Page 55 - Flathead Beacon // 5.18.16

MOUNTAIN EXPOSURE
OUTDOORS IN BRIEF
LAND TRUST CONSERVES DARROW’S PALADIN FARM NEAR BIGFORK
Flathead Land Trust and the Darrow family have partnered up to permanently protect the Pala- din Farm near Bigfork with a con- servation easement.
The family nalized the ease- ment May 10 for the 200-acre property at the junction of High- ways 35 and 82. The property includes farmland, forested ridges visible from the highways and an old farmhouse and barn. In 1968, George Darrow bought the old homestead property just north of Bigfork. The property includes an old homestead cabin built in 1894, and a barn and farmhouse built in the early 1900s that George and his wife Elna worked to restore. The Darrows also purchased land north of the property and ran an extensive farming operation on both properties, growing grain and hay and raising livestock. In 2009, Elna passed away with
George passing away early in 2015 at the age of 90.
“As an ongoing tribute to George Darrow, his children, Roy, Karen and Reed Darrow are hon- ored to nalize a conservation easement on the family farm near Bigfork, in conjunction with Flat- head Land Trust. We feel a con- servation easement honors our father’s endeavors to protect and conserve open space, o er wild- life habitat and encourage agricul- tural enterprise in the Flathead Valley,” the Darrow family said in a statement.
The easement on the property will protect open space and scenic values near a growing community while also providing habitat and migration corridors for wildlife. Its proximity to the con uence of the Flathead River with Flathead Lake renders it paramount for protection, the land trust said.
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OUT OF BOUNDS ROB BREEDING
RUNNING AROUND TWITH FLY RODS
HERE WAS A TIME WHEN I USED to break down my y rods after each use. That was an appropri-
ate habit back in the days when I was rais- ing kids and familial obligations meant I didn’t get to sh much. But these days, with the kids o to college and me hav- ing resumed the bachelor’s life, I get to sh pretty much when I want.
When life allows you to sh multiple times a week, or better still, everyday, breaking down your rod whenever you leave the water isn’t the best option. This is especially true with the popularity of four-piece y rods. Breaking those suck- ers down and reassembling them each time can be excruciating, especially when The Professor always drives around with his nymphing rod fully rigged.
More than once I found myself fussing with leaders while he was over in the river shouting about all the sh he’s catching.
There are plenty of rod case options. I’ve long had one of those durable, dou- ble y-rod cases made by Mountain Cork down in Utah. It proved its worth awhile back when Funkmaster Fred was back- ing his van down to a wildcat put-in on the South Fork. He had the rear doors open so he could see where he was going. Unfortunately he hit the brakes, and out slid my rod case. Before he realized it he was backing again, this time with the case jammed between the bumper and the raft trailer. By the time I got Funk- master’s attention, he’d backed another 10 feet down the hill.
The case was a bit scu ed, but the rods were unharmed.
The drawback to that case is that both rods have to be broken down into two pieces. It’s possible to leave the rods rigged and slide them into the case, strike indicator, split shot, ies and all, but that’s not terribly convenient. The
leaders get hopelessly tangled and the hooks snag on the lining material in the tubes. I love that case, but you really have to cut o your ies to make it work.
My short-term solution is to just leave my rods rigged up in the truck. I have a crew cab so a 9-footer ts diagonally, the reel end on the head rest of the driver’s side back seat, while the tip sits on the dashboard in front of the passenger.
My 10-foot nymphing stick is a far greater challenge. I have to contort that rod to get it in the truck in a way that makes me fear I’ll break it. Then I have to repeat the process to get it out. In the meantime the rod bends around the rear- view mirror awkwardly and as the leader slackens, ies usually fall out of the hook keeper and embed themselves in my upholstery.
Also, the tip guide tends to get caught between the edge of the dash and the windshield. It’s inevitable that some- day I’ll break a tip with this makeshift solution.
There are some nice roof-mounted cases on the market to keep rods intact and safe. This is my long-term plan. Den- ver Out tters makes a roof mounted case out of aluminum tubes and a polycarbon- ate case for the reels. It has the advantage of holding fully assembled 10-foot rods. And there’s a Montana out t that builds Big Sky Rod Boxes. These heavy-duty 18-gauge steel cases are bomb-proof, but supply hasn’t been able to keep up with demand so there’s a waiting list.
Unfortunately, I need to buy a topper with a roof rack rst, so this solution is gonnasetmebackmorethan$2,000.It’s worth it, as three or four fully assembled y rods and reels can easily retail for dou- ble that amount. But if I keep spending my bucks on new gear, I’ll never set aside the change for the proper gear carrier.
PAINFUL TOENAIL? PAINFUL CORNS?
We O er Permanent Relief!
Simple procedures for permanent toenail removal & toe surgery for permanent relief of painful corns.
Rob Breeding writes and teaches when he’s not shing or hunting.
TRUCKLOAD KAYAK SALE
Kayaks, Paddles, PFD’s and accessories on sale!
406-752-5005 • 2593 HWY 2 EAST, KALISPELL • CORNER OF HWY. 2 E. & E. RESERVE • WWW.REPLAYSPORTSMT.COM
REPLAY SPORTS BUY • SELL • TRADE • CONSIGN • NEW • USED
Sale ends 5/28
MAY 18, 2016 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
55
PAIN WON’T WAIT. WHY SHOULD YOU?
SAME-DAY APPOINTMENTS OFTEN AVAILABLE
Certi ed by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery
Certi ed by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery
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ERIK PLOOT, D.P.M.
Podiatric Physician and Surgeon