Great Fly Fisherman Should Never Be Forgotten

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anthony-greer-aniversary

In Memory of Anthony Greer – A great fly fishing guide and angler

I’ve always respected the strong brotherhood that our military shows to our fallen heros. In most instances, they always do what they can to look out and take care of the families left behind. I recently saw this first hand while attending a funeral for my cousin Matt Meyer. Every step of the way, his military colleagues stood by his loving family, and promised to do so moving forward as long as they were needed. Over the years, I’ve seen a similar brotherhood by fly fisherman, as legends of the sport and would-be legends unexpectedly passed. It was a great joy to see so many anglers in the community going out of their way to show support and write tributes to their fly fishing heros over the years.

Yesterday, was the three-year anniversary of the passing of Anthony Greer, son of Mark Greer, a loyal Gink & Gasoline reader and supporter. Every year, about this time, Mark and I exchange emails with each other. We both do our best to write some words to adequately show our mutual respect for Anthony’s passion–being an amazing fly fishing guide. Anthony had chosen to devote his life to teaching and spreading the word about fly fishing. It’s a real shame that his life was cut short with so much still to live. I genuinely believe Anthony was destined for great things in the sport of fly fishing. This year, instead of just emailing Mark Greer, I decided to pick up the phone and talk with him in person. After about 45-minutes talking with Mark about his son Anthony, I learned that Anthony and I had a great deal in common. We’re both twins, we both used fly fishing as an outlet for the challenges of everyday life growing up, and we both were following the same calling in life, which was spending our time on the water teaching others how to fly fish.

Today, we pay our respects to Anthony Greer by revisiting a past writing of his about fly fishing. It’s a short piece that really defines what fly fishing personally meant to him. I ask you all to pay your respects, celebrate his life as a fly angler, and pray for Mark and his family for their huge loss. Dedicating this spotlight to Anthony today, is one of the few things in life that provides Mark and his family the peace and strength they greatly need to help them move forward each day and have fun wetting a line in their son’s memory.

Fish Bum – A Badge of Pride – by Anthony Greer

When I was roughly nine years old, my father placed a fly rod in my hands, taught me the fine art of fly casting, and showed me everything I needed to know to catch fish on the fly. I was ‘hooked’ immediately.

It started as a way to pass the time, then developed into a hobby, and over the years has become the one thing I rely on solely for energy. At this point, fly fishing is a full blown addiction for me. It allows me to be myself out in the wilderness, and that means a lot, because I’m able to fully appreciate my time in the outdoors – standing in the river, not a care in the world, flicking a fly at fish.

Even now, as I write this, I’m wishing I wasn’t cooped up inside, glued to a computer, but I know after I complete every task I need to accomplish, I’ll be able to escape, far, far away, from the perils and hardships that plague people my age every day. I tend to be a creature of habit, escaping frequently to feed my fishing addiction. I don’t pretend to e someone I’m not, and the term ‘fish bum’ is viewed in my psyche, as more of a badge of pride to be worn, than a degrading comment I may hear somebody pass along in my direction.

Lower Provo 01-15-11 #2-edit

Anthony with a nice Lower Provo brown trout.

When life gets rough, all hope seems to be lost, and I feel like I can’t endure another day upon this earth, that’s when I know it’s time to escape to the river to re-fill my energy. I usually escape to places most would never have the willpower to reach by foot, but my feet are my friends, and they never let me down. Eventually, they lead me to the distant places where the fish are plentiful, and the rushing water provides me the therapy I need to heal my soul.

Keep it Reel,

Come fish with us in the Bahamas!

Kent Klewein
Gink & Gasoline
www.ginkandgasoline.com
hookups@ginkandgasoline.com
 
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21 thoughts on “Great Fly Fisherman Should Never Be Forgotten

  1. Great job! I always try to listen and pay attention to my older clients in the boat, so much rich history, the places they have been and what they have been through, especially our Veterans. We can learn so much from the time and troubles they have endured. We are a pansy generation, never really knew famine and poverty. Another good reason to get out and share water with those we cherish, those memories will last a lifetime. Thanks for keeping it reel!
    Tight Lines,
    Koz

  2. Very well said and it’s worth being reminded of the way in which fly fishing can and often does impact on the individual.

  3. The elder generation enjoy sharing our passion of flyfishing to future
    generations to come, and go. Hopefully to be remembered by all of our sport.
    Catch you later,Phil Ames

  4. Love the phrase – “The term ‘fish bum’ is viewed in my psyche, as more of a badge of pride to be worn”.

    Hear, hear Anthony!

    As far as I’m personally concerned you can call me “bum” anytime, as long it is preceded by one of the following words; fish, trout, tarpon, bonefish, snook, salmon, etc, etc 🙂

  5. Thank you, Kent, for making a difficult time a little easier for myself and my family.

    Best regards,

    Mark

    “Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world’s great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs.
    I am haunted by waters.”

    ― Norman Maclean, A River Runs Through It and Other Stories

    Wharton: The River Called to Passionate Young Angler (Salt Lake Tribuine Newspaper)
    http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/outdoors/51678459-117/river-anthony-fishing-fly.html.csp

    • Mark,

      We’re all here with support and we aren’t going anywhere. Please continue to interact with others in fly fishing and get on the water as much as you can in memory of your son Anthony.

      God Bless You & Your Family,

      Kent

      • Mark, I’m glad that you introduced me to Anthony before his passing and that we got the chance to be “fishing addicts” together on the river. Anthony was so inviting and eager to share his knowledge and insights. I can tell he had a great demeanor as a guide.

        I also want to thank you for always being open and honest with me about your feelings toward Anthony and not being afraid to share. It’s an honor that you trust me enough to be vulnerable with something so deep and painful as losing a son. I’m proud to know you and that you want the world to know who Anthony is and was. I don’t think words can express my sorrow for your loss or the joy and love I have for you, Lori and the kids.

        Kent, thank you for keeping the memory of Anthony Greer alive for all those who love him!

        • Thank you, Dave.

          If it wasn’t for your encouragement, and persistence, I might not have gotten back into fly fishing after Anthony’s death — I might have put aside my rod forever … as that’s certainly how I felt after he was gone.

          And, I am so glad that you got to know him, to be out on the river with him, before he was taken away. I don’t view your involvement in my fly fishing (and personal) life as a coincidence. I think there was a higher power involved in our meeting, and that that God’s hand was involved in making sure there was a changing of the ‘fly fishing’ guard — that you and Anthony met and fished together – prior to him being taken away.

          Thanks again for your kindness, understanding and for getting me out on the river following my loss, Dave.

          Mark

          Mark

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  7. Yes, Anthony was a great fisherman, but also he had a heart of gild. It was huge with compasion and love and he will always be remembered as a GREAT FISHERMAN AND A GREAT MAN WITH A HEART OF GOLD. .
    We miss you ……till we meet again…..love you, Debbie 🙂

  8. Yes, Anthony was a great fisherman, but also he had a heart of gold. It was huge with compasion and love and he will always be remembered as a GREAT FISHERMAN AND A GREAT MAN WITH A HEART OF GOLD. .
    We miss you ……till we meet again…..love you, Debbie 🙂

  9. Anthony was a great fly fisherman. He taught me how to throw a fly, I’m so greatfull for the time he spent teaching. Anth had the biggest heart. I miss him dearly. Till we meet again Brother. Rip Anthony Parker Greer.. I love you.

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