows, such as the infamous “King Dome.”

At the age of 72, Pete fulfilled one of his lifelong dreams, and became an Alaskan Fishing Guide with the Good News River Lodge, Good News, Alaska. He tied flies, guided the rivers like a pro, and pulled some typical Pete shenanigans. He gained a new respect for all guides, and the hard work they do, and enjoyed himself immensely.

Please consider Ralph “Pete” Parker for your Hall of Fame. He was truly an Icon in the fly fishing world, and did so much to promote its growth as an industry, to help in the teachings of others, and to support conservation efforts through his teachings and working with others.

If you would like addition information, or references, please do not hesitate to contact me. I hope to hear from you soon regarding your decision, or what other steps might be taken. Thank you so much for your time.

Tight Lines!

Eulogy

As read at the Memorial for Pete Parker:

As Pamela mentioned earlier, and for those of you that don’t know me, I am Genevieve (Genna, Nenna, shortie, etc), one of Pete’s seven grandchildren, and Barbara and Pete’s unofficial fourth child.

When my mother, Patricia, was pregnant, she moved back in with her parents “temporarily” until she could get back on her feet and care for her and me on her own. Time passed, and she felt she was ready to move out. When she told this to her parents, they told her, “Ok, good luck. You know what is best for you…..but the baby stays.” Apparently they had gotten attached to the wild eyed, blonde haired terror they had let into their home.

I, apparently, was a lot like my grandfather, in that I would wonder off and go adventuring on my own. Instead of tying me up in the backyard, my family would attempt to lock me in my room, only to have find me wondering the streets of our mountain town. Pete used to tell me that it was my adventurous spirit that he loved most, and what made us most alike. My Grandmother told me once that he adored me so much (as selfish as that sounds), that he would follow me everywhere. Pamela was off at college, and had left her cat Natasha with us. I was obsessed with cats, and would chase “Tasha” everywhere she went. It must have been quite a sight, the cat, me, and my grandfather, all wandering around after one another. I would call out “Tata, Tata come here!” and my grandfather would always come, thinking I was calling him. So, eventually, it stuck, and from then on he was known as Tata.

I couldn’t have asked for better parents. She was always there to listen, my alarm clock in the morning making sure I went to school (and would often watch me walk there, to make sure I actually went), and my movie watching buddy. My Gran and I could talk about anything, and we often did. I will always be amazed at how she knew everything, sometimes seemingly before it happened! It was always a comfort that she was there, that I could talk to her at any hour (as she and I were both night owls), and that she and I shared so many interests. I have always liked the artist Rob Zombie, of White Zombie, a crazed rock and roll group, with very morbid undertones. One year, they were coming to town, but I couldn’t afford tickets. I told her about the concert, and she said, “Damn! I really want to go to that! What a great show!” My 5’2 ½” agoraphobic grandmother wanted to see Rob Zombie more than I did. I wish we could have gone together, that would have been the best concert EVER. She would often talk of saving up her money to buy a Harley, as some of her fondest memories were of when she and my grandfather were in Hell’s Angels (before they were the really scary Hells Angels). That memory always brings a smile to my face, my grandparents, hard core bikers in Hells Angels.

Pete, on the other hand, was my Father, my Grandfather, and my best friend. He took me fishing for the first time when I was three, the same age he was when his father took him fishing for the first time. From that moment on he and I were almost inseparable fishing buddies. If I couldn’t go on an adventure with him, he would come home and tell me every detail, and often would slip in “I wish you had been there.”

As I am sure you know, there are thousands of stories, thousands of memories, and all worth telling, but I will only share with you a sampling of Pete Parker.

Some of his major accomplishments, in fly fishing specifically, were his three World Records, working with the International Sportsmens Expositions for over 20 years as their Fly Tying Video Theater Director, and being an Alaskan Fishing Guide at the age of 72, at the Good News River Lodge.

Pete was awarded three World Records from the International Game Fish Association, and one Bronze Award. His first IGFA World Record was for a 13lb, 3oz Black Skipjack, caught on November 29, 1992, off the coast of Baja, Mexico.

Only a short year later, on November 28, 1993, Pete caught his second IGFA World Record, a 6lb, 3oz, Pacific Bonito, again in Baja, Mexico.

His final official IGFA World Record, and by far his favorite, was caught April 11, 1996. Pete was fortunate enough to go to one of the places he had dreamed of seeing as a kid, Midway Atoll. Pete was always fascinated with the Battle of Midway, and it was a real honor for him to finally see the sight of the epic battle. While there, he caught a 53lb, 8oz Giant Trevally. This is the record that would also earn him the Third Place for Best Fish of the Year award from IGFA. Of all the fish Pete had ever caught in over 70 years of fishing, this one remained one of his absolute favorites. Pete enjoyed Midway so much, he managed to take me with him a couple of years later, where I was able to catch my IGFA World Record. It used to be a item of contention…his was larger, but my record remained unbroken the longest.

Pete worked with I.S.E for over 20 years, and helped the program to grow from one small theater in an off corner, to one of the main attractions. He organized the “How To” area, letting the public get hands on help from the Pro’s. Pete also took the show from three venues, Portland, Denver, and San Mateo, up to five! Denver, San Mateo, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, and Phoenix. He also worked on some of the less attended shows, such as the infamous “King Dome,” where what people remember most was that the isles were so empty you could roll bowling balls down them, and how Pete got “accidently” drunk because of a switched cup, and could be heard laughing his big, wonderful laugh, throughout the Kingdom. That was one thing in particular that I loved about him, his laugh. No matter where I was, I could always find him by hearing his wonderful laugh.

At the age of 72, Pete fulfilled one of his lifelong dreams, and became an Alaskan Fishing Guide with the Good News River Lodge, Good News, Alaska. He tied flies, guided the rivers like a pro, and pulled some typical Pete shenanigans. He gained a new respect for all guides, and the hard work they do, and enjoyed himself immensely.

I was so incredibly lucky to be included on many adventures with him, traveling the world, and fishing with my best friend. Often he would scout out the places, Baja, Alaska, Midway, then he would find a way to bring me along on the next trip. I have seen some of the most beautiful places in the world, and been on some of the grandest adventures with and Icon, and for that I am truly grateful. As usual, he has gone off on what may be the grandest adventure first, but I think of it as him scouting the way, and that he and I will be reunited, and our adventures together will continue.

I am not as eloquent, or poetically gifted as my other cousins, but I did find a song that I want to share some of the lyrics from:

Please, remember me
Happily
By the rosebush laughing
With bruises on my chin
The time when
We counted every black car passing
Your house beneath the hill
And up until
Someone caught us in the kitchen
With maps, a mountain range,
A piggy bank

Please, remember me
At Halloween
Making fools of all the neighbors
Our faces painted white
By midnight

Please, remember me
Fondly
And then
They went on to say
That the pearly gates
Had some eloquent graffiti
Like 'We'll meet again'
And 'Fuck the man'
And 'Tell my mother not to worry'

Please, remember me
Finally
And all my uphill clawing
My dear
But if i make
The pearly gates
Do my best to make a drawing
Of G-d and Lucifer
A boy and girl
An angel kissin on a sinner
A monkey and a man
A marching band
All around the trapeze swingers

Henry "Harry" Ledyard

I am sorry to say that a dear friend of Pete and I, Harry Ledyard, has passed away. His wonderful wife, Kay, told me that he passed on in April. This was a shock to me, although I knew he had been ill. I am so sorry for his family's loss. He was a great man.

This is what the Canyon Courier had to say:

Henry B. Ledyard died Saturday, April 23, 2011, at Lutheran Medical Center, under hospice care.

Harry Ledyard accepts an award from Trout Unlimited in the late summer of 2009.

He is survived by his wife, Katherine, and a brother and sister.

Henry was born and raised in Grosse Pointe, Mich., within a family mentioned in Revolutionary War Chronicles. In the 1960s, he came to Colorado, where he met his wife, and they began lives of phenomenal service to the mountain community. Harry was an early member of the Alpine Rescue Team. He and Kay were Red Cross instructors for more than 20 years, as well as participants in training Colorado Rescue Dogs.

Harry served on the Lookout Mountain Fire Department and West Denver and Evergreen Trout Unlimited, where he was given lifetime awards. He volunteered at the Denver Museum of Natural History (now the Museum of Nature & Science). He was on the ski patrol at Loveland for many years and belonged to the Curmudgeons and the League of Women Voters. He also taught a first-aid class for deaf participants who all achieved certification.

He will be missed by many, not only because of his service but also for his long and deep friendships.

Pete's World Records

Memorial

We will be celebrating the life, and honoring the passing of our Father, Grandfather, Brother, and Best Friend, Mr. Ralph "Pete" Parker.

All are welcome, but please RSVP. If you did not receive the "Evite" online, please let me know, and give me your current email, and I will make sure you get the invitation. Please, also, feel free to share the invite with anyone, again, we just ask for an RSVP.

There will be speakers, a tribute from the U.S. Marines, as well as other things Pete would have enjoyed. If you have any stories, or would like to speak, we would be honored to hear your memories of Pete.

He lived lift to the fullest, and always loved a great party, surrounded by family and friends. We hope to see you there, to honor the unforgettable icon, Pete Parker.

If you are interested in fishing while in the area, there are some AMAZING places to check out. My ultimate recommendation is to check out the Blue Quill Angler fly shop while you are in town, and check out their website for current fishing conditions.

Lair O' the Bear Park is also another fine place to explore and fish. Pete took me here a few times when we were both in need of a "quick fix." The Conifer Chamber of Commerce can also provide more information on what to do in the area, and where to go.

To get your Colorado Fishing License, please check out this website.

Finally, if you are interested in staying in there area, here are some options for lodging and camping:

To stay at the site of the memorial, check out the Tipi Lodge website.

There is a great list of places at Trip Adviser. We do not have a specific hotel in reserved, nor do we have any special rates set aside, unfortunately. But, as Pete would always say, "It's an Adventure!"

If you have any questions at all, or would like to get the Evite invitation, feel free to email directly at gam.smc@gmail.com

See you in September!