Group 3 Photos

Believe it!!

---<’RCR:><

 

 

Let me Make it "Perfectly Clear"...

…as Dem Threes begin to wing their way towards Headquarters, The South WILL Be Rising Ag’n!!

 

RCR---<’///:><

 

 

Shane Clouse Serenades Day Tattoos!

Montana Matters Troubadour Shane Clouse not only fished with the Twos but also sang to them on their last evening on the scene of it all…bravo, pal!!

 

RCR---<’///:><

 

 

 

Dem Twos!!

 

 

A note of thanks from Ken "CPA" and Chris "Double Rainbow" Sweeney:

It was a great time Ron. As always you are the best host. Chris and I enjoyed the whole trip. 

Job well done. See you in November 

 

 

   

Congrats, Twos!!

A note of thanks from Tattooer Ken “Strip” Petrilla:

Ron,

It was a great pleasure to be part of the Twos!  I feel lucky to have been included. 

OK, I was a beginner and I did not catch many fish and certainly nothing big enough to qualify for the Big Board but I learned a heck of a lot about fly-fishing and I made some great new friends.  In addition to the great scenery and good food and drink, your hospitality was the best.  In spite of my fishing shortfalls, I felt like one of the regulars.  Many, many thanks.

 

I plan to be better prepared next year and look forward to practicing with you on the pond at the Marin Civic Center sometime soon.  I may be hooked!  (Pun intended.)

 

Best regards.

 

Ken

 

 

Thanks From Da Tattoos!

A nice note from father-daughter combo Jerry "The Juice" and Gianna "The Pike" Pantaleo:

Ron ,

Just wanted to say THANK YOU from Gianna and myself for the wonderful Montana experience !

We both had a great time which we will remember for a life time .

 

We are still talking about it !!

 

Jerry and Gianna

 

Announcing The Line Up of Dem Threes!

Hang onto your Southern britches, folks, as in under 48 hours the Magnificent Threes and their Flying Machines will be arriving here on the scene of Extravaganza 2017 to pick up where the record-settings Tattoos left off with their fishing prowess and to add Dixie color to the otherwise staid and camouflaged texture of this year’s fifteenth annual foray into Montana’s flora and fauna Ritz Carlton style!

 

Dem Threes are baselined by returning California veterans Tyler “Lefty” Clausen (who, during E-16, landed a 31” bulltrout on his own 5 wt. bamboo rod) who will be joined by the “Sailors Four”:  “Little Richard” Deveau and his bride of many years “NMN” (who, even after many years of fishing here, has yet to obtain an appropriate Montana moniker), “Mamadore” Susan Hubbard and last (and certainly latest) Scott “Not So Flash” Gordon (so named for missing his incoming flight to Extravaganzaland several years ago).

 

And then, all, return now-semi-seasoned Southern veterans South Carolina financial advisor Mark “Z-Man” Zion and his (much better) half Julie “Z-Woman” Zion along with returning client of both of ours Columbia, SC pharmacist Gary “RX” Jones who will be joined this year by his “own personal photographer”, wife Juli.  And if that were not enough of a Southern influence, North Carolinian surety bondsman Ray “The Garret” Garruto will not only be bringing with him his partner “Take it To The Max” Richardson but they will be joined by equally rookie construction clients Jeff Sullivan; Greg Caniff with his bride Maryn; and Jim Triplett (who as of this writing is attempting to lure his fiancé Christi to join him, last minute, in the fray).

While it may be politically incorrect in some overly-sensitive parts of this great country of ours to ignore the wonderful heritage of our soon-to-arriver Southern guests, rest assured that such is not the case in Extravaganzaland.  Flags, bourbon, h.d.’s a-la-South, and Dixie music will festoon These Threes as they arrive here on the scene of it all for forecast clear skies, calmed down rivers, and daytime highs in the mid-80’s. 

Behold, folks, The South is soon gonna Rise Ag’n!

Bring it on now, y’all…y’hear!!!!

Rock Creek Ron-----<’///:><

 

A Group Two Note of Thanks

A much appreciated note from Brooklyn, NY from Group One rookie and Yellow Hat awardee Dave "Big Bull" Brennan:

 

Hi Ron,

Thanks again for an amazing trip and for all of your hard work and hospitality.  You and your team truly made a newcomer feel like I was part of a longstanding tradition.  The outstanding fishing was matched only by the food, accommodations and company.  And thank you as well for everything you do for the environment, and for bringing in such engaging speakers.  These days it's more important than ever to protect our natural resources, and thanks to your efforts and those of your partner organizations, Montana can hopefully be an example to the rest of the country.

 

Glad to know the Extravaganza is out there, and thanks again for allowing me to be a part of it.  Best of luck with Group 3!

Dave Brennan

 

 

A Group One Note of Thanks

A masterfully written note of thanks from Group One's Shana "The Smile" Bagley Howe (indeed, a river ran through her!):

 

Ron,

 

Thank you again and again for sharing your home and love of fishing and Montana with all of us.

 

Below are a few photos I took on my waterproof camera (I was too busy "combat fishing" to take more). 

 

Unlike most other vacations that I have taken, for the last week, I repeatedly find myself dreaming of fishing on the Mo and the Big Blackfoot.  I now use my memories of Montana to help with my daily mindfulness practice and to cast away any hints of insomnia.  Montana truly is a magical and therapeutic place.

 

Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it,

 

Shana "The Smile" Bagley

 

 

 

 

Group Two Yellow Shirters!

Kevin “CPA” Sweeney and Dave “Big Bull” Brennan show off their newly awarded Yellow Shirts for the largest E-17 Group Two catches, each landing (and releasing!) their own 31” Blackfoot bulltrout on separate days.

 

Congrats, both!!

 

---<’RCR:><

 

 

Group Two, Day Three...Bully, Bully!

Well, the Twos did VERY well on their third day of fishing here in Extravaganzaland, just ask veteran husband-wife combo Kevin “CPA” Sweeny and bride “Double Rainbow” Christine, each shown above doffing their new Yellow Hats, Double Rainbow for her 27” Blackfoot bulltrout (see her smiling above with Exhibit A) and CPA Kevin for his 31” Blackfoot bulltrout, landed just at the end of their bountiful third day of fishing here.  Don’t they both look cute in their new yellow lids (why is that man smiling)?!?

And it wasn’t just the SS Sweeney that signed into the Twenty Inch Board on Day Three, get this:  (i) Dave “Big Bull” Brennan also logged in a 20” Blackfoot brown; (ii) his East Coast fishing partner Mike “Haystack” Stakias signed in with his own 21” Blackfoot brown; (iii) Extravaganza veteran Joe “Campari” Ciatti followed in suit with his own 22” Bitterroot brown; and (iv) Jerry “The Juice” Pantaleo encored with his own 22” Blackfoot brown!!

 

All in, the Tattoos boarded a record non-Missouri group fishing record of nineteen (count ‘em!) twenty inchers, filling on their own a whole Twenty Inch signing board (causing me to order a third E-17 sign-in board!  ‘Twas a grand time had by all and, you yet-to-be thawed out Ones, the weather actually warmed up on the Tattoos second day such that outdoor dining was a viable option for them and our fire pit finally saw some Extravaganza 2017 action—paving the way for delightful weather predicted for the soon-to-be-incoming Threes.

 

Congrats, Twos, you really hit the ball out of the park during your most enjoyable-to-all stay here!!

 

Now, bring it on Threes!!!

 

Rock Creek Ron

-----><’///:><

 

 

MWF Meets With The Tattoos!

Montana Wildlife Federation Executive Director, and great friend, Dave Chadwick travelled to/fro Helena to meet and inform the Twos on the continued wonderful work of the now 81 year old organization that he directs.  Thanks, Dave for all that you do for the flora and fauna of this great state!

 

RCR---<’///:><

 

 

E-17's Group Two, Day Two

Say hello to Philadelphia’s own Mike “Haystack” Stakias who led the way on Day Two of the Tattoos fishing, landing a 22” beauty of a Blackfoot brown and wining himself the Yellow Hat of the day!  But, get this, for the second day in a row the second place boat was the SS Rodgers with the dynamic father-daughter duo of “Squawfish” Tim and “CT” Mardi who added three more twenty inch fish to the four that they boarded on Day One:  CT’s  21” rainbow, and her dad’s 20” brown plus 21” rainbow, all in addition to a gaggle of other bounties from this wonderful fishery.

 

Kevin “CPA” Sweeny and his bride Chris “Double Rainbow” (also known in these parts as “The Happy Hooker” [so named for her propensity to hook her hubby]) ventured out on the companion Bitterroot River to land their 20 fish, the largest being a 16 incher for HH while the rest of the armada fished the legendary Blackfoot (“A River Runs Through It”) with mixed results:  The father-son SS Baylacq saw more wildlife than fish as did (i) the dynamic duo of Greg “Good Living” Livengood and sidekick Stuart “LA” Marlborough; (ii) the dancing team of Joe “Campari” Ciatti and Ken “Strip” Petrilla (so named for his propensity not to do so) and (iii) and father daughter team of Jerry “The Juice” Pantaleo and Gianna “Pike” Pantaleo (earning her Montana name for the 22” northern pike that she landed).

 

Faring better than the others the father-son tag team of Brad “Maven” Miller and “Son of Maven” Jack landed 17 Blackfoot fish, including papa’s 20 ½” brown which put him back on the Twenty Inch Board after a couple year respite (sonny trying, in vain, to have his 20” suckerfish added to the Board, but no such luck!

 

Today the Twos are on the water for their final journey into Extravaganzaland for this year and it will be most interesting to see how things report out, as, FINALLY, the weather here is warming up and, resultantly, the bug activity is increasing!

 

RCR---><’///:><

 

Group 2 Photos!