A Fly Fisher's Guide to the South Platte River
by Pat Dorsey
Retail: $49.95

I received a call from an energetic young man in the spring of 1990. His name was Pat Dorsey, and he wanted to purchase a Blue Quill Angler hat for his collection. By the way, he said, “I would like to be a fly fishing guide. Got any openings?” Since I lived close to the pet store he was managing, I decided to deliver the hat to him that evening. I set up a date with Pat to go to Cheesman Canyon to talk about his desire to be a guide and check out his skills. That day, fishing was bright and beautiful; the fish seemed to be everywhere, and many fish, including several large bows were put in the net. Pat’s skill as an angler was certainly displayed. By the end of the day, I was ready to give Pat a chance at guiding. Pat took off on his new career and he has never looked back.

Pat’s enjoyment of guiding at times seemed to surpass his passion for fishing. The client feedback forms from his trips were more than positive, they bordered on the edge of “miraculous” and “spectacular.” I soon realized Pat was more than a good fisherman. He had the rare desire and ability to transfer his love for fly-fishing and his fishing skill to others who were eager to learn. Pat was truly fishing with and through his clients and they knew it.

at was often on the river nonstop for several weeks at a time without a break. He joked about how Cheesman Canyon had become his “office.” Pat often boasts, “The Platte is the most beautiful office in the world and has no phones, faxes, paper trails, or deadlines. I love my job.”

Years later, in excess of 2,000 days guiding on the Platte, Pat has imparted his life’s work, study, knowledge, experience and passion into his book, A Fly Fishers Guide to the South Platte River. Every paragraph is born out of miles of fishing experience, hundreds of thousands of casts, thousands of flies tied, multitudes of trout hooked, and millions of smiles. With over 160 color photographs in 180 pages, this book can be enjoyed without even being read! Every topic has been covered such as geography, history, entomology, hatches, fishing gear, flies, fishing techniques and seasonal strategies. The section on nymph fishing is worth the price of the book.

Reading Pat’s book is second best to being in Pat’s office: the South Platte River.
If you would like to meet Pat Dorsey or purchase a personalized copy of his book, he will be at the Blue Quill Angler booth #2510-c at the ISE show January 26-29, 2006.

Signed copies of Pat’s book can also be purchased on line at www.bluequillangler.com —Jim Cannon